Recruiting Volunteers for your Event

How to get recruit effective volunteers and allow them to help

you put on a great event!

Identifying your volunteer needs

• The larger your event, the more volunteers you need

• The more your event offers, the more volunteers you need

• Create a DOR itinerary and walk through the day’s tasks to help you identify where you’ll need help

Common volunteer tasks

• Set-up• Registration/Check-in• Parking• Course Marking/Monitors• Traffic/Safety• First Aid• Aid Stations• Finish Line/Timing• Awards• Food Preparation• Tear-Down/Sweeping

Timing volunteers at the 2010 CATnip Friday 5k

Where can you find volunteers?

• People who have volunteered for your event or a nearby event in the past

• Area high schools or community centers/organizations

• Sponsors of the event

• Friends and family

• Event participants

• “Buying” volunteers

ORRC club members and a local Boy Scout Troop helped at the 2010 ORRC Summer Solstice Sundowner

Provide options and COMMUNICATE!

• Many volunteers ENJOY their work. Find out what will make someone happy and try to put them in that role.

• Explain to each volunteer what their role is and why it’s important. If they see the big picture, they’ll understand how valuable their role is!

Volunteer recognition

• Race shirts, goodies

• Discounts at other events

• On-site recognition

• Personal, heartfelt thanks

• And – take care of them! If it’s cold, make sure there are space heaters. Hot? Pop-up tents for shade and lots of water!

Volunteer Empowerment

• A volunteer that doesn’t know what to do will be an unhappy volunteer– Provide them with:

• A detailed task • An event schedule• Contact information for

key people• A definitive start and end

time – people like structure! Cascade Lakes Relay volunteers –

like these exchange volunteers - are encouraged to dress up, hand out treats, and be a huge part of the event. They know they’re important!

Solicit volunteer feedback

• After the race, get volunteer suggestions and comments – It will improve your event– It will demonstrate a volunteer’s importance– It will make your job easier!

• You will have to ASK for feedback – but it will be well worth your time