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Summer Plans: Vacation, Relaxing and Volunteer Management | Tidy Thursday

By April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

 
Many schools {and students} are counting down the 2 months left in the academic year. Warmer weather, less scheduled days, vacation time and all around layed back attitudes.

But wait, this is the time of year to keep your head in the game! This is the time to get some serious planning done for next year! {eeek!}

How hard do you think it will be to find all those great volunteers in the summer months???

Now is the time to set initial dates for fall meetings, back to school events, fundraising ideas and who will need to be where ~ when!

Trust me, do it now and you'll have a much more enjoyable summer!

So let's think about this for a minute ... what's on that list? More importantly, how are you going to ensure your volunteers don't get burned out before the school year even begins?

Create an action plan:

Provide current and potential volunteers with plans for next school year.

• How many fundraisers?
• When are Parent-Teacher conferences?
• What special events are planned, like musical performances?

Consider including how many volunteers you'll need for each commitment. Be sure to use VolunteerSpot's online sign up sheets to organize and coordinate efforts. And like I said back in Athletic Plan of Action, listen to your volunteers. If they sound resistant or hesitant, address their concerns right away! If you ignore the volunteer, the volunteer may ignore your requests.

Communicate:

Know when you'll need to contact people, let them know they can expect "an email", "phone call", "packet" around - set a date. Then wish everyone a great summer break! When clear communication is in place everyone can feel as though they are in the loop and rely on the pre-set system to work. When it does work, you get a very involved and committemd community!

Be considerate:

• When someone says No, respect it.
• Don't call their home after traditional business hours.
• DO NOT use their email for personal communications unless they have given you specific permission {no one appreciates the "funny" email from a person they don't know well}.
• Evaluate your action plan and try to spread the overall effort across multiple events or projects.

A little planning this spring will bring a successful back-to-school season next fall!

Are there other things you do in your spring planning as a PTA/O? Share your thoughts or ideas below in the comments or over on our Volunteer Spot Facebook Page.

Keepin' it Tidy,

April

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April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect

For more ideas on how to work with and coordinate your volunteers effectively, see: Avoiding Volunteer Burnout

How To Host The Best Easter Egg Hunt

Creating and helping to make an ‘egg’cellent Easter Egg Hunt is one Easter basket away from reality! Talk to your church or local women’s group or charity. Many run their own ‘egg’stravagant egg hunts and you can offer to volunteer your time to help them get it set up for success. Whether it’s at home in your backyard with neighbors and kids, or with your whole congregation of Sunday School children… FIVE Fabulous Suggestions to Make the Most out of your Easter Egg Hunting this year.

1. Make it Simple: Buy the complete kit! There are complete Egg Hunting Kits out there with all you need for a backyard event, or most stores have plastic eggs prefilled with candy! I love buying German Kinder Surpise Eggs at Easter, but it has become a grown up Easter Egg Hunt to find them in the US! You have to find import stores or order online (remember to order early!).
2. Maximize your Volunteers: Remember to use VolunteerSpot's free online sign up sheets to ask for helpers and egg donations! The more helpers and families bringing eggs, the less chaos. Fun is the name of the game, so don’t get egg all over your face!
3. Send Everyone Home Happy: Everyone wants a basket full of eggs after an Easter Egg hunt. The best way to even out the loot and lessen the tears is to divide your area into giant roped off squares. Confine the youngest hunters to one area with eggs scattered easy to find. Then gradually move up in age ranges in different squares, making the older gatherers work harder to hunt their eggs.
4. Use your phone!: Android app Easter Egg Hunt—Anytime is Egg Hunting time! At the Doctor’s office, while waiting for a restaurant meal, or on the long drive to Grandma’s for Easter Dinner.
5. Divide and Conquer: Let families know in advance that each child will be going home with the same amount as they came with. If each family donates a dozen filled eggs per child at the beginning of the hunt then divide them up at the end and everyone goes home with the same number of eggs(although different than they brought).

One last tip. Take lots of pictures! Easter Egg Hunts are perfect for documenting your group’s event and the children involved. Get a friend to sign up specifically to take photos of the big day!

Hop to it!

VolunteerSpot’s free online sign up sheets are great for organizing your eggstravaganza - hassle free! Invite your posse of friends, family, and volunteers to sign up to bring eggs, hide eggs, and provide brunch items and entertainment – see sample sign up sheet below.

 
 

Social Entrepreneurship Program for Kids

YesKidzCan.com introduces their "Social KidPreneurz Awards Program"

YesKidzCan.com, an online resource that helps parents, educators, and community leaders engage young kids in efforts to change our world, is starting a new initiative that's kicking off on April 4th, the Social KidPreneurz Awards Program. It is the first-ever awards program designed to engage and teach young kids about social entrepreneurism. 

YesKidzCan! will give fifty $100 awards to kids (in grades 3-5) to undertake a simple entrepreneurial activity to benefit society. The idea behind the program is to expose kids to innovative ideas and help them to imagine new ways of solving problems. The program will lay the important groundwork for more substantial learning and action as kids enter middle school, high school, and beyond.

The co-founders of YesKidzCan!, Julie Chapman and Lisa Novick say:

 “Many kids already do social entrepreneurial activities. For example, the kids who open lemonade stands and donate the profits to causes – these are our youngest social entrepreneurs. By more formally exposing kids to this innovative field at early ages, we will help them imagine more ways to solve problems and instill in them the belief that they can use the power of entrepreneurism to help shape their world.”

In order to help kids learn more about social entrepreneurship, YesKidzCan! has created easy and age-appropriate Learning Tools that kids and adults can work on  together to create a social entrepreneurial activity. These Learning Tools reinforce business lessons from goal setting and product planning to marketing and evaluation and include an e-Workbook, fact sheets, resource listings, crossword and word search puzzles, and more. 

To apply for an award, an adult sponsor, in collaboration with the child, can download and complete the Social KidPreneurz Awards Application and mail it to YesKidzCan! by June 1, 2011. YesKidzCan! will announce awards on June 15.

For more information on how to get started with your own social entrepreneur endeavor, visit: http://www.yeskidzcan.com/social-entrepreneurz.html.

How to Get Publicity for Your Benefit Auction: Use Auction Games and Raffles!

By Sherry Truhlar of Red Apple Auctions LLC

 
I refer to auction games, raffles, and activities as the “bells and whistles” of benefit auctions.  Some call them revenue generators, but that’s an understatement because they do more than make you money.

These are the fun add-ons designed to address specific problems, involve the crowd, trigger fun, attract press, and (yes) make you money.

This post addresses the “attract press” piece.

Many groups seem decent at securing post-gala publicity.  But its pre-event recognition which will help sell your tickets.

Here are two ideas to help you secure elusive pre-event publicity for your charity auction.

Consider Headwaters Foundation, a public school foundation about two hours south of D.C.  The Foundation is located in what has traditionally been one of the poorer counties of Virginia.  The Foundation provides support for the public school system by increasing community involvement in education.  

Pitching two angles, a savvy Executive Director managed to score sought-after pre-event publicity in both her local paper and The Georgetowner. 

The latter publication, as you might imagine from the name, caters to that trendy zip code in Washington, D.C.  Although I haven’t researched it, I sense it also has a more affluent readership than the local paper.

Think about it:  Of all of the thousands of charities in the D.C. area, The Georgetowner wrote a coveted 8.5″ story on a charity hosting an auction gala two hours south of Washington, D.C.

What gives?

I wasn’t on the call between the Executive Director and the reporter, so I can only glean information from the article.

In the third sentence, the Executive Director states, “We’ve hired Red Apple Auctions of Alexandria to help us with both the silent and live auctions, and they have some great new ideas that we are implementing.”

Did you catch it?

That single sentence had two tips to help you secure publicity.

• First, she said she hired someone.  That ups the ante.

It’s like a baseball team announcing that they’ve hired a new coach.  You’re expecting something better.

So as you think about your nonprofit … who have you hired that brings with them an expectation of improvement?

Most organizations focus on announcing their band or some headline entertainment.  Although headline entertainment might help you sell tickets, you don’t have to go to that extreme.  This group succeeded in securing publicity even with a fairly straightforward dinner and auction.

• Second, she talked “new ideas.” That’s change.

She’s saying, “Hey, we’re different.”  I don’t know if she shared the new ideas (auction bells and whistles) with the reporter.  If she did, they didn’t make it into the story.

Remember:  “new” = story

For instance, last fall, I spoke about using electronic bidding devices in your silent auction.  If you were one of the first groups in your area to use that technology, that’s a story.  You’d be using “the latest” technology.  It’s a new angle. The reporter could cover that as a technology story or a public interest story, as they did for this benefit auction in Colorado Springs.

When you use auction bells and whistles in your event, pitch that.

P.S. Headwaters enjoyed some solid post-auction publicity, too.

*** 

 

Benefit auctioneer Sherry Truhlar's entertaining stories and advice is often picked up by publications (e.g. Town & Country, The Washington Post Magazine, AUCTIONEER, The Eleusis, The Virginia Auctioneer) and television (e.g. E! Style, TLC) where she inspires and teaches volunteers how to hit new fundraising records in their auction galas.  Enjoy her FREE Auction Item Guide (listing the 100 best-selling items to sell in your benefit auction) at http://www.RedAppleAuctions.com.

Social Media Tips for Nonprofits

Social media is no longer limited to college and high school students chatting with each other online, it's a full blown global phenomena and any organization can benefit from knowing at least the basics about Twitter, Facebook and blogging. But effective social media strategy isn't something that's easily developed, and it needs to be tailored to each specific organization's members in order to reach them effectively. Here to give you some pointers in navigating this confusing online conversation is Lori Jacobwith, communication and fundraising strategist extraordinaire. Thanks Lori!

Staying Sane with Social Media

By Lori Jacobwith

 1. It’s SOCIAL. Meaning you have interactions with others. You listen. They listen. You share. They share. There is a “talking” sure. But more important there is a listening. The place to start in social media is to listen. Listen to where your community is connecting. What are they saying? Who is doing the talking? What can you learn from how, when and how often they are communicating?

2. It’s about community, find it build it, add value to it. Once you know where your community is hanging out. Hang with them and start communicating with them. But I can’t say enough about how important it is to provide value with whatever avenue of social media you choose to use.

• Share startling statistics about the population you serve.

• Share stories that are compelling but dispel myths.

• Share links to other websites and information.

• Add value for your listener’s every time you send a Tweet or post on LinkedIn, YouTube or Facebook. Add value.

3. It involves time and trust. You take time each day to eat, spend some quality moments with your family. . . why wouldn’t you also spend time connecting with your community in ways that more deeply engage them? You don’t have to do it all yourself either. Staff, volunteers, and donors are all a part of the community to engage and assist you with adding value to others.

4. It’s not if you’re going to play, but when. If you think social media is a fad or it’s only for a younger generation, think again. Watch this short video to learn some amazing statistics about the growth of social media. It’s here to stay.When my 70+ year-old mother got a Facebook page I knew there was no turning back. It’s everywhere, this social media phenomenon. It’s a powerful energy your organization can harness to get your community excited, enlightened, and even more deeply engaged.

 As Seth Godin, bestselling author & marketing guru says:

"How can you squander even one more day not taking advantage of the greatest shifts of our generation?"

"How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?"

Yes, you want to have a social media policy and strategy. There are resources out there to help with both. The Mayo Clinic has their policy online so you can review it, print it, and use it as a template for your own policy.

Don’t let the creation of the policy or the strategy bog you down. It’s a great place to start engaging your community to help you create those for you.

Main message of today’s session:

Get started. Listen for a bit. And then start providing value to your community. Have fun while you are doing it and above all, involve others in your community so it doesn’t take all of YOUR time.

***

Communication & Fundraising Strategist and Trainer Lori L. Jacobwith has spent more than 20 years helping people and organizations increase visibility & communicate boldly to generate more individual fundraising dollars. Her fundraising and communication strategies have helped organizations to collectively raise more than $100 million. She lives in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and is an active volunteer with organizations supporting women and children.

Adding a Sign Up Sheet Link to Your Facebook Page | How 2 VolunteerSpot

One of the best ways to recruit volunteers is to find them where they are already hanging out.  For many groups, that means facebook!  If your nonprofit, team or school has a facebook page - or if you do personally,  consider adding your VolunteerSpot sign up sheet invitation links there. (Please note, anyone with access to your facebook page will be able to sign up for your activity.)

Adding Sign Up Sheet Links on Facebook

It's easy - here's how:

 

1. When you create your signup sheet, copy the activity's unique URL link from the Invitation Screen in the Planning Wizard or from here:

 

2. Open your Facebook account and click "Link" in the News feed.  Paste in your link where it says "What's on your mind?" and click Attach. (The link looks something like this: http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/54234563443539201)

 

3. When the screen below comes up, click on the link URL address to edit what shows in that field. Change the text to say something like,  "Click here to signup on VolunteerSpot".  

Type something about your activity in the "Say something about this link..." line. 

Click the "Share" button to publish the link.

 

It looks like this when published:

Volunteers will NOT need to register an account at VolunteerSpot -- just click the link and enter a valid email address to access your signup sheet.

Happy Volunteering!

 

Camping with Kids | Tidy Thursday

By April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

With the ground thawing in many regions, the aching for spring and summer activities begins to tickle our conscience. In my house this means lots of fishing, hunting and camping. Good thing we live in an area rich for these hobbies!

My favorite of the 3? Camping of course!

I must admit though, I'm a fair-weather camper. As in, I only last on the air mattress for 1 {one} night before I realize I'm no spring chicken anymore!

This doesn't stop the avid outdoorsmen I live with though. They enjoy hiking for hours to the peak of the nearest mountain, finding a secluded lake and pitching their tent for the night.

Trust me, I'm smiling as I wave and say "have fun boys, and be careful!".

The days leading up to this adventure can be filled with tons of tasks and errands. Good thing we camped when the kiddos were younger.

Things I remind all parties of:

• extra socks {wet feet are no fun}
• plenty of water {dehydration isn't fun either}
• a deck of water proof cards
• an extra jacket for fireside time
• bug spray {every year they argue, every year they use it!}
• smart equipment {advances in technology have allowed us to carry less weight}
• healthy snacks {there's nothing worse than a kiddo coming off a sugar high in the middle of a campsite!}
• a good sense of humor

Back when we did camp together, things I remembered being helpful:

• picking up the tent after everyone was awake
• enlisting the kids to help with KP after meals
• leaving electronics at home {yes, I heard the collective gasp}
• bringing "new" or "special" items for down time {new crayons or a game, a book from a series they're reading, magazines they would find interesting ~ National Geographic for kids is great for this}
• taking a nap with the kiddos during the day {so my energy level matched theirs at 9pm}
• an old blanket or towel for outside the tent in sandy areas {keeps the 'tracking it in' to a minimum}
• my curiosity {going on an adventure around the campsite were some of the best memories we made}

As a veteran Mom, I've done my time smelling like a campfire and itching those bug bites. These days you'll find me in a travel trailer at a "plug-in" site, showering {everyday} in my mini bathroom and shutting the door at night while the mosquitoes wonder where the feast went.

Will you be camping this year? What are some of the must have items you pack? Let me know in the comments below or over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page!

For more great ideas on Camping with Kids, please see VolunteerSpot's free eBook:

Keepin' it Tidy,

April

***

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect

7 Quick Tips for Fostering Multi-Generational Service | Worship Wednesdays

Worship Wednesdays

We're pleased to recognize our VolunteerSpot community serving in their places of worship. 

Please welcome our guest Sue Brage, editor of Church Volunteer Daily.  Twice a month she'll be sharing best practices and fresh ideas that make volunteering with your faith community (or school or nonprofit) even more  fun and rewarding. Today's article is on the importance of including people of all ages and walks of life in your organization's service efforts.

 

 

7 Quick Tips for Fostering Multi-Generational Service

By Sue B rage

“How can we get the next generation more engaged in service?”

“Are there ways to encourage the generations to work together?”

“What is the best way to ensure that all age groups feel included and important to the mission of the churc h?”

These are some of the questions we’ve been hearing lately…and discussing as a team. I don’t think there is any “magic” one-size-fits-all answer. However, I think there are some simple things a church can do to create a church that welcomes and equips believers of every age!

1. Talk to them
It’s surprising how much time we can spend trying to figure out how to engage a certain group, young parents, “senior saints” and especially the younger generation…all without actually talking to them. It’s amazing what you can learn when you ask questions and let them have input.

2. Include them
To segue from point one, including a variety of age groups on your planning committees, worship committees, or any other committee will create a deeper bond and investment on their part, which is really what you are after.

3. Invite them
Make it a point to personally invite people of every age group to your events. Don’t assume because they read it in the bulletin or see it on the big screen they will feel welcome. However, if you actually tell them you would love to have them at your next event, and even ask them to help; you may be surprised at the response.

4. Connect them
Consider this the buddy system for your church. When you invite someone new to help or attend an event, plan ahead and connect them with someone of a similar age group, season of life, or interest level. This may sound like a lot of effort on your part, but it will be worth it. A simple introduction can get people talking and feeling like they belong.

5. Affirm them
No matter how old or young we are, we need affirmation that our contributions are valuable. Be sure each person you talk to knows how important they are to your ministry and why you would love to see them get more involved. Say things like, “Your wisdom will be a special blessing to the young families.” OR “I appreciate the passion and energy you bring!” Being specific and personal lets them know you are sincere.

6. Train them
Training communicates value to your volunteers. It shows them you value their gifts enough to help them grow; and it shows you value their role in the church. Don’t make the mistake of assuming the older generation knows what they are doing, or that the younger one doesn’t.

7. Release them
Let each person serve from their own unique gifts, experience, and style. Recognize that you may approach things differently than someone from a different generation. That does not mean you are right and they are wrong! Have grace toward them, certainly correcting when necessary, but allow for generational differences and welcome the fresh, unique flair they bring to your ministry.

***

About the Author

 

Sue Brage worked in nonprofit marketing and communications for more than nine years before joining Group Publishing as Online Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com.  Her experience as a writer, editor, and volunteer coordinator (not to mention wife and mother) gives her a unique perspective and ability to encourage and help leaders. She has a big heart for people and great passion for helping others serve their churches and communities better.  Follow Sue on Twitter and @SueBrage and @CVCDaily

Win Big With Carolina Pad For You & Your Fave Volunteer!

National Volunteer Week is next month! (April 10-16^th)

Volunteerspot is excited to team up with Carolina Pad to help us celebrate National Volunteer Week!

Do you know a volunteer that goes above and beyond? Always helpful and willing to go that extra mile?

Please share your favorite volunteer with Carolina Pad and you could both win designer prizes! 

Each weekday during National Volunteer Week, a winner will receive a special prize package including:

 

• $20 gift certificate to CarolinaPadStore.com for the nominated volunteer
• $20 gift certificate for the nominator
• & up to 20 free designer notebooks for your volunteer group!

That’s FIVE chances to enter and win for yourself and for your favorite volunteer!

Click here to enter today, it's easy and no purchase necessary to win!   

Writing the Perfect Volunteer Thank You Note

This post originally appeared on the HandsOn Blog; we liked it so much, they were kind enough to let us re-run it. Please visit the HandsOn Network which inspires, equips and mobilizes people to change lives through service.

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 8 Tips for Writing the Perfect Volunteer Thank You Note

You’ve thanked the volunteers that serve with your organization, right?  Thanking them when they’re serving is important, but it’s also important to show them that their service is important even when they’re not serving.  A thank you note sent to a volunteer at their home is a great reminder that they’re an important part of the organization.  Here are eight tips for writing personal thank you notes to your volunteers:

1) Focus on the volunteer.

Before you write the thank you note, try writing the volunteer’s address on the envelope and write it out by hand.  As you’re writing their address, think about your relationship to the volunteer; think about where they’re living and how they’re serving.  It will help you to write an individual message for that volunteer

2) Write the note by hand.

Unless the number of volunteers your organization has makes writing a thank you note by hand unfeasible, take the extra time to write the note out by hand.  A hand written note will mean more to your volunteers and shows that you’ve taken the time to focus on each volunteer specifically. (If you must send an email thank you note, consider these lovely, free electronic Thank You Cards from Baudv!lle.)

3) Talk about the volunteer’s service directly.

When you’re thanking your volunteer for their service, include a note about something that the volunteer has done.  Whether it’s figuring out a new way to do something, making sure that the people they work with are always smiling, or being the only one that can figure out how to make the copier stop squeaking, be sure to draw attention to it.

4) Talk about how the volunteer’s service is changing or improving the organization

If the new way of doing something improves the office work flow, tell the volunteer how many hours the improvement saves over the course of a year.  If the volunteer helps to buoy everyone’s spirits, tell the volunteer how their presence makes everyone’s day a little easier to get through.

5) Try writing a draft before writing out a thank you card.

Your writing will get a little bit better with each draft.  You can keep an early version of the thank you note in the volunteer’s file where it can serve as a reminder of the great work they’ve done for your organization.

6) Keep it simple.

Your thank you note doesn’t have to be a complicated and involved.  It doesn’t have to be a Presidential address.  It can be two or three lines, simply written that come from the heart.  Pretty words are great when you’re trying to charm someone, but meaningful words are more important when you’re trying to thank them.

7) Think of how your organization can serve the volunteer better.

If there is something that your organization can do to make the volunteer’s work easier to do, mention that you’re trying to make those things happen.  Whether it’s a brighter desk lamp, more thorough trainings, or simply involving the volunteers more in the day-to-day operation of your organization, let the volunteers know that you’re willing to support them and the work that they do as much as they support you and your organization.

8) Write a lot of thank you notes.

If you’re not used to writing thank you notes to your volunteers, write a lot of them.  It will get easier, and you’ll get better at it.  Remember, you can never say thank you too many times.

What are some of the ways that you’ve said thank you to the volunteers you work with?  Let us know about the awesome ways of showing your volunteers that you appreciate them – whether it’s high fives in the hallways or winter wellness kits full of tissues and vitamin c.

*** 

Read more great posts about volunteering and being the change you want to see in the world on the HandsOn Blog. Follow HandsOn Network on Twitter @HandsOnNetwork, and visit them on facebook.

 

 

 

 

Too Many Volunteers? One School’s Creative Volunteer Management Solution

What a nice problem to have!

It’s a problem some of us just dream about – imagine having too many people eager to volunteer at your school or program!  Managing an abundance of volunteers with skill and grace is critical. The more involvement opportunities you can generate, the more commitment and ownership your volunteers will feel towards your school or nonprofit.  If you stick to the same core group of volunteers, not only might they succumb to volunteer burnout, you run the risk of other eager volunteers-to-be thinking the organization is selective, run by cliques, or worse, doesn’t need or value their participation (and financial contributions).

We recently spoke with Rhonda J., a parent leader at a (lucky) public elementary school in Houston and member of the Texas PTA that has just this problem.  Her elementary school has 800 students, 600 PTA members and 350 active parent volunteers! Because they do such a good job of managing their wealth of parent volunteers, parents feel involved and come back year after year. They’ve even managed to turn their situation into financial bounty for the school.  

 

DON’T Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Sustainable earth-friendly strategies and sustainable volunteer management are opposites in this situation. Rhonda works with all her PTA’s committee chairs, room parents and teachers to follow these guidelines:

No Reducing: When someone offers a suggestion for help, find a way to make it work. Efficiency isn’t the goal, maximum participation is.  For example, making Cafeteria Volunteer shifts 40 minutes each instead of 1 hour and 15 minutes so more parents have a chance to participate.  

No Reusing: Once a volunteer has helped with a classroom or PTA activity, check them off and put them at the bottom of the volunteer list.  This way everyone rotates, getting a turn to be involved and be seen by their kids helping at school.

No Recycling: Broaden your network – don’t just call on your circle of friends to help with the project at hand (class party, book fair, bake sale, talent show) or to lead the committee next year. Go to the master list and see who has indicated interest in participating.  Call folks you haven’t met before and get to know them.

 

Volunteer Buy-Out Fundraiser

Acknowledging that there are so many eager parents on her campus, and wanting to appeal to the parents that are not the super-active type, Rhonda’s PTA has turned not-volunteering into a fundraiser for the school.  A $25 donation flags the volunteer on a limited call list to support just three events during the year, $50 for two, and a $100 donation gets a busy parent a buy-out of all but one school event.

 

Next Steps – a Community-Building Invitation

We think Rhonda’s school has done a terrific job of managing an abundance of volunteers.  Clear communication and reinforcement from the volunteer leadership at all levels keeps parents interested, involved, and willing to go the extra mile for their school.  We invite fortunate groups like these to consider sharing the wealth by partnering with another school or nonprofit in their area that’s not as well-off in its volunteer roles.  Imagine the positive community impact if a prerequisite to getting on the volunteer list for choice committee jobs is donating service hours at a partner school or program in need. 

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You may also like:

Engaging Parent Volunteers, Action Planning for Back-to-School

Tourist-Traveler-Guide: Journey of the Volunteer

VolunteerSpotlight: Sherry Polidore, Parent Leader, Arrowhead Elementary School, Collegeville, PA

The Methacton School District has long enjoyed a tradition of excellence in education and community involvement in their schools. They value volunteering on many levels and believe that school volunteers enhance the educational experience in many ways:

• Helping to ensure that vital programs like music, sports and the arts are available in the school
• Working as the extra hands, ears, and hearts of teachers whose responsibilities extend to many students 
• Working to ensure the smooth operation of many school activities, we sometimes take for granted – for example, concessions at sporting events, or equipment management at band competitions
• Listening, caring, and supporting the most important person in any school – the student!

Today, our VolunteerSpotlight shines on Sherry Polidore, Co-President of Arrowhead Home & School Association,  Arrowhead Elementary School, Collegeville, PA. Sherry uses VolunteerSpot to organize the Book Fair, Homeroom parties, Grandfriends Day, Spring Fair, Mother/Son Night, and many other events.

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What activities have you organized as a parent volunteer?
So many activities! Over the years, I have served as a co-chairperson for Family Bingo Night, Grandfriends Day, Spiritraiser, Yearbook, Family Fall Festival, Mother/Son Night, and Holiday Shop.

How did you get interested in volunteering?
When my sons started school, I found that volunteering was a great way to get to be a part of their educational and social lives. Both boys seemed to enjoy having me at the school, so that was a plus. I have always liked working with kids, so volunteering was just a lot of fun for me too. I personally have gotten a great deal of gratification out of helping.

What’s one piece of advice you have for parent volunteers out there?
Although sometimes volunteering may seem time consuming or frustrating, stick with it, because the smiles on our kids’ faces make it all worth it. One of the best things that ever happened to me - after arriving home exhausted from an event that had taken months to organize, my 1st grader said to me, “Mommy, I really had fun at Game Night. Thanks for doing it for us.”

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?
One of our moms saw VolunteerSpot mentioned in a magazine, and decided to try it for her event. It worked so well that she shared it with all of our committee heads. We are now using it for everything from homeroom party organizing to very large events. I recently used it for an event to schedule volunteers for both time and donating food. It involved about 60 volunteers. In the past, this event required weeks of phone calls, checking back with people, leaving voice mails and emails. With VolunteerSpot, I spent 40 minutes setting it up on the website. I checked back about an hour after the invitations were sent, and I already had 3 volunteers. I didn’t have to make a single phone call. On the day of the event, I printed out my VolunteerSpot lists, and used them for organization at the event. I could not get over how easy it was this time around.

Anything else you’d like our readers to know about volunteering?
Volunteering is a wonderful way for you to be involved in your kids’ school lives. Not only does volunteering set a great example for your child, but it gives you the chance to make new friends, meet teachers and staff, and get to know your child’s friends.

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To learn more about Arrowhead Elementary School, please visit www.methacton.org.

We salute Sherry and all the other parents helping out at school and making a difference!  If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at [email protected].

Bake Sale Tips | Tidy Thursday

By April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Every week my bio {see below} claims what a "horrible cook" I am. I promise, not only is it true, my children can attest to it. However, what it doesn't say ... is what a great baker I am. I know, weird.

I keep my mad baking skills a closely guarded secret though. As you can imagine, if that were to get out I'd be up to my elbows in flour and making quite a mess of my keyboard! But, when the kids ask ~ my apron comes out and we get busy making the house smell amazing.

Baking has always been a fond memory for me.

• My mom baking like crazy around the holidays as a Navy wife.
• Discovering my own skills {passed down from previous generations no doubt}.
• The first time I successfully baked my husband's favorite cake, from scratch.
• My teenager making his first successful batch of chocolate chip cookies.
• And all the bake sales I prepared goodies for when the kiddos were younger.

Looking forward to participating in a Bake Sale has always been considered a "sickness" my friends lovingly tease me about. But the truth is, it speaks to the planner in me by way of helping an organization raise funds.

• 1 week before sale:
  • Determine the recipe(s)
  • Take inventory from your own pantry
  • Make a shopping list {don't forget containers for transporting goodies}
  • Run necessary errands
  • Schedule the time needed to do baking, decorating and/or packaging
• 2 days before sale:
  • Clear a work space for mixing recipes and cooling goodies
  • Consider steps that could be completed ahead of time
  • Make sure all containers are clean
• 1 day before sale:
  • Prepare and bake recipes
  • Cool accordingly
  • Decorate and/or package for transport
• Day of bake sale:
  • Deliver goodies
  • Plan enough time to connect with group during delivery if you're not staying to help

My super secret success tip? ALWAYS make an extra batch to leave at home!

"What is your favorite Bake Sale Recipe?"

Leave a comment below or head over to the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page to let us know {and possibly help others!}

Keepin' it Tidy,

April

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April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect

Healthy Snacks and More: Celebrate National Nutrition Month!

Everyone knows that eating right (and exercising) leads to better health. But as our lives become increasingly more busy and sit-down family meals become a challenge, healthy eating is often the victim. The ever-expanding waistband of America has come under scrutiny and tipping the scales is all this extra weight is causing healthcare costs to skyrocket.

Solving this national crisis and what to do about our nutrition has been a hot topic of debate, from media coverage to the political realm.

This March, celebrate National Nutrition Month by evaluating your family’s eating habits and making simple changes for the healthier. The theme this year for National Nutrition Month is “Eat Right by Color”, let’s add a whole bunch of purples, greens and blues to all that white, brown and yellow and try something new!

10 Tips To Make Better Nutrition Choices in March and Beyond*

• 20 Ways to Enjoy More Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains and Dairy  
• 25 Healthy Snacks for Kids 
• Color Your Plate with Salad
• Eating Right for a Healthy Weight 
• Eating Right Tips for Older Adults
• Everyday Eating for a Healthier You
• Healthy Eating on the Run
• Power Up with Breakfast
• Shop Smart — Get the Facts on Food Labels 
• Smart Snacking for Adults and Teens 
• Step Up to Nutrition and Health

And if you’re looking for some easy ideas to feed your kids on the run, check out VolunteerSpot’s free ebook: Healthy Snack Ideas for kids on teams.

 

* Provided by the American Dietetic Association,

Pamper Your Volunteers with Spa Week: April 11-17th!

Ready to feel good about doing good, de-thaw and rejuvenate for spring? How lucky is this? National Volunteer Week is the exact same week that Spaweek.com is offering fabulous $50 spa deals!

I think it’s a sign. A sign that you and your favorite volunteer deserve to be pampered. National Volunteer Week is a reminder to start thinking about all the amazing things your volunteers do to make a difference in your community. The few moms who show up everytime you have a last-minute call for volunteers at school, the kind-hearted souls who make folks smile week-after-week at your local community kitchen, the same 10 people always willing to bring in ‘just one more casserole’ for the church potluck. You know who I’m talking about - and it may even be YOU!

What would you do for your favorite volunteer?

The person who:

• Spends extra hours on thankless projects
• Remembers details everyone else completely forgets
• Never complains and brings early morning treats!
• Always smiles and whose attitude can change a repititive task into an exciting outing

Consider purchasing a $50 spa deal from Spaweek knowing you are really purchasing a much larger gift from $75-100 worth! That special volunteer in your life will think you are a saint!

 

And while you’re at it, buy a new treatment you’ve never tried for yourself at the low Spaweek price! A whole week of spa pampering on a budget? Count me in!

Here’s how it works

1. Head over to Spaweek.com, register and locate a participating spa in your area

2. Browse through participating spas (and the luxurious discounted treatments offered, a $75-100 value!)

3. Call the spa directly to book your appointment during the week of April 11-17^th.

4. Show up and only pay $50!

Enjoy your Spaweek and spread the Volunteer Love. Reward a Volunteer Today!