It is that time of year when it gets cold and a little slower, so we are assessing what we did this year that worked as well as what didn't, while not forgetting the things that we didn't get a chance to try. Luckily there is always next year. So...
Have you quantified your volunteer incubation process in the form of documents or some coordinator position that wouldn't mind spending some time on the phone with me? It turns out the heat lamps we tried were unsuccessful, so we aren't doing that again. In Utah we want to solidify the way(s) in which we turn a first timer into a core volunteer, and hopefully do it more often.
One thing we DID do, that was great, was steal and modify the Yellow Bike Project's volunteer tracking software (volunteer.slcbikecollective.org) which has resulted in automatic contact lists, community service letters with truly valid hours, the ability to keep track of Department of Workforce Services employee hours, increase enrollment in our email list, a slightly more formal way to keep track of people trading in volunteer hours, and the thing we always wanted -- valid statistics. So we will certainly be continuing that practice.
Now that we are collecting info more efficiently, we need to work on how we use that info effectively as a way to engage volunteers at higher levels.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Morrison Executive Director Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.slcbikecollective.org
The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Bicycle Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.