Would You Volunteer for You?
By Susan Moscareillo CVM
Director of Volunteer Services, Baltimore Ronald McDonald House

Years ago I volunteered a lot. I was the mom who served on PTA, chaired the Book Sale, gave the literary teas in the school library and helped little kids learn how to use computers.

There was no way to know it then, but it was in those assignments that I learned how to manage volunteers. Have you ever stopped to give thought to your own past volunteer experiences and why you enjoyed them (or not?) How much of the basis for your success today comes from your experience as the “mom in the jumper and turtleneck” or “dad in jeans and polo shirt”? It’s really pretty incredible to think about how much you learned through the “on the job training” you had without even realizing it.

Ask yourself: What did learn then that I’m using today?

I know I wasn’t recruited using any sophisticated marketing tool (my son brought home a mimeographed paper from school) and my training was mostly “watch and learn” and trial and error.

But in that architecturally unremarkable school building of faded red brick and cloudy windows I remember that I was always (1) treated with respect, good humor and gratitude and (2) given the opportunity to discover my leadership skills and put them to work.

The staff of teachers and administrators hadn’t taken classes on how to manage volunteers (as most of us have) but followed their best instincts on how to treat people who were working for emotional satisfaction rather than money. They knew that keeping volunteers is a gesture that wraps its arms around everyone with appreciation and thoughtfulness.

I remember how pleased I was at the end of one long day at my son’s school (the bell for the buses had rung and it was time to collect my son Miles and go home) when the school’s principal, Mr. Peters, walked into the classroom where I was working and smiled and asked “Mrs. Moscareillo, do you ever go home?”

With that one question he told me that he noticed my work and appreciated my presence. Do we do that often enough? As our staff grows larger and it takes more time to do the paperwork and reports we run the risk of becoming distanced from our established and talented staff. Without being aware of it, we can begin to take our volunteers, especially the ones who have been with us longest and do their jobs effortlessly, for granted.

The less obvious component of taking members of our volunteer staff for granted occurs when we fail to give them opportunities to grow. Some people are too shy to ask for a more difficult assignment or do not realize their own potential. I was putting up bulletin boards when I heard the appeal for someone to “run” the school’s annual book fair.

I responded because I loved books and the idea of helping children buy them. What I didn’t realize was the multitude of tasks involved and the skills I would discover in myself as I navigated the tasks of recruiting (finding moms and dads to sell the books), accounting (pricing the used books and counting the money), marketing (choosing a theme and making the posters and flyers for the sale), negotiating (reviewing potential vendor contracts), recognition (thank you’s to everyone involved) and administration (preparing final reports of all aspects of the sale).

The sale turned out well and I went on to manage two more. At the end of the first sale I had not only learned new skills but developed pride in using the recently discovered ones.

Your volunteers can have this same kind of growth experience, if you give them an opportunity within -- or slightly outside of -- their comfort range.

As you implement your plans for 2005, don’t forget about all your good previous volunteer experiences and remember that the volunteer in the “turtleneck and jumper” or “jeans and polo shirt” is a warm, caring human being. She or he deserves your best instincts of appreciation and encouraging opportunities to grow.

Gee, I wouldn’t be writing this article today if it wasn’t for all the lovely people I met as a school volunteer mom. Thank you Mr. Peters.