Comments

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  christie geltz April 26, 2010 at 11:08am

  I am just interested in finding out if their are any one line or college classes to take to get accredited as a volunteer manager. i am havuing no luck asking around so hope someone an help me get credits.
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  Tami Patterson February 19, 2010 at 12:02pm

  I usually keep in touch with my volunteers through email, phone, monthly calendars and I am starting a quartly meeting.
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  Malena Hinze September 21, 2009 at 8:28am

  I stay in touch with my volunteers through e-mail, but that is because I recruited them through the internet so they are all computer savvy. I often make calls and I send a monthly email to all giving them updates. I call it a Volunteer update email! I throw random stuff in it like our latest statistics, some educational piece, and many many thank you's. I also try to get families to email me or send me a note for the volunteer. They love this and it makes them feel very connected.
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  Malena Hinze September 21, 2009 at 8:25am

  I have bi-monthly meetings (2 hrs) with volunteers. I use the first half to check in and see how everyone is. I ask about how their visits are going and what they are feeling (this part is always shorter then I would like). Then I do some activity. The activity at my last meeting was very successful. I got construction paper, magazines, glue and markers and had them cut out pictures and words that describe their experience as a hospice volunteer. They are then to paste them to the paper and we all shared at the end. It was awesome! Hope that helps
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  Greg Schneider September 21, 2009 at 8:06am

  I am curious how many of you use volunteer meetings to stay in touch with your volunteers? Also, can you describe what you have found works best in getting volunteers to attend meetings?
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  Kelly McAndrew September 21, 2009 at 4:01am

  We keep tabs on our volunteers as a team. I encouage our nurses as well as social workers to supply me with feedback. When we review the pateint at our weekly IDT meetings we discuss the volunteer as part of the assigned team. I also make it a point to call the volunteer - especially if they have just visited a new assignment.
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  Ginger Askew September 20, 2009 at 2:44pm

  I am very interested in how other 's "supervise" volunteers. Do you make random visits, call families, etc???? I communicate frequently through email and keep copies in the vol. file, frequent check in calls as time allows (HA!). Any input?
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  Jeanne September 25, 2008 at 9:29am

  I am interested if any of you estimate your 5% requirement for the year. Also looking at different ways to increase volunteer hours with a decreasing volunteer roster. We have implemented a check in call program,have volunteers who make gowns, lap blankets, hats and are hoping to start a flower service......it's very challenging to meet the needs.....Our volunteers are a dedicated bunch but many have had personal issues and some are retiring. We are part of a nonprofit hospice consortium and our training is offered 7 times a year. We are probably going to add one more session at least next year to make it more accesible to people. My goal has been to have ancillary volunteer positions with some mentoring until the volunteer can go through the training.....We strongly encourage volunteers to attend meetings and communicate with us. It seems if the volunteer comes to IDT this really helps cement the commitment with hospice and the team....
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  Deb Brady & Erica Marks July 3, 2008 at 8:29am

  It is our practice that following training (which is 10 weeks for 2.5 hrs ea. week) each volunteer must sign up and come in for an interview prior to activating. This allows us to orient the volunteer and ask and answer questions. At week 5 or 6 we give each participant a form that asks them to check one box, yes I want to volunteer, no I don't want to volunteer, I would like to talk w/you further about volunteering. The last 2 wweks of training we put out an interview sign up sheet with dates and times for appointments. There is an area on the bottom that allows any one who can't set up an appointment to leave their name and number and we then call to figure out an alternate time and date. It has worked well for us to have the intent form first to follow up from it we don't hear from someone.
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  Cathy Moore June 6, 2008 at 4:15pm

  Ok, how do you handle trying to get volunteers to commit to a date for Orientation. Since we just recently became an agency, we have these wonderful volunteers, but I am having a problem pin pointing an Orientation date so that we can send them out into the field. Can any one offer any suggestions. And also what is the best way of communication with your volunteers, E-mail or phone.