Customer Reviews

The Volunteer Recruitment (and Membership Development) Book

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
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2 star:		(1)
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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.

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.

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.

Ho-hum. I bought this with Helen Little's book and they are really in different leagues. The Little book is more practical and relevant. This Susan Ellis book is quite a bit dated. It even looks like a photocopy of old articles. The book is most relevant to volunteers for charity and social service organizations, as opposed to professional or leadership organizations. There are some creative, albeit goofy, tips for sparking interest and motivation in volunteers. I thought these were very impractical. There are some good nuggets of valuable information, but this wouldn't be my first choice.

The Volunteer Recruitment (And Membership Development) Book by volunteer recruitment expert Susan Ellis is a straightforward and practical guide to successfully finding and recruiting volunteers for non-profit organizations and other causes and movements. Chapters cover recruitment techniques (invite, don't plead!), appealing to target audiences, where to look for volunteers and much more. The Volunteer Recruitment Book is an absolutely useful "must-read" for anyone charged with the responsibility of finding -- and keeping -- new volunteers!

this book is excellent! it covers so many areas of volunteer recruitment. and it can also be used for other types of recruitment also!! this book in my collection is certainly a treasure!!

I really enjoyed this book. There was quite a bit of information that I was already aware of, but Ms. Ellis dove into it quite a bit more.

There were "hands on" exercises and plent of workable suggestions to improve not only your recruiting but your retention as well.

Definately a "must read" for any volunteer recruiter whether you are paid or a volunteer yourself!

I bought an $80.00 book before I bought this one, because the title made me believe that I was getting all the info I needed in one book. Well I wasted that $80.00 because it is very hard to read. So, I finally bought this book...The Volunteer Recruitment Book. This book has given me all of the information that I need. I feel better equipped to handle my job now. I wish I had bought this book first.