Volunteers
An Underutilized Resource

By Ray Morrill, CLP

In light of the recent Tax Cap legislation, leveling off of tax assessments, increased competition for participant revenue and rising costs of maintenance and operation, park and recreation agencies are becoming more aware of the role volunteers can play in providing quality service. In its publication entitled Volunteer 2000 Study, the American Red Cross redefined volunteerism as "individuals who reach out beyond the confines of either paid employment and their normal responsibilities to contribute time and service to a not-for-profit cause in the belief that their activity is beneficial to others as well as satisfying to themselves."

"In the 1992 calendar year, the Wheaton Park District worked with 1,790 volunteers who provided 54,812 volunteer hours,saving the district $375,443."

Many agencies shy away from the use of volunteers, believing they are more of a hassle to deal with than they are worth. The old saying, "You get what you pay for," comes to mind, but in the case of many volunteers, it doesn't apply. The services of volunteers have played an important part in the development of the Wheaton Park District. Although it would be difficult to list all of the contributions made by volunteers, we can categorize them to some extent. They make possible the scheduling of a greater variety and an increased number of activities, thereby enriching the programs and services of the Wheaton Park District. They aid in routine responsibilities. They provide leadership. They are a link with the community and serve as public relation ambassadors for the park district. They serve as liaisons with community clubs and organizations. They bring wide and varied points of view and skills to help meet community needs. They contribute immeasurable amounts of time, energy, effort and money to make possible many of the programs and services the park district provides. They complete maintenance tasks which help to enhance and beautify our parks. They assist with fund-raisers allowing the park district to accomplish projects which it might not otherwise be able to afford. They assist with playground development and other improvements within the park system.

Recognition is an important component of any volunteer program. The Wheaton Park District has for several years sponsored a Recognition Mixer during the holiday season and invited all of our volunteers as well as individuals with whom we work closely at the City and School District levels. A question came up at one of our budget meetings about the cost of the mixer, approximately $3,500, and whether or not it was worth the expense. The Recreation Department investigated the number of coaches and/or volunteers, the number of hours of volunteer service provided, and the estimated savings because the park district did not have to pay for these services. The staff is confident that there were many more volunteers who provided many more hours of which we were unaware and that the results represented conservative figures. In the 1992 calendar year, the Wheaton Park District worked with 1,790 volunteers who provided 54,812 volunteer hours, saving the district $375,443.

The vast majority of volunteers do so because they want to help others, and they enjoy what they are doing. To quote Hugo Black, "The purpose of life is to serve, not to be served; to give, not to get; to love, not to be loved; and to the giver comes the wonder of it and joy."

Our volunteers sometimes walk in and offer their services, but this is not usually the way it happens. More often someone has asked them to help. The park district seeks volunteers through our brochures, word of mouth, telephone calls to program registrants, news releases, letters requesting assistance from local clubs, newsletters, bulletin board displays and monthly school flyers. Although there are many recruitment approaches, one must always use the method which works best for the agency

and one which meets the needs and purpose of the volunteer program.

If your agency is considering a volunteer program, then before you start to recruit you should be convinced of the value which your volunteer program will have both to the individual and to your agency. Volunteer worth must be recognized by the volunteer, by the agency and by the community at large. You should be honest in your enlistment about what you have to offer volunteers and what you will expect from them in return. Keep in mind that seeking and securing volunteers may be as important and as valuable to the recruited person as it is to your agency. After all, volunteers receive many benefits. They make new friends, learn new skills, develop a sense of pride and community involvement, strengthen a feeling of self worth and the list goes on.

Key components of all volunteer programs are not only appropriate recruiting efforts, but also good training, open communication and recognition. Our training includes in-services, orientation meetings, manuals, coaches clinics, American Coaching Effectiveness Program, and access to videos, books and guest speakers. Training is an important aspect of a volunteer program because it clarifies what's expected and helps the volunteer to do the job better. However, it is good to remember that people who volunteer don't, in most cases, do so with the intent of going back to school. Don't overdo training, keep it simple and don't expect your volunteers to know everything immediately.

Not enough can be said about communication and its importance in whatever we do, including the implementation of a volunteer program. Communication builds trust and an understanding of others' needs and desires. Effective communication is difficult to attain, but without it, an organized and efficient volunteer program is unlikely. Memos, letters, flyers and bulletin boards are all methods of communicating with your volunteers. However, rather than writing your message, you may get better results if you say it. Good communication won't happen unless you put forth a lot of effort. The more effort you put into it, the more it will improve, even if only a little at a time.

Depending on the type of volunteer service provided, the length of time commitment, budget constraints and other factors, staff at the Wheaton Park District have recognized volunteers in a variety of ways such as providing volunteer shirts and volunteer lapel pins, sending thank you letters, awarding certificates of appreciation and plaques, and planning picnics, parties and the annual recognition mixer during the holiday season. If volunteers are to be considered an important part of your park district, they should be treated with the same respect and courtesy that are given to paid staff. Recognition should be ongoing and should show that you care about the volunteer and appreciate their efforts on behalf of you and of the community. Volunteer recognition does not have to cost a great deal of money. A smile and a thank you won't cost a penny.

One common saying is, "You get what you pay for." Perhaps when talking about volunteers a more appropriate saying would be, "They're worth their weight in gold.

About the Author

Ray Morrill, CLP, is the Superintendent of Recreation for the Wheaton Park District.