Tags
managing volunteers, part time volunteer manager, the care and feeding of volunteers, volunteer coordinator, volunteer retention, volunteering, volunteers, why volunteers leave
I’ve always wondered if there is a magic formula to plot when volunteers would leave. I don’t mean something sophisticated enough to figure out when they might become ill, or have to move or get a job or take in a relative or anything like that. I’m talking about volunteers who have the opportunity to stay and don’t. I wish there was a handy dandy calculator that would tell me when they need to quit or take a break. Because I think it is true that all good things must come to an end, including wonderful volunteers. The honeymoon is over. The bloom is off the rose. The, well you get the idea. I’m thinking of Carla, who has been with us (me in particular) for six years. She’s tenacious, opinionated, a pitbull, organized, a whirling dervish of activity, a control freak, a friend, a co-conspirator, a great dependable worker. So, what’s the issue? I think we’ve reached her shelf life-that is, with me and my administrative duties anyway. I remember not too long ago how she was so proud of her five year service pin but after we pinned that on her, she started to display a certain bossy attitude. She ran the shop, ruled the roost and put the volunteers to work. It was both a blessing and a curse. She started to get involved in matters she overheard, and started to subtly insert herself into conversations that did not really include her. We talked about her life at home, about her chronically ill sister and how she could not get to see her often. We talked about retirement and aches and pains and about life’s twists and turns. We covered the obvious culprits for changed behavior, but nothing really seemed to be amiss. Yet, there was something restless about Carla. It was as if she was hearing the call of the coyote on the prairie. I wondered if maybe I took her for granted and so I praised her more, paid more attention. Then I wondered if all the praise I heaped on her for getting things organized gave her the impression that I thought she was done. Crazy, huh? And yet, there was that nagging feeling that the cowgirl in the white hat was looking to ride away.
If you don’t believe me, let me share with you the comments that Carla has made six years ago compared to the comments she is making now.
Six Years Ago:
I can’t wait to get in here and help you get organized.
Now:
I know you can’t find it, you never can.
Six Years Ago:
Can I come in on Thursday to finish?
Now:
I’m taking a few weeks off. I need to revitalize.
Six Years Ago:
How do you keep such a positive attitude with all you have
going on?
Now:
None of this is funny, you know.
Six Years Ago:
I love coming here.
Now:
So, what exactly do you have for me to do today?
Six Years Ago:
I feel useful, needed.
Now:
You need me, you know?
Six Years Ago:
Everyone here is so nice.
Now:
Everyone here is nuts.
Six Years Ago:
My pleasure.
Now:
You owe me big time for this one, right?
See what I mean?
So, last week she said to me, “I hope you don’t get mad, but I’m thinking about working with Allie in fund-raising. They really need help over there and I think I can help them get organized for the next event. I’ll still come here every other week and see what you have.”
There you have it. Am I disappointed? Minimally, because I hate dragging things out, even things that have come to their natural end. And I believe we are at Carla’s natural end, with me, at least. I’m glad we have other areas for her to volunteer in, but if we didn’t, she would be gone.
Do I feel guilty? Not in the least. I know staff members who leave faster than the jack rabbit that saw a dog. Unless we, volunteer managers actually do something to drive a volunteer away, then guilt has no place in our box of emotions. Volunteers too get tired, bored, or feel as though they have done what they’ve set out to do. And so, when volunteers ride into the sunset, having accomplished the very thing they came to do, we should cheer them on. Thanks for your time and service! You really cleaned up Dodge!
She’ll do a great job over there. I can attest to that. And maybe, just maybe, she’ll ride back in when the wind blows my way. I hope so.
Until then, anybody seen a cowpoke around looking to spruce things up a bit? I’m in need of one.
-Meridian
volunteerplaintalk 
Actually Meridian I hope for your sake the wind blows in a new volunteer-not Carla. It sounds to me like you need a more positive affirming volunteer in your admin life-comments like ‘you owe me big time’ ‘everyone here is nuts’ and ‘none of this is funny , you know’ would be enough to get anyone down. Who needs this kind of support-perhaps your New Year challenge could be to try to have more positive and affirming volunteers supporting you in what we all know is a challenging enough job-with out the put downs! I look forward to hearing how she gets on with fundraising…or should that be friend raising to get the funds!
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Thanks Alison!
I agree and the thing is, when volunteers (and maybe relationships, who knows) start to wind down, there’s no sudden “change” in the person’s attitude, it’s so subtle and gradual that you don’t truly notice it unless something makes you really think about it. Since we deal with all types of personalities, and a lot of times volunteers who are going through a temporary challenge in their lives, we tend to try to work with everyone.
I guess I’m trying to say that even great volunteers can become bored and restless, and perhaps don’t want to hurt our feelings by saying so, but the clues are there. And, LOL, sometimes I know I just ignore those clues and hope for the best when I should be sitting down with that person and asking if they need a break or change.
Maybe that’s the selfish part in me, who knows!
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Fie on the sense of loss or perhaps failure when volunteers ‘pursue new interests’! Let’s call it Unplanned Obsolescence, like those kitchen appliances that wear out when we least expect it. Or like the ever-changing technology tools that need updating at even shorter intervals. OK – volunteers are neither kitchen-whizzers nor I-phones – and the good ones can give us as much as they gain from their volunteering. That’s something to treasure, even when they fade away.
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Exactly Sue! Let’s treasure, be grateful for and marvel at the time volunteers do spend with us instead of feeling guilty that we cannot hang on to them forever. Retention should never be viewed as the end game. Quality should be that which we strive for.
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I enjoyed the article and the replies. They all did bring out some chuckles in me, even though the article and the replies are thought provoking. It is sad to lose a volunteer, yet there is gratitude for the time they spend doing a tremendous “job” yet know that at some point their time with our program will come to an end. I agree that quality volunteers are key.
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Hi Vicki!
Thanks for replying! It truly is sad to see volunteers leave. We obviously care about them as people and we miss them, cherish their work, learn from them and appreciate their personalities. Almost like parents, we encourage, mentor and coach them. For all that effort and caring, we should be proud of our profession.
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