Tricks (or Treats) of Volunteer Management

I love volunteers. They help me set up decorations and signage, greet and check-in guests, and clean-up and bring supplies back to my office. Volunteers are like my extra set of arms carefully helping me execute multiple event tasks expertly.

In this economy, volunteers are highly desirable; therefore, we need to treat them well. It's taken me time to understand how to effectively communicate and treat volunteers in order to best manage them. Below are some tricks of the trade compiled from both my experiences and from the Donor Relations Guru Blog that I follow.

1. Have realistic expectations of your volunteers. Volunteers are donating their time; therefore, don't overload them with several projects or tasks.

2. Clearly define a volunteer's role. Manage their expectations along with your own. Define what the role's tasks are from the beginning and talk to the volunteer prior to your event to make sure they understand of what's being asked of them.

3. Appreciate your volunteers. I understand - we're all busy, but taking some time to write a personal note of appreciation and thanks to your volunteers goes a long way and helps to develop a relationship. Remember - a happy volunteer = a repeat volunteer.

To learn more volunteer tricks, go to www.donorrelationsguru.com/.

Have any volunteer horror stories or best practices (either your own volunteer experiences or managing volunteers)? If so, let us know. 

Are you a specialist or a generalist?

During Amy Phenix's talk at our September 15 program, she asked the audience if they felt they were generalists or specialists. The majority raised their hand for generalist.

Amy then went on to suggest that future reorganizing of communications at the U may favor specialists. It remains to be seen where this all will go, but in the meantime, let's ask the question again of our blog readers.

Wanted: Guest bloggers

Welcome to another academic year and the re-ignition of the Comm Forum blog. It has been a shotgun start for many of us, and with a new president, and soon, a new provost, a time of certain change. That means all kinds of things are going to be happening--shiny, new, and otherwise--and we want to hear about them from you.

So first, an invitation: We're looking for guest bloggers. Whether you have some expertise to share or creativity in any of its manifestations, we want to hear from you. Commit to as few as one post. Contact overland@umn.edu and we'll work out the details.

Second, how the blog will proceed: This year, the Forum board will do our best to post on Wednesdays and Fridays, primarily in three categories (and again--we need your help): polls and queries, member profiles, and link round-ups. Send suggestions of people to profile, questions you're curious about, and links to resources you've found valuable, as well as communication success stories from around the U.
 
We want to recognize good people, good work, and share proven ways to help everyone raise their game to the next level.
 
The Forum blog is a volunteer effort, and we've had successes in the past both informational and entertaining, like how the condemnation of new technologies (social media) is nothing new, a poll on how Forum members get to work, where we were before the U, and a philosophical meandering that posits there is too much "me" in social media, concluding with the words of Neil Diamond. Plus, humorous 404 pages.

Enjoy, and please keep the ideas coming.

 
--Adam Overland,

CF blog editor (Fall 2010-present)

Save the Date: 2012 UMCF Annual Conference

When: Thursday, July 26, 2012, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Where: St. Paul Continuing Education and Conference Center

An official save the date will be emailed to all members during fall 2011.

Registration will open early 2012. RSVP on Facebook to view ongoing updates about the conference.

• RSVP on Facebook

Expert Insight Event: Amy Phenix on Thurs., Sept. 15!

Amy Phenix, President Kaler's new chief of
staff, and Diana Harvey, our new chief communications officer, will be
speaking to the Communicators Forum on Thursday, September 15 at 3pm in
STSS
230. Amy's topic will be "Communications as Strategic Partner: Best
Practices." The program will begin promptly at 3 with an opportunity
for socializing afterward. Light appetizers will be from Kafe 421. Please register for this program on the UMCF website.

This program and all other Expert Insight events will be available by UMConnect.

Robert Sevier's Presentation at "Making Our Case"

For those of you who wish to revisit Robert Sevier's breakout session on "Developing an Experience Marketing Strategy," please download this attachment.

2011 - Experience Marketing - Final SG.pdf

2011 Maroon & Gold Awards Recipients

Maroon & Gold awards are presented annually to UMCF members whose work
best embodies the University's core values: excellence,
innovation, integrity, diversity, academic freedom, collaboration,
sharing of knowledge, accountability, stewardship, and
service.

 Congratulations to the 2011 winners, listed below!

CATEGORY: WRITING

• GOLD
  Rebuilding Faces, Rebuilding Lives: Reconstructive Surgeons Give People Another Chance For a Normal Life
  Minnesota Medical Foundation
• MAROON - Short Feature
  
  Alumni Spotlight: Janis Amatuzio M.D.-Adding Compassion to Forensic Pathology
  Minnesota Medical Foundation
• MAROON - Long Feature
  Second Hand: Art That Speaks to Our Relationship to Stuff
  Institute on the Environment
• MAROON - Instructional
  
  Extension Website Governance Guidelines
  Extension Center for Food, Agriculture & Natural Resource Sciences
• MAROON - Script
  About University of Minnesota Extension presentation slides
  Extension Center for Food, Agriculture & Natural Resource Sciences

CATEGORY: MULTIMEDIA

• GOLD
  Promise of the Prairie Documentary
  Morris University Relations
• MAROON - Website
  Student Unions & Activities Website Redesign
  Student Unions & Activities
• MAROON - Video/DVD
  Water for Mulobere
  Institute on the Environment
• MAROON - Coordinated Social Media
  Institute on the Environment
  Facebook, Blog, Twitter, YouTube

CATEGORY: PRINT

• GOLD
  Momentum Magazine, Summer 2010
  
  Institute on the Environment
• MAROON - Multi Sheet
  Enhancing Minnesota
  College of Food, Agriculture & Natural Resource Sciences
• MAROON - Single Sheet
  
  Spring Events Calendar
  Student Unions & Activities
• MAROON - Card
  Kerlan Award Postcard
  University Libraries
• MAROON - Specialty
  University of Minnesota, Morris Vision for Sustainability
  Morris University Relations
• MAROON - Magazine
  Reach Magazine, Spring 2010
  College of Liberal Arts Media & Public Relations

CATEGORY: CAMPAIGN

• GOLD
  Discovery Showcase
  Minnesota Medical Foundation
• MAROON - Informational
  
  25 Years of MnTAP Success
  Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
• MAROON - Promotional
  
  Andersen Horticultural Library Promotional Campaign
  
  University Libraries

CATEGORY: GREEN

• EFANS Connects: A Quarterly Webinar For Employees
  Extension Center for Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences

CATEGORY: MARGO

• Extension Program Website Pilot Project
  
  Extension Center for Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences

CATEGORY: MIKE

• Andersen Horticultural Library Promotional Campaign
  University Libraries