• Have a well-defined mission and clear-cut objectives that drive the work of volunteers, keeping them focused on what constitutes results, whether that be furthering the mutual economic benefits among members, a marketplace change, political action or a societal cause.

• The Board of Directors is your most important core of volunteers. Individual board members and committees should each have specific and objectives and responsibilities which they advance for which they too are held accountable.

• Create job descriptions for important volunteer posts or projects. Help volunteers organize their work by setting objectives and performance goals for their activities. Let them participate in making decisions that affect their work.

• Shake off the notion that demands cannot be made of volunteers because they are unpaid. Volunteers get satisfaction from their accomplishments and contributions precisely because they are not remunerated, but are rewarded in other ways such as enhanced professional stature or a sense of altruistic achievement advancing a common cause.

• More and more volunteers are educated people in managerial or professional positions. To attract and hold them, associations need to put volunteers’ competence and knowledge to work and offer them opportunities for meaningful achievement.

• Observe members’ interests in how they participate in the organization and guide them to volunteer opportunities. Avoid the “nobody ever asked me” syndrome. Tell them how to get involved.

• Look for opportunities to give active volunteers the support they need through training or contact with other members with expertise which is pertinent to the volunteers’ activity.

• Keep the volunteer pipeline full. Be on the lookout for new Indians, and reward the Indians who perform by making them Chiefs, then Chairpersons, then Board members. Develop career ladders for promising volunteers. Encourage board members to identify and cultivate emerging leaders.

• Reward volunteers by recognizing their efforts! Thank them in writing and publicly in front of peers. Take their pictures. Give them awards. Include their names and their companies’ names in association publications and, where appropriate, in media communications. Communicate the value of their achievements and your association’s gratitude for their efforts to their employers.

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Headquartered in Princeton Junction, NJ, CMA Association Management is one of only 50 association management companies worldwide accredited by the Association Management Company Institute (formerly IAAMC). CMA offers non-profit clients expertise in all facets of association management, event management and marketing communications. We maximize the success of your member services, events and programs, while positioning your organization for growth and new opportunities. For more information, call CMA at (609) 297-2235, email us at info@cmasolutions.com or visit www.ThinkCMA.com.