10 Tips for How to Conduct Effective Volunteer Meetings
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So, you’re wondering how to conduct effective volunteer meetings for your nonprofit organization. You’ve come to the right place.
We’ll admit, as volunteers, we have never been stoked on the idea of volunteer meetings. However, there is an approach you should know to make these fun, engaging, and effective for all participants.
Below, we have outlined several steps you can take to make sure you are using everybody’s time in an appropriate manner and to get the most of these scheduled/ regular volunteer meetings.
10 Ways to Hold Efficient and Effective Volunteer Meetings
Here are ten ways we have found have been effective and conducive to holding our volunteer meetings:
1. Stick to a Concise Agenda
This is part of the prep work that must be done prior to the meeting. Sit down and consider what your meeting’s central message will be. Each week (or month — depending on how often you hold your meetings) can be focused on something new.
Don’t allow your message to become stale — plan your meeting agenda and stick to it. Keep things interesting!
2. Remember their Time is Valuable
To go along with the above, remember that your volunteer’s time is valuable! Not just their personal time, but their work time as well. Have this thought in mind:
Would your volunteers’ time be more well-suited to the cause if they were doing their duties or present at your meeting? Make sure your message is important enough to take their time away from their duties!
3. Involve the Volunteers
Let the volunteers speak! Let them share ideas and opinions but make sure the meeting stays conducive. That means while letting them be heard, you must find a balance in keeping control of the meeting and not being the only voice heard.
