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Recruiting Membership The first step to attract and retain new members is for a coalition to identify its own needs and goals. Are you seeking to increase your membership numbers, or do you have specific reasons for attracting volunteers? Begin by conducting a self-assessment. Ask: Which community voices are missing from the coalition? What tasks does the organization need volunteers for? How many volunteers are needed? Does the coalition need members with specific skills? Who can rally support within the community? Recruiting Volunteers There is a whole host of ways to recruit volunteers. Some ideas include: Conduct town meetings to educate the public about the coalition’s goals and objectives, and enlist their support for these efforts. Hold a community-wide march and rally. Attend other community meetings and distribute information about your organization. Launch a public relations campaign through the local media. Ask friends, family, colleagues and current coalition members to identify other potential members. Contact community leaders and known critical partners to your cause. Don’t overlook your faith-based organizations and youth organizations. Don’t underestimate informal recruitment. People are most likely to contribute time, resources and skills when asked personally, especially by people they know. If your coalition is considering applying for annual grant funding from the Drug-Free Community Support Program your coalition must include at least one representative from each of the following 12 sectors: Youth Parents Business community Media Schools Youth-serving organizations Law enforcement Religious or fraternal organizations Civic and volunteer groups Healthcare professionals State, local and/or tribal government agencies Other organizations involved in reducing drug abuse Operation UNITE conducts many training sessions throughout the year so that volunteers have the most up-to-date information available. These trainings vary, covering topics associated with current drug abuse, how to incorporate specific programs into their communities, and to learn what resources are available to coalitions. Trainings may be conducted on a regional or county basis. Coalitions may work directly with their Coalition Coordinator for their county to get answers to questions or guidance on conducting specific activities. Retaining Volunteers Retaining volunteers is essential for the continued success of a coalition. Volunteers will lose interest if they are not involved, energized and productive. Understand that their time is valuable. Some tips that will keep your coalition membership strong include: Identify expectations. Provide volunteers with a job description and let them know what is expected for each task. Delegate tasks. Many people are reluctant to volunteer because of the time commitment. Be careful not to overload one person with a huge assignment. Break down projects into smaller, more manageable pieces that can be completed by several members. Make the experience meaningful. Allow volunteers to take ownership of projects. Give them the freedom to be creative. Upon completion, provide public and personal recognition for good work through awards, newsletter articles, verbal kudos at meetings, or thank-you gifts. Create networking opportunities. In forming committees, strive for balance -- not only in terms of personality types, but also professional interests. Let prospective committee members know with whom they will be serving. Allow enough time for networking and discussion. Create opportunities for personal and professional development. Bring outside speakers and trainers in to provide new, relevant information, skill building, professional training, or personal development for coalition volunteers. Provide technical assistance. Let volunteers know who they can call with questions or concerns, and be sure that their concerns are dealt with in a timely manner. Make the work enjoyable. Work to maintain a collegial, supportive, healthy and safe environment. Show appreciation for their time by providing meals and other comforts when the work takes them away from their families/homes during meal times. Establish a regular meeting time and place. Attendance is likely to be improved if members have adequate advance notice of meeting dates and times. Consider using an annual calendar.

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