Writing (General)

After using PagePlus for over a month, I’ve had some time to acquaint myself with its quirks and advantages.

Advantages:

It’s free! You can’t beat a free program that provides the flexibility you need to do all kinds of publishing. There are a number of free templates that you can download online. The layout options, though different than Publisher, are fairly diverse and provide options for brochures, newsletters, etc. The program itself runs very well, never slowing down the computer like Publisher often does. There are tons of fonts to choose from and you basically have all of the text editing tools that you could think of.

Disadvantages:

It did crash when I tried to import a .wmf clipart file I found on the Net and again when I tried to import either a .bmp or .gif (I can’t remember which)…But I have been able to download .jpg files. Make sure you save often! Layering text boxes can be a bit tricky and frustrating. If you figured out Publisher, you should be able to navigate it nonetheless. The templates are a bit limited, but you can customize them if you have the patience.
There is more I could say, but this gives you a glimpse of PagePlus. It’s worth downloading and playing with it. The money you save by not purchasing Publisher makes it worth a slight learning curve.

I called a volunteer yesterday. After saying where I was calling from, she said, “Oh, I already sent in my money.” I wasn’t calling about that of course, I was calling to ask her to volunteer. Totally different department.

Yet in some ways, I feel like asking people to volunteer is more demanding than asking for their money. You are basically asking them to reprioritize their time and help your organization out. It’s thoughts like these that make me feel I am worse than a telemarketer.

So how do we counteract that impersonal, organizational feeling when we call people? How can they feel like their volunteering for more than a non-profit organization, but for people, a cause, etc.?

Relationships

There is nothing more powerful than building relationships when creating a team of volunteers. While it’s not a transaction, it is logical to assume that if you want them to care about your organization, your organization better care about them. Designating one person to build relationships with volunteers is a way to personalize the volunteer experience and helps customize your volunteer program to each individual.

Take time to find out about your volunteers and their habits, likes/dislikes, and activities. You may be able to focus their volunteer time more effectively once you find out how much they enjoy people or hate clerical work. It also helps to find out about specific preferences.

For example, if you know one volunteer doesn’t like driving in snow, check the forecast before you call, have a sub lined up, and give him/her an easy out if the weather gets bad. Also, if a volunteer has a sick spouse, call to check up on the situation, don’t let them think they are forgotten if they no longer can volunteer.

You can only find these things out if you invest the time in relationships. This investment will prevent you from viewing volunteers as fuel to keep your non-profit “machine” going. They are an integral part of the whole, but have individual worth that you must value. Any time spent building up the value of relationships will make your volunteer program stronger and more satisfying for all parties involved.

One of the best ways that I have found volunteers is through the friends of other volunteers. The obvious starting point is to make sure that your volunteers have positive experiences, know their opinions are valued, and feel appreciated. The next step is to encourage them to bring their friends along.

Incentives are a fun way to get your volunteers thinking about who to invite. A coupon to your organizations gift shop or a participating store in town is always fun. I’m sure that a restaurant or store in your area would be willing to supply some 10-20% off coupons for a few volunteers at your organization. The publicity and extra traffic is a good trade off.

If you can offer incentives within your organization, that is all the better.

Of course one essential part of the incentive program is developing a simple spread sheet to keep track of who’s done what. You could lose a volunteer if he/she feels slighted by you. Be careful to stick to the guidelines you establish for the incentive program, and make sure that you deliver the goods as soon as possible. That will get people talking about the incentives and will hopefully encourage others to participate.

Knowing what your volunteers enjoy is a key part of appreciating them. It’s even worth adding a section to their profile in your database in order to keep track of such preferences as snacks, hobbies, etc.

For example, when volunteers come to help with a mailing, I always make sure to have cookies, crackers, and some kind of bread on hand (cranberry nut bread is #1 right now). I used to have muffins on hand, but these were rarely touched. In branching out a bit, I tried some other options and struck gold with ginger snap cookies and the aforementioned bread. Taking a little extra time to figure this out goes a long way in letting volunteers know they are appreciated and make the overall experience far more pleasant when they enjoy the snacks set before them, instead of having to feign enjoyment of dry crackers or who knows what else.

Another practice of appreciation is customizing the food and drinks on hand for your volunteers. If you know one volunteer enjoys herbal tea or earl grey, stop at the store and pick some up. If they are taking the time to help you, then you can at least provide them with a good cup of tea!

The beauty of appreciating volunteers through such tangible means is that it’s always appropriate. I have seen awkward and even tense situations resolved with a box of chocolate dropped off as a peace offering, or a generous amount of attentiveness. It’s hard to be put off when you’re being treated so kindly! So whatever the situation, appreciate, appreciate, appreciate. Going the extra mile to extend some common elements of hospitality will help communicate to volunteers how much they are valued by your organization.

Continue reading Someone Bigger Than Ourselves