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"New Opportunities for Volunteer Programs," The Morton Arboretum
The document discusses starting and maintaining an effective volunteer program for a community trees program. It provides tips for evaluating volunteer needs, recruiting volunteers, training volunteers, ensuring volunteer safety, making volunteers feel valued, and sustaining the program through evaluation and recognition of volunteers. The goal is to gain volunteer assistance without replacing paid staff by utilizing volunteers effectively for tasks that may not otherwise get done due to lack of staff or resources.
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"New Opportunities for Volunteer Programs," The Morton Arboretum
- 1. Community Trees Program New Opportunities for Volunteer Programs Beth Corrigan Community Trees Program Coordinator The Morton Arboretum 630-725-2119 bcorrigan@mortonarb.org 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org
- 2. Community Trees Program FOR A MUNICIPALITY: Volunteers are NOT replacements for staff – 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org Source: Village of Glencoe Volunteers are HELP and AID for Program & staff! Source: blog.sustainanabilitylearningcentre.com
- 3. Community Trees Program Value of a Volunteer exceeds monetary value: •Community pride - feel part of the community. •Advocate for community needs. •More understanding of the process. •Advocates for municipal staff. •Less likely to complain to the mayor and board. •Step into board or commission openings. •Building good will across the community. 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org
- 4. Community Trees Program START SMALL AND GROW The fact is – using volunteers in a program DOES have a financial value: $22.55 per hour (Independent Sector) 1 volunteer working 4 hours per week for 52 weeks = $4,690 per year Volunteer time can also be counted as match toward many grant programs 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org
- 5. Community Trees Program HOW TO GET STARTED? 1. Evaluate needs. What is not getting done? Outdoor/Seasonal Jobs Inside/Winter Jobs Tree inventory conducted and logged Work orders logged and processed Trees watered & mulched GIS mapping of utilities and trees Door hangers or info distributed Man-power reports up-to-date Perennial bed maintenance Messages taken and addressed Trees & shrubs pruned Newsletter or website articles & updating Invasives cut and herbicided Equipment cleaned and oiled 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org
- 6. Community Trees Program HOW TO GET STARTED? 1. Evaluate needs. What is not getting done? 2. What types of volunteers do you need? Skills required? Start a log Projects Time needed Frequency Special skills needed Training provided Individual, couple or group projects Source: mynicholspta.com 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org
- 7. Community Trees Program HOW TO GET STARTED? 1. Evaluate needs. What is not getting done? 2. What types of volunteers do you need? Skills required? 3. Recruit volunteers Source: communityempowermentseries.com REGULAR Postings of volunteer opportunities: •Website •Newsletter •Local organizations Background checks? 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org
- 8. Community Trees Program HOW TO GET STARTED? 1. Evaluate needs. What is not getting done? 2. What types of volunteers do you need? Skills required? 3. Recruit volunteers 4. Volunteers should be a good fit for your operation Skills and experience? Why are they interested in volunteering? Are they going to be able to participate: - # of hours needed? - on days & times identified? Do they have any references or previous experience? Consider questions you would ask in an interview 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org
- 9. Community Trees Program NEXT STEPS? 1. Orientation and training Be sure to provide orientation and job training for volunteers. Include the following: • Mission, goals and organization of the department • Reason for the particular project • Who their supervisor is • Safety practices and standards • Expectations 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org Source: intrepidgeophysics.com
- 10. Community Trees Program KEY TO SUCCESS! Volunteers should feel valued and important to the operation. It is important that the volunteer have a positive experience and feel valued for their service. They need to feel a part of the team. Source: turnbacktogod.com 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org
- 11. Community Trees Program NEXT STEPS? 1. Orientation and training 2. Waiver & liability Waivers are important whether the position be in the office or out in the field. Talk with your legal counsel. 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org
- 12. Community Trees Program SUSTAINABILITY Evaluation + Recognition = Retention 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org Source: tribework.blogspot.com Source: advance-ed.org
- 13. Community Trees Program Lots of opportunity & Lots of people 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 Email: communitytrees@mortonarb.org www.pcb.its.dot.gov QUESTIONS?
Editor's Notes
- #3 Reasons why you DON’T need to utilize volunteers: You have more than enough money to do what you want. (In fact you are going to return tax dollars to residents this year!) You have more staff than you know what to do with. You are getting it all done. You don’t need any advocates. Your residents are fully supportive of what you do and don’t question your judgment. There is already a strong sense of community. You don’t need to improve your community image – you have arrived!
- #4 Volunteers are more likely to express community pride – because they feel part of the community. Volunteers will have a better understanding and can help advocate for community needs. Volunteers who are informed about your operations practices are more understanding of the process. Volunteers who have good relationships with staff can be advocates for staff. Engaged residents are less likely to complain to the mayor and board. Volunteers may be more willing to step into board or commission openings. Volunteers can building good will across the community.
- #5 2008 – 2012 The Great Recession Financial resources cut Staff resources cut Services reduced Residents disenfranchised Who volunteers? In 2008, 61.8 million Americans or 26.4% of the adult population contributed 8 billion hours of volunteer service. (Independent Sector) Millennials are more likely to volunteer than their parents. Neighborhood engagement has risen significantly. People worked together to resolve a problem in their neighborhood. Corporations are looking for opportunities for community volunteerism. Youth are now required as part of their school experience to volunteer. We need to take advantage of these opportunities!
- #8 Look toward local volunteer tree groups!
- #13 Volunteers cannot receive monetary reward for their service They can accept small tokens of thanks Host an annual volunteer recognition event? Encourage volunteers to meet other volunteers and talk about what they do. The volunteer’s manager or supervisor should be included.