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Seven Keys to Leading a Successful Volunteer Venture

Written by: Elizabeth Mullen

Article Overview: Have you ever wanted to make a difference in your community, but haven't known how to make it really work? Whether you want to start a mentoring program, a soup kitchen, a library drive, or a clean up project, these keys will give you guidance as to how to enroll voluteers and get the job done!

Seven Keys to Leading a Successful Volunteer Venture

Have you ever wanted to make a difference in your community, but haven't known how to make it really work? Whether you want to start a mentoring program, a soup kitchen, a library drive, or a clean up project, these keys will give you guidance as to how to enroll voluteers and get the job done!

7 Keys

1) be willing to do the activity alone, if need be, and enjoy it

2) make the time, place and duration explicitly clear to everyone you tell about your project

3) INVITE people. Don't coerce, try to sell it to them, or overly control their participation. When invited, most people will bring something to the "party" that really makes it fun.

4) keep it simple. Cleaning up trash is particularly easy. All you need are garbage bags, places to put the trash, and gloves if you want to look really official! Tell potential helpers about the raw materials (but bring enough yourself to cover half-a-dozen who come without)

5) have fun doing what you want to do. After all, you and everyone else will be actively making the world a better place... really. MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE! (this is what inspires me, and probably you, and probably many people who volunteer in community projects)

6) tell lots of people, including the press. Just call them up and tell them what, when, where,and how you are doing what you are doing. Even if you wind up alone out there, you will still peak lots of interest, and people may want to join you next time. You can always find online a resource/organizing principal that clearly articulates the "why" you are doing what you are doing.

finally--and probably most important--

7) remind people that what they are doing matters by telling incidents and specifics about how volunteering/mentoring/cleaning up/etc. matters to you. Just the simple truth will inspire others. Talk about what you have done to date, and the people you met along the way, and the "happy callouses." Once people experience their own ability to make a difference, they will probably keep it up on their own---and maybe do even more... Be sure to thank them for what they do.

Oh yes, and if it is easy enough for you, bring some food treats for your volunteers as a surprise. Maybe cookies or little chocolates or something-- cheap and easy is my motto on this.

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