Connecting Willing Volunteers with Fulfilling Opportunities

Comerica Bank hosted an event today, featuring a stellar panel of community leaders, who shared their reasons for volunteer engagement and practical ways to maximize impact.   My aha moment occurred when one of the panelists I'd invited, shared that his community engagement prior to 9/11 had been two-fold: supporting his wife's volunteer leadership and writing checks/attending nonprofit events.  I've only become friends with this successful lawyer and incredible community leader since his immersion into board service.

My assumption, prior to today, was that successful folks included board service or other significant volunteer commitments in their way of being/doing/operating.  My aha discovery was that the "engagement gene" may well evolve as an individual has more control over her/his schedule.  Sometimes it is inherited - and sometimes it evolves.  

Regardless of how an individual invests time, talent and/or treasure, passion is the key.  Excitement about the organization's mission will ideally inspire engagement and commitment.

Board Engagement

We tried an experiment with a nonprofit board that I chair.  We conducted board orientation after we had included the new board members in two events:

• board reception for new, retiring and returning board members and senior staff 
• board meeting and state of the organization presentation

All three activities were held within a two week period.  Feedback was positive.  The new board members had a chance to visit socially in a lovely home with key staff, seasoned board members and one another before engaging in governance.  When they participated in board orientation, they already had a broader sense of the opportunities and challenges facing the organization and knew many of the other board and staff who were also committed to serving children and families in Texas.

There are many ways to foster engagement including shared vision, passion and camaraderie.

Successful Group Thinking

Earlier this week, I had the chance to experience great group dynamics in a nonprofit board development meeting.  Five participants were board members and the other three were staff members. 

Some success attributes included:

• clear, common objective
• prepared committee chair
• engaged participants
• best interest of the organization at the heart of the proceedings
• candid, confidential discussion
• collaborative decision-making
• eagerness to consider every point of view
• positive acknowledgement of diverse suggestions

By embracing these attributes, this committee demonstrated the best of group dynamics.

Volunteer Board Members

There are countless ways to volunteer and each has the opportunity to impact the life of the volunteer and those he or she serves.  I was asked recently how to become a board member of a volunteer organization since I am very active in the community.  There are many paths to board service including:

• establishing a stellar reputation with an organization as a committed volunteer
• providing a skill that is absent or under-represented on the board
• being nominated by a friend or colleague who knows what you can contribute
• responding to a solicitation for new board members
• making your specific interest known to current board members or staff
• achieving highly positive company, community and/or association visibility
• serving as a company or organization designated representative

 Board members are expected to bring 4 Ts to a non-profit:

• Time
• Talent
• Treasure
• Touch

The first 3 Ts are self-explanatory. Touch includes sharing the organization's mission and needs with your network.  It involves being an ambassador for the organization.

Those with a sincere interest in making an impact are far superior board members than those who are viewed as resume builders.  And, it would be rare for an organization to tap a board member who has not already been active in the community.  As with most other opportunities, a broad, diverse network helps connect the willing and able to the organizations that have expressed needs.

Board representation is gratifying work when you are engaged with an organization with a mission that matches your passion.  Without passion, it becomes just another task on a to-do list.