Tag: Campaigns

Always Make Sure You Have Work to Give Them

By Mitchell Slepian

I have been volunteering since I was very young. Work includes community groups, political campaigns, religious institutions, and my building’s board. I am still involved with a few groups. I chair one.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of organizations.  Volunteers come in all shapes and forms. Some have limited time. Some have lots of it. Sometimes some have too much time. But we make sure we use all these people. 

I remember working on political campaigns, and the so-called experts come in, volunteer, and tell you how they are running for political office and plan to start with the U.S. Senate. Sure, things like that can happen. But realistically, it does not. Volunteer coordinators sit and listen to all of this. We do our best to build a rapport with all our helpers. Some give money besides their time. Some are only in play because of how much money they can give.

No matter what, all these people are important. They have something to give. These folks all want to give back. The most important thing is to recognize that and make sure you have work to do. I remember days in volunteer offices when people would come in after we just wrapped up sorting out a big mailing. We had everything ready to go to the post office. We were almost done for the day. But people came when they had time.  So, we found work for them to do. Sometimes it was as simple as asking them to check the mailing project we sorted or double-check the alphabetizing of lists. 

The people were giving back, and we saw the smiles on their faces. They felt they were contributing. Several people thanked me when they left for giving them the time to help the organization. It feels great to see people wanting to contribute and enjoying themselves. Some of the groups I used to help regularly aren’t as interested in having people work for them anymore. It is a turnoff. 

Bottom line, never turn away a volunteer and always make sure you have something for them to do.