NATIONAL SPONSORS Satellite Partner Training Volunteer
Management
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Agenda Recruitment: Building a sustainable program for maximum
outreach Cooking Matters Gold Standards: Resources for Volunteers
Training: Preparation & hosting Retention: Keeping volunteers
fulfilled and effective Recognition: Impacting their experience
Volunteer Resources
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Volunteer Recruiting
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Volunteer Recruitment Do I know what qualifications I am
looking for? Do I know how to train the volunteer? Do I have a firm
description of the goals and objectives of the work to be done?
Will the work be meaningful? Will the volunteer be busy for their
whole scheduled shift? Will the volunteer feel ownership and
responsibility for the task at hand? Is a comfortable workspace
available? What is the time commitment required?
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Cooking Matters Volunteer Roles Building Blocks for a
Successful Recruitment Strategy: Volunteer Roles Chef instructors
Nutrition instructors Class assistants Shoppers Interpreters
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Cooking Matters Volunteer Roles Volunteer Descriptions Building
Blocks for a Successful Recruitment Strategy: Job Descriptions
Sample job descriptions and applications can be provided
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Cooking Matters Volunteer Roles Volunteer Descriptions Sharing
the Cooking Matters model Building Blocks for a Successful
Recruitment Strategy: Sharing the Model Explain Cooking Matters
unique program model, distinctive volunteer needs and program
impact.
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Cooking Matters Volunteer Roles Volunteer Expectations
Volunteer Descriptions Building Blocks for a Successful Recruitment
Strategy: Volunteer Expectations Sharing the Cooking Matters model
Motivational Expectations: Opportunity to make a difference,
support Cooking Matters mission, feeling connection with community
Other Volunteer Expectations: Organized Cooking Matters staff,
provide appropriate tools/equipment/resources, offer a safe
workspace, good use of their time/skills
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Cooking Matters Volunteer Roles Volunteer Expectations
Volunteer Descriptions Resources Building Blocks for a Successful
Recruitment Strategy: Resources What resources are available for
recruitment? What partnerships exist to facilitate with outreach?
Are there outreach tools available? Resources Sharing the Cooking
Matters model
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Volunteer Expectations Partner Capacity Resources Building
Blocks for a Successful Recruitment Strategy: Partner Capacity
Volunteer Expectations Who leads and is involved in recruitment?
How can your parent organization support recruitment? What external
partnerships exist to facilitate outreach? What are current
competing demands for time/resources affecting volunteer
recruitment? Cooking Matters Volunteer Roles Volunteer Descriptions
Resources Sharing the Cooking Matters model
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Volunteer Management Experience Partner Capacity Volunteer
Expectations Cooking Matters Volunteer Roles Volunteer Descriptions
Resources Sharing the Cooking Matters model
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Incentivize the ASK Develop incentives for your current
volunteers to help your organization recruit new volunteers Offer
things like a VIP parking spot, a highlight in your newsletter,
special seating at fundraiser, lunch with the Executive Director
Group ASK Present opportunities in the community, like at religious
services, alumni events, chamber of commerce, rotary meetings and
school functions. Marketing ASK Traditional and social media
marketing materials Key Considerations: diverse pictures,
accessible and appropriate language for the audience, appropriate
placement in media Volunteer Recruitment: Making the Ask
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For culinary instructors, think outside the restaurant box!
Share our Strength events College Dining Services Deli workers
Private Chefs Caterers Hotel chefs Slow Food Community Gardens
Chefs Move to Schools
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Finding Nutrition Instructors Fitness Centers Gym staff Weight
Watchers Diet/Health Centers Health Food Stores School Nurses
Cafeteria Staff Hospitals Faith based Rotary Clubs 4-H Clubs Work
study students
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Volunteer Recruitment: Broad Outreach Volunteer Match
www.volunteermatch.org Idealist www.idealist.org 1-800 Volunteer
www.1-800-volunteer.org Volunteer Solutions
http://volunteer.trust.com Senior Corps www.seniorcorps.org Craigs
List www.craigslist.com
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Initial Screening Sifting for the Right Fit Ask good questions:
o How did you hear about CM? o What is your interest in our
program? o How would you like to volunteer for our program? o What
is your culinary/ nutrition/food background?
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Initial Screening Follow Up Encourage potential volunteers to
review websites and learn more about the expectations o Share Our
Strength o Cooking Matters o Inter-Faith Food Shuttle o Your
organization o
http://cookingmatters.org/get-involved/volunteer/
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Initial Screening Saying No Not every volunteer is the right
fit and not every volunteer knows where they fit best o Will they
be able to able to engage participants? o Would they be better in a
different role? o Do they need extra time to build up experience? o
Would they be a benefit to helping the organization rather than
being a course volunteer?
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Training and Orientation
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Initial Volunteer Training Monthly group vs. individual
Combined orientation and training Class Zero
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Ongoing Volunteer training is correlated to gold standard
programming! Ongoing Volunteer Training Creates a shared
understanding of our work by familiarizing volunteers with the
mission, vision, rules and best practices related to our work;
refreshing and enhancing knowledge; and keeping them updated on
changes, enhancements and new opportunities. Helps volunteers feel
prepared by increasing confidence and morale- higher morale leads
to a greater willingness to contribute to the success of the
program.
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Gold Standards for Volunteers
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Implementing Gold Standards with Volunteers Partners are
responsible for preparing volunteers to: 1.Interact with
Participants 2.Demonstrate Subject Expertise and Classroom
Leadership 3.Deliver Course Content 4.Use Appropriate Delivery
Methods
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Implementing Gold Standards with Volunteers 1.Interacting with
Participants Welcoming environment Demonstrate respect and cultural
sensitivity Manage inappropriate classroom behaviors.
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Implementing Gold Standards with Volunteers 2.Demonstrate
Subject Expertise and Classroom Leadership Knowledge of subject
Prepared and organized Class on schedule
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Implementing Gold Standards with Volunteers 3.Delivering Course
Content Present, practice, and encourage use of information and
skills regarding: Healthy Eating Food Resource Management Cooking
and Meal Preparation Food and Kitchen Safety Discuss course
materials with participants Distribute appropriate materials to
participants
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Implementing Gold Standards with Volunteers 4.Using Appropriate
Delivery Methods Have participants cook and eat together Ask
participants open-ended questions to encourage discussion.
Team-teach, or work collaboratively with your co-instructor to
guide discussion. Build on content from the previous weeks.
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Volunteer Retention
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WHY do volunteers stay with organizations? Four management
practices that have a positive effect on volunteer retention:
1.Recognition activities 2.Training and professional development
opportunities 3.Using screening procedures to identify suitable
volunteers 4.Matching volunteers with appropriate tasks Source:
Volunteer Management Practices and Retention of Volunteers, Mark A.
Hager, Jeffrey L. Brudney, Urban Institute, June 2004
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WHY do volunteers stay with Cooking Matters? Key retention
factors 1.Clear communications/expectations 2.Appropriate and
engaging training 3.Chance to cultivate new skills 4.Opportunities
to connect with like-minded volunteers 5.Opportunities to connect
with clients 6.Recognition & reward
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HOW do we know why volunteers stay with Cooking Matters?
End-of-Course Survey for Volunteers Anonymous Gauges volunteer and
host site staff satisfaction Provides knowledge that can aid
recruiting/retention Reinforces that we care about their feedback
and want to improve their experience Let volunteers know that the
end of course survey will be automatically sent via email a few
weeks after the course ends The survey is designed for the course
team which includes: ALL volunteers, no matter their role, and host
site staff
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Volunteer Recognition
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Why does Share Our Strength recognize volunteers? Connect new
volunteers to Share Our Strengths role in ending childhood hunger.
Appreciate volunteers who have taught milestone course series.
Encourage volunteers to continue teaching Cooking Matters courses
in their communities. Establish and maintain a connection with
volunteers at the national level.
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How does Share Our Strength recognize volunteers? Volunteer
Milestone Gifts 1 st course: Re-useable grocery bag (Distributed at
local level) 3 rd course: Cooking Matters water bottle 5 th course:
Insulated bag 10 th course: Signed copy of The Light of Conscience
15 th course: Induction for course instructors into the Cooking
Matters Hall of Fame, paid travel to and registration for
Conference of Leaders
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How can you recognize your volunteers on the local level?
Acknowledge each course with a handwritten thank you note
Acknowledge volunteers in your organization's newsletter or on
social media Share quotes from the participant surveys with
volunteers so they know theyve made an impact Highlight
participants positive feedback about the class results to your
volunteers so they can see the impact of their contribution.
Personal thank you phone call from someone higher up in your
organization to the volunteer Provide a letter of recognition to
the volunteers place of employment or professional organization
Create and provide a certificate of appreciation
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Next Up Course Coordination: Before Class Starts Satellite
Partner Blog Satellite Partner Timeline Host Site Selection
Volunteer Training Course Materials Preparation
