Volunteer Management

The FRG leadership should establish a service record for each volunteer. It should include a summary of the volunteer's service in your FRG and a written job description for each permanent position/capacity in which the volunteer works. An accurate record of volunteer hours worked.

The volunteer service record helps you and your fellow volunteers divide the labor among FRG volunteers in accordance with their skills, experience and personal interests, verify volunteer's eligibility for awards and provide a summary of their accomplishments while working with your FRG - which may come in handy should they need to put together a resume.

RECORD OF HOURS WORKED
Keep a separate form on file for each volunteer. you can summarize all time donated on one form or keep a separate form for each committee/area they work in. Credit each hour of volunteer service performed, hours spent in orientation and other FRG training activities. Credit Invitational Temporary Duty at conferences or workshops involving overnight travel at 24 hours per day. When volunteers perform on-call duties, award either two hours of credit for each 24 hours spend on call or the total time spent actually providing services during their tour of on-call duty, which ever is greatest.

WRITTEN JOB DESCRIPTIONS
FRG Leaders, Newsletter editor, Treasurer and chairpersons for other committees within each FRG should have job descriptions on file with volunteer signature. The Job Descriptions should have the following elements:

  • Position Title
  • Supervisor
  • Goal
  • Responsibilities
  • Time Commitment
  • Qualifications
  • Training Provided
  • Obligation
  • Statement of understanding and signature/Date

    RECOGNIZING VOLUNTEERS
    Recognizing volunteers is essential to keeping your FRG a happy place to work (not to mention keeping your volunteers)! There are many official Army awards. Please check your local installation guidelines for submitting your volunteers for these awards. Apart from these, it's important to recognize the daily efforts of volunteers. Here is a list of the small creative ways to say thank you:

  • THANKS FOR RAISIN' THE TOUGH QUESTIONS... mini box of raisins
  • NO ON HOLDS A CANDLE TO YOU... scented votive candle
  • YOU ARE A LIFESAVER... package of candy with a note
  • YOUR VISION IS OUR GUIDING LIGHT... mini-flashlight
  • YOU TAKE THE CAKE!... cupcakes
  • THANKS FOR WORKING YOUR BUNS OFF... hot cinnamon buns
  • A NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENT... package of post-it notes
  • YOU ARE BERRY SPECIAL... fresh berries or jam
  • HUGS AND KISSES... Hershey's candies
  • I'LL STICK WITH YOU... stick of gum
  • YOU'RE WORTH A MINT... package of peppermints

    10 TIMES FOR RECOGNITION
    1. When they sign up to volunteer
    2. Informal thank you's- always
    3. Monthly recognition (articles, award)
    4. Annual appreciation certificates, dinners, etc.
    5. At the completion of a project (letter, promotion, certificate)
    6. At meetings - say thank you.
    7. Cards at birthdays
    8. Cards when they are sick.
    9. Recognition when they leave.
    10. During National Volunteer Week