The Volunteer Recruitment Book: (And Membership Development) [Paperback]

Susan J. Ellis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 094057618X | ISBN-13: 978-0940576186 | Publication Date: October 1, 1996 | Edition: 2nd

Susan Ellis has literally crammed this book with every suggestion and recommendation on the subject of recruitment developed over her 20-plus years in the volunteer management field. She first shows how to design the best assignments for volunteers as the initial step to finding the most qualified people. What follows is a wealth of information on topics ranging from how your organization's image affects your success in recruitment to where to look for new volunteers, including your own backyard.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...an excellant publication on management as it applies to the recruitment function of the volunteer administrator's position..." -- Leadership, January 1995.

"At last, a truly perceptive book on volunteer recruitment, one that doesn't belabor the obvious, talk down to readers, or offer farfetched scenarios and advice." -- Contributions, July/August 1995

"If you are ever in the business of recruiting volunteers, 'The Volunteer Recruitment Book' should be on your shelf..." -- Philanthropy Journal of North Carolina, Jan 1995.

"The Volunteer Recruitment Book is a peppy, spirited tone that trumpets the glories of volunteers..." -- Youth Today, Sept 1997

About the Author

Susan J. Ellis, recognized internationally as a leader in the volunteer field, has been conducting workshops on volunteer management for the past 19 years. She is founder and president of Energize, Inc. and is a national columnist on volunteerism for THE NONPROFIT TIMES.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Energize Books; 2nd edition (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 094057618X
• ISBN-13: 978-0940576186
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,104,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat Dated, Some Nuggets, July 23, 2002

By 

Robert D. Steele (Oakton, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: The Volunteer Recruitment (and Membership Development) Book (Paperback)

This book (acutally an 8.5 by 11 manual), originally published in 1994 and based on 1980's readings, is somewhat dated and has been only marginally updated. It falls into the second rank of the four books that made the cut from among the many available. Helen Little's "Volunteers: How to Get Them, How to Keep Them" stands alone as the single "must buy." This book is co-equal to two others, each recommended as supplementary reading because each has something to offer at a secondary level: Sue Vineyard and Steve McCurley's "Best Practices for Volunteer Programs" and Jarene Frances Lee with Julai M. Catagnus, "Supervising Volunteers: An Action Guide for Making Your Job Easier."

There are two aspects of this manual by Susan Ellis that I did not see in the other books: first, her emphasis on casting a wide net and reaching as many potential volunteers as possible....("Most people do not say 'no'; they simply never knew you wanted them to say 'yes'.) While I am skeptical of wasteful advertising programs in this time of diminishing leisure hours, there is something to this. The other vital chapter that this manual offers is the one addressing the importance of image, i.e. the public perception of the organization seeking volunteers, the reputation that it can specifically draw on as a resource.

There are a few flakey notes (e.g. one vignette about recruiting people to call parents and offer support as they are getting kids out the door to school. Any normal parent, especially if one parent is absent or has an early work start, would be furious at any volunteer daring to call in the midst of the chaos that charactizes getting three kids out the door to three different bus pick-up times.)

This manual does have an index. Bottom line: dated, some nuggets, if volunteers are vital to your success, worth getting.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good advice for volunteer and membership recruitment, August 3, 2000

By 

Katie Mann (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Volunteer Recruitment Book: (And Membership Development) (Paperback)

Ms. Ellis's book provides a lot of good advice. As the current president of a volunteer run professional organization, I started reading her book looking for ways to recruit more people to serve on our board or in our volunteer role and run the nominations process more effectively. I ended up with ideas about that, but also possibly more importantly it prompted me to spend a lot of time thinking about how our group presents itself to the public, to it's members, and what we do. In other words, it prompted me to think about our group on more strategic levels.

Ms. Ellis strategy is to have you think about what you want to acocmplish before soliciting volunteers, and also to think about how your group can push it's boundaries and think creatively about who it's members are, who it's constituents are, and untapped resources for volunteers. I mention members a lot, because a lot of what she says could transfer to either kinds of recruitment, depending on your need.

A lot of the volunteer information is a little more oriented towards groups that need or could use lot of volunteers (say a social services group, or hospital). But a small group like ours which is all volunteer run, can also benefit from this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good advice for volunteer or membership recruitment, August 3, 2000

By 

Katie Mann (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Volunteer Recruitment Book: (And Membership Development) (Paperback)

Ms. Ellis's book provides a lot of good advice. As the current president of a volunteer run professional organization, I started reading her book looking for ways to recruit more people to serve on our board or in our volunteer role and run the nominations process more effectively. I ended up with ideas about that, but also possibly more importantly it prompted me to spend a lot of time thinking about how our group presents itself to the public, to it's members, and what we do. In other words, it prompted me to think about our group on more strategic levels.

Ms. Ellis strategy is to have you think about what you want to acocmplish before soliciting volunteers, and also to think about how your group can push it's boundaries and think creatively about who it's members are, who it's constituents are, and untapped resources for volunteers. I mention members a lot, because a lot of what she says could transfer to either kinds of recruitment, depending on your need.

A lot of the volunteer information is a little more oriented towards groups that need or could use lot of volunteers (say a social services group, or hospital). But a small group like ours which is all volunteer run, can also benefit from this book.