Sorry, very late to this conversation.
Suggestion: Give them something. Run a once a month class for the basics, how to fix a flat, adjust and inspect brakes, maintain chain, inspect gear train, adjust derailleurs. I taught this, fast I admit, in 3 hrs. for a decade. Expectation was they could return during Open Shop and get more hands on asssistance with a basic understanding of what they were doing.
When I simply showed up on my own and asked if any new volunteers would like a couple of quick lessons, I never failed to get volunteers enthused that with these basics, they could start to help and get practice. They were already sick of simply tearing bikes down with no idea why or what the parts they were removing actually did. Ask, not demand, some time back, 6 hrs? Many will, those that don't oh well, was a cheap investment.
What truly amazed me over my decade of teaching basic maintenance, well over 200 classes, is how often this suggestion is rejected out of hand. A three hour investment is too much? Really? Worst case you have given another volunteer a chance to help out in the class to reenforce what they learned. The syllabus I used is on the Bike Wiki. The basics they can use immediately, not the "Build a Bike" where they do a hub but can't fix a flat. Air, Brakes, Cables/Chains/Dérailleurs. Also a great way to help someone if you do open shop assess their bike when they think they only need a derailleur adjustment while in reality the V brake adjustment is so far off it's an accident waiting to happen.
Just my $.02. But what's the classic definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Ron
On Tue, Aug 5, 2025 at 2:05 AM Geoff Smart via TheThinkTank < thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org> wrote:
Hi All,
In some but not all of our sessions we have an issue with volunteer retention. After surveying our volunteers and people who left after 3-4 sessions the consensus is that our 1 hour induction is not enough and that we need a more structured training and onboarding over multiple sessions for the cohort that for various reasons need more training and more interaction with staff and volunteers.
Has anyone had any luck with increasing retention using a more structured approach. If you have, we would appreciate any content or information you can share with us, and any other tips you may have to increase retention
Regards
*Geoff Smart* Chair Back2Bikes M : 0419 345 440 525 Williamstown Rd Port Melbourne 3207 back2bikes.org.au _______________________________________________ TheThinkTank mailing list -- thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe send an email to thethinktank-leave@lists.bikecollectives.org To view this discussion on the web visit https://lists.bikecollectives.org/hyperkitty/list/thethinktank@lists.bikecol...