Active recruiting of Volunteers is crucial to ensuring you get the right Volunteers for your event. There are lots of sites out there for Volunteers in Vancouver and the Lower mainland such as:
www.thevantagepoint.ca (previously Volunteer Vancouver)
And many others that can link you with people interested in volunteering.
However, as great as these sites are, there are other resources out there that may attract the more specific volunteers you are looking for your event. For instance, Vancouver has a vast amount of Universities, Colleges and Technical Institutes as well as Private Schools with specific programs in Event Management and Tourism. Each one of these programs has between 20 -80 students interested in the field and eager to get out and volunteer in the industry. The easiest way to reach out to these people is to contact the Department Heads and let them know you are looking for volunteers. And why stop there? If you are doing an art event, contact Art Schools, and programs, and if it is a film or movie event, contact the film industry schools. It may take a bit of work to find the right people to call, and set up your own database, but you will maximize the quality of Volunteers you will receive. It also increases the incentive for Volunteers to want to be a part of your event, if it’s something they are already invested in.
So what other incentive can you give Volunteers to help out at your event? Well, as much as everyone loves “swag” from an event, the easiest incentive you can offer is training and the chance to be a part of the event. Keep in mind a lot of Volunteer have ulterior motives for volunteering that can range from interest in the event, to hoping they get to network with someone there. I’ve volunteered at an event once just to see the guest speaker (I ended up out in coat check the whole night and saw nothing, but it was still a great night! I did get to meet some other volunteers who are now good colleagues of mine)
Be sure to check back for JD's FINAL tip!
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