TAO/Handbook/Volunteers

 Volunteer Management - Motivation and Recruitment 

Introduction
This chapter provides recommendations for the management of older volunteers in online communities. It also concisely lists the tasks of the volunteers’ manager. Finally, this chapter offers concrete examples of (online and offline) tasks that older volunteers may perform in online communities.

Following questions are answered in this chapter:
 * What are hands-on recommendations for the management of older volunteers?
 * What motivates older adults to perform volunteer work? How can online communities adapt to their motivation pattern?
 * What are practical do’s & dont’s about the recruitment, binding and activation of older volunteers?
 * What are examples of volunteer tasks that older adults can perform for online communities?

Recommendations for the management of older volunteers
This paragraph provides recommendations concerning the management of older volunteers. These do’s and don’ts are valid for volunteers in general, and for older volunteers in online communities in particular. In addition, a short overview of efficient recruitment channels for older volunteers is offered.

Tasks for the manager of the volunteers
The manager of the volunteers has to:
 * Identify activities that can be performed by volunteers
 * Assess which of these tasks would be actually appealing for volunteers
 * Specify the time requirements and the necessary skills for these tasks
 * Set up meeting with volunteers to list specific general terms and conditions
 * Come to a mutual agreement
 * Introduce the volunteer to his/her task, based on an orientation plan
 * Provide the volunteer with information about the future colleagues, offices, rules, goals and the organization's mission statements, materials, etcetera. (Source: Reifenhäuser et al, 2009)

Examples: Possible tasks for older volunteers in online communities
Within the TAO-project, many older adults actively volunteered for various online communities, either in online or offline tasks. Often, older persons are not aware of the different kind of (especially offline) tasks they could perform for an online community. Therefore, the latter must actively approach the older adults and inform them about the different online and offline tasks. Some examples to illustrate the variety of volunteering roles for older adults:

Examples from the TAO-project: tasks for older volunteers in online communities

Practical background
For those who want to know more about the management of older volunteers in online communities, this paragraph offers a practical and concise insight in the relevant literature.

Volunteer work in a nutshell: What it is

Although the definition of volunteer work may slightly differ internationally, volunteering could generally be described as “the commitment of time and energy for the benefit of society and the community; the environment; or individuals outside one's own immediate family. It is undertaken freely and by choice, without concern for financial gain" . The more specific term ‘volunteers for online communities’ refers to people who voluntarily work for an online community, and who may perform either online tasks (e.g. preparing a newsletter) or offline tasks (e.g. organizing media courses).

Older volunteers: As diverse as all others

Older adults have diverse desires and needs (as do younger persons), and meeting these various expectations is a challenge for online communities. The range in motivations and expectations of older volunteers (>66 years) is not any different to those of any other age group age 31 and older. Therefore, older adults should be addressed via their personal interests, not as part of an age group. This being said, older volunteers may nevertheless be more motivated by altruism, social duty and personal satisfaction than other age groups.

'''Online or offline? There’s always something to do'''

The scale of possible tasks for older volunteers is huge and could range from offline tasks (e.g. teaching a computer class, outreach activities, education, lobby on national policies, and so on) to online tasks (e.g. adding a picture to a Wikipedia-article, creating websites, preparing translations, taking care of the administration, consulting in forums or via email and so on). Online volunteering especially makes sense for tasks that deal with processing information and that do not require team work. It is also a modern option to experience engagement - especially for persons with limited mobility. However, many online communities need volunteers for online as well as offline tasks.

From welcome to goodbye: Relationship building

Online communities should develop a strategy of volunteer management that is well accepted in the community. There should be attention to following stages in the relationship with a volunteer: attracting, accompanying, keeping him/her active, rewarding, saying goodbye. General principles of volunteer management are applicable to all age groups. However, they need to be adapted to the needs of the specific older adult target group that is being addressed. Good volunteer management requires a certain extent of professionalization in the online community.

Literate references

 * Bundesministerium für Familien, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (Hrsg.; 2009): Bericht zur Lage und zu den Perspektiven des bürgerschaftlichen Engagements in Deutschland. Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung, Berlin ; Link to online version.
 * Connors, T. D. (2011): The Volunteer Management Handbook. Leadership Strategies for Success, Hoboken: Wiley.
 * The Volunteering Unit (1995), p.3; cited in: Wardell, Lishman & Whalley (2000): Who Volunteers?, in: British Journal of Social Work 30 (2), p.227-248.
 * Hidalgo, M.C. & Moreno, P. (2009): Organizational socialization of volunteers: the effect on their intention to remain, in: Journal of Community Psychology, Volume 37, Issue 5, pages 594–601.
 * Reifenhäuser, C., Hoffmann, S.G. & Kegel, T. (2009). Freiwilligen-Management. Theorie-Politik-Praxis. Augsburg: ZIEL-Verlag.

Links to other Handbook chapters
Mutual Benefits of Volunteer Work

Target Groups

Fostering Older Adults Online Participation

Older Adults and Online Communities

Usability

Online Community

Activities for Volunteer Instructors