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Making Membership Meaningful
By Ivan Scheier

To Have and to Hold: Once you've decided who belongs as a member and who doesn't, the over-riding challenge is how to attract and keep members.

Networking Opportunities
Networking appears to be the primary reason why volunteer coordinators have chosen to join VADC. From networking, members receive:

  • educational and growth opportunities
  • access to expertise within the field of volunteer administration
  • information sharing and updating, socializing, and learning through meetings
  • and more.
    •

     

    "Networking appears to be the primary reason why volunteer coordinators
    have chosen
    to join         ..."

    The Attractions

    1. Educational/learning opportunities via networking (see above), mentoring, and locally produced workshops.
    2. Recognition as a professional. See "Recognizing Ourselves".
    3. Meaty meetings. 
    4. A readable relevant newsletter.
    5. A sense that as a group, DOVIA can make a positive difference as an advocate for volunteers and their career leadership. 
    6. A belief that the necessary work of the association can be done without putting unfair burdens on anyone (especially you). 
    7. A sense that the organization genuinely values your input and participation; this is more than mere rhetoric. Thus, Broward County (Florida) DOVS periodically asks new and not-so-new members these two questions:
    "Please take a moment and indicate topics which you would like to see addressed at future DOVS meetings.
    "Each of our DOVS members has a wealth of talent and expertise that could be helpful to other members. Please list below those programs (30-145 minutes) that you would be willing to present, either by yourself or with a co-presenter."

    Denver DOVIA also has good results from efforts to get members directly involved in planning and presenting programs.

    Hard Information

    1. From local and/or national surveys of the profession - salary surveys and such. 
    2. On local, regional or national job opportunities in the field.
    3. On relevant upcoming workshops or conferences: local, state/provincial, national or international.
    4. Where and what local resources exist, including other members.

    Possible Financial Attractions
         As background, remember that the average DOVIA member is underpaid and probably does several other things besides managing the volunteer program. Therefore attractive DOVIA benefits include:

    1. Scholarship help for relevant workshops elsewhere in the state, province or nation. As little as $50 or $100 will be deeply appreciated, even though not fully covering expenses. The selection committee will be composed of DOVIA members. Criteria for scholarship award include: membership in good standing in DOVIA (definitely), regularity of attendance at DOVIA meetings and workshops, and participation in DOVIA committees and task forces.
    2. Discounts on DOVIA workshops and publications, available only to DOVIA members in good standing. Larger DOVIAs might also explore getting discounts for their members in other areas, such as insurance, car rental, local department store, etc. Aggressive exploration of possibilities such as these could well mean a DOVIA member saves more than membership costs each year.
    3. For coordinators of smaller programs especially, there may be services they can get only jointly with other DOVIA members. Insurance coverage for , volunteers comes to mind as one example, but there might be several others.
    4. Do not charge $20 dues if you are a local, state, or regional association. Don't even charge $15 dues without checking out reaction very carefully. One exception sometimes is that people will hold still for a special additional assessment, beyond regular dues, if they feel the event is really worthwhile; for instance, bringing in a famous national trainer. Otherwise, beware of....
    Cooperative Possibilites
    Things you can accomplish working together that are much harder or impossible to do alone; for example Volunteer Fairs (possibly with the Volunteer Center), volunteer opportunities directory, purchase insurance, etc. together; afford outside trainers, etc.
     
    Challenging the Advanced and/or Creative Practitioner
    These are the people most likely to burn out after a stint or two as a DOVIA officer, committee chair, mentor, etc. They need to be getting something from the association as well as giving to it.
     

    Originally published in 1987 as part of a handbook on DOVIA development.

    Reprinted by permission from GRAPEVINE: Volunteerism's Newsletter. Sixteen-page issues, bi-monthly, designed for volunteer program managers. Annual subscription: $25. Editors: Sue Vineyard and Steve McCurley. Can be ordered by calling 1-800-272-8306 or direct to printing and mailing center: (916) 928-3950. Editorial Office: 8493 Chicory Court, Darien, IL 60561.

    Ivan Scheier
    Ivan Scheier, PhD is known for his professional on-site consulting for volunteer programs and citizen participation efforts in the US and Canada since 1967. This includes involvement in over 100 publications including a dozen books on volunteering; serving on commissions for the White House Conference on Children and Youth, the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals and the National Forum on Volunteerism. This is only a small list of the many accomplishments and honors Ivan has received. He also served as the Director of Voluntas: The Center for Creative Community, headquartered in Madrid, New Mexico.

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