1 military order of the purple heart va voluntary service (vavs) recruitment strategy recruiting...

11

Military Order of the Military Order of the Purple HeartPurple Heart

VA Voluntary Service (VAVS)VA Voluntary Service (VAVS)

Recruitment StrategyRecruitment Strategy

Recruiting TacticsRecruiting Tactics““An Invitation to Service”An Invitation to Service”

Changing the Face of the VAVSChanging the Face of the VAVS

22

VAVS Recruitment StrategyVAVS Recruitment StrategyRecruiting TacticsRecruiting Tactics

• Total volunteers and hours continue to slip; a Total volunteers and hours continue to slip; a trend that MUST be reversedtrend that MUST be reversed

• A coherent VAVS recruitment strategy and A coherent VAVS recruitment strategy and recommended organizational structure have recommended organizational structure have been developed, updated for 2014 and adopted been developed, updated for 2014 and adopted by NACby NAC

• At all levels, VACO/VAMC/NAC organizations: At all levels, VACO/VAMC/NAC organizations: Recruitment is a full time, year round Recruitment is a full time, year round responsibility!responsibility!

33


• VAVS Invitational Recruiting Strategy VAVS Invitational Recruiting Strategy (Continued)(Continued)

Volunteer RetentionVolunteer Retention-Meaningful work with positive feedback-Meaningful work with positive feedback-Allow for personal growth, flexibility in -Allow for personal growth, flexibility in assignmentsassignments-Show respect for volunteers-Show respect for volunteers-Eliminate barriers to use of volunteers-Eliminate barriers to use of volunteers-Establish incentive programs for volunteers -Establish incentive programs for volunteers that reward hours worked, volunteers recruited, that reward hours worked, volunteers recruited, e.g. gift certificates, a gas allowance to help e.g. gift certificates, a gas allowance to help offset high gas pricesoffset high gas prices-RECOGNITION of volunteers efforts a key to -RECOGNITION of volunteers efforts a key to personal satisfaction and retentionpersonal satisfaction and retention

44


VAVS Invitational Recruiting Strategy (Continued)VAVS Invitational Recruiting Strategy (Continued)Broad-Based RecruitingBroad-Based Recruiting

-Maintain high media profile-Maintain high media profile-Distribute high quality materials-Distribute high quality materials-Network with businesses, community groups, leaders-Network with businesses, community groups, leaders

Managing Volunteer RecruitingManaging Volunteer Recruiting-Tailor to structure, network within NAC member -Tailor to structure, network within NAC member

organizationsorganizations-Enter into collaborations and partnerships-Enter into collaborations and partnerships With other NAC organizations, Veterans groupsWith other NAC organizations, Veterans groups Share marketing, public relations materials, Share marketing, public relations materials,

techniquestechniques With Colleges, UniversitiesWith Colleges, Universities With other organizations with similar goals/interestsWith other organizations with similar goals/interests

55


Recruitment TacticsRecruitment Tactics• Goals: At each VAMC, increase total number of Goals: At each VAMC, increase total number of

volunteers and hours by at least 10%; lower volunteers and hours by at least 10%; lower average/median age to 55-60average/median age to 55-60

• VAVS Invitational Recruiting StrategyVAVS Invitational Recruiting Strategy-Generational Recruiting Age Demographics-Generational Recruiting Age Demographics

-Great Depression/WWII Generation (1925-1945)-Great Depression/WWII Generation (1925-1945) -Baby Boomers (1945-1963)-Baby Boomers (1945-1963) -Generation X – The “Me” Generation (1964-1981)-Generation X – The “Me” Generation (1964-1981) -Generation Y – The “Millennial”-Generation Y – The “Millennial”

-One on One, Face to Face Recruiting-One on One, Face to Face Recruiting-Targeted Recruiting-Targeted Recruiting

-Family Volunteering-Family Volunteering-Youth/Teen Volunteering-Youth/Teen Volunteering-OEF/OIF Veterans Volunteering-OEF/OIF Veterans Volunteering

66


Preparation for Effective RecruitingPreparation for Effective Recruiting• Every VAVS “recruiter” must have thorough knowledge of Every VAVS “recruiter” must have thorough knowledge of

VAVS history, organization & culture, nationally and locallyVAVS history, organization & culture, nationally and locally• VAVS policies, procedures, indoctrination procedures and VAVS policies, procedures, indoctrination procedures and

paperwork continuously reviewed, updated and streamlined paperwork continuously reviewed, updated and streamlined with unnecessary procedures, forms and policies eliminated.with unnecessary procedures, forms and policies eliminated.The goal: Put that volunteer to work in a few days!The goal: Put that volunteer to work in a few days!

• At all levels review, programs, activities, incentives and At all levels review, programs, activities, incentives and recruiting strategies. recruiting strategies. What’s working – What’s not??What’s working – What’s not??

• At each VAMC, form recruiting committee with experienced, At each VAMC, form recruiting committee with experienced, innovative volunteers from local NAC organizationsinnovative volunteers from local NAC organizations

• Clearly understand the benefits and the cost of volunteeringClearly understand the benefits and the cost of volunteering• Update and/or develop new brochures, recruitment materials Update and/or develop new brochures, recruitment materials

and advertisingand advertising

77


• AT NAC level, identify potential new organizations: Invite to AT NAC level, identify potential new organizations: Invite to join the NACjoin the NAC-Appropriate service, fraternal, civic, business -Appropriate service, fraternal, civic, business organizationsorganizations-Emerging Veteran Service Organizations (VSO’s) unique to -Emerging Veteran Service Organizations (VSO’s) unique to recent operations, e.g. Soldiers Angels, Iraq & Afghanistan recent operations, e.g. Soldiers Angels, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans for Freedom, Operations Veterans of America, Veterans for Freedom, Operations InterdependenceInterdependence-At VAMC level, identify and approach local organizations -At VAMC level, identify and approach local organizations to recruit Regularly Scheduled (RS) Occasional (Occ) to recruit Regularly Scheduled (RS) Occasional (Occ) volunteers and to support specific events, e.g. Stand volunteers and to support specific events, e.g. Stand Down, Welcome Home, etc.Down, Welcome Home, etc.

Business & ProfessionalBusiness & Professional Churches/Religious Churches/Religious organizationsorganizations

Volunteer CentersVolunteer Centers Colleges (Fraternities/Sororities)Colleges (Fraternities/Sororities)Unions/Trade GroupsUnions/Trade Groups Youth GroupsYouth GroupsRetired Military/Military UnitsRetired Military/Military Units Veterans GroupsVeterans Groups

88


SummarySummary• Partnership and constant coordination between NAC Partnership and constant coordination between NAC

organizations and VAVS at all levels is essentialorganizations and VAVS at all levels is essential• Understand what your organization brings to the tableUnderstand what your organization brings to the table• Be knowledgeable about VAVS history, culture, value to Be knowledgeable about VAVS history, culture, value to

the Veterans, to the VHA, to the Nationthe Veterans, to the VHA, to the Nation• Identify volunteer needs: develop, update, maintain Identify volunteer needs: develop, update, maintain

volunteer position descriptionsvolunteer position descriptions• Continually review, update recruiting materialsContinually review, update recruiting materials• Develop a coherent, flexible recruiting plan: follow the Develop a coherent, flexible recruiting plan: follow the

planplan• Provide meaningful recognition, feedback to volunteersProvide meaningful recognition, feedback to volunteers• Be sincere, innovative, flexible and always courteousBe sincere, innovative, flexible and always courteous• Have passion; it’s contagiousHave passion; it’s contagious

99

““The Power is in the The Power is in the Ask”Ask”

1 military order of the purple heart va voluntary service (vavs) recruitment strategy recruiting...

Documents