Raise Your

Volunteer IQ to New

Heights!!

Roe Parker, Trainer, Progressive Leader

Overview

The Problem

Challenge to Dems

Science of Communication

Volunteers - Meet Their

Needs

Background (4 Big Ideas)

Communication

Meetings

Action Projects

Communication is like riding

a bike because….

The Problem

The Challenge for Dems

False or Incomplete Media Coverage

Ad Hoc Past Volunteers

Limited Donations

The Science of People

Applies to

• Volunteer

• Recruitment

• Retention

Psychological VariablesInformation & Impacts Are Felt in the Subconscious

Values live here. Decisions are made here.

Past

Experiences

Relationships

Personal

Perceptions

Public Perception

George Lakoff, Scott Wittkopf & Others

Understanding Humans – Different Levels

Values Pyramid

Head: (Logic)Policies & Information

Heart: (Feeling or Compassion)

Loyalty, Democracy, Freedom

Gut: (Deepest Values or Needs)

Sex, Parent, Tribe; Fear is the Strongest

Weak

Strong

Increase Food

Share Benefits

Recipients

Don’t Have

Enough to Eat

Children are

Going Hungry;

Amy failed

1st Grade-

Hunger

Research Proven – George Lakoff & Others

Frames Define Your Moral Worldview

Progressive Frame:

“Co-equal Parent Family”

Conservative Frame:

“Strict Father Family”

Words Count - When we use the wrong words-conservatives

tell themselves a story and create a frame in their mind

Community Value Paternal (Individual) Value

• More About Candidate

• Time

• Boring Meetings

• Administrative Work

• Phone Banks

• Canvassing

- Politics

- Environment

High Tech

& High

Touch

Vulcan vs. Human

Success Formula

More Connections

= Success

Need to Explore New Ideas

Volunteer Self-Interest(Organized Around Self-Interest – Driving Factor)

Little

Mild

Medium

Direct(Most)

None

Politics

Action Projects

Low High

Not EngagedOccasionally

Engaged

Partially

Engaged

Fully

Engaged

Volunteer Types

Volunteer Continuum

Timeline

Attract Engage Sustain

Time

Volunteer Moments of Truth

Moment of Truth: Is the moment when a volunteer interacts

with your organization to form or change an impression

(judgement) about your brand, organization, or activity.

1st Contact

(Web, person,

other)

Contact

w/emailsContact

w/meetingsContact

w/actions

Day 1

Day N

Key Questions

What is the volunteer seeking?

How does the volunteer feel after each moment?

What is the volunteer experience over several moments?

Hybrid Strategy

Success

Two Approaches to Volunteers

Traditional

Focus on Candidates

Wait for Campaign

(Gaps in VolunteerRecruitment)

Limited Focus on Values (Values Filtered Through Candidates)

Campaigns

Wait for Campaigns

Phone Banks

Canvassing

Supplemental Approach

Increase Focus on Volunteers

Limited Focus on Candidates 4 – 18 Months Before Elections

Increased Focus of Values

Communications

One to One

Rock Co. Dems

Meetings

In-direct Networking by topic

Build Community Through Projects

Build Networks through Social Contacts

Blend the Generations

Baby Boomers vs Millennials

Value Baby Boomers Millennial

Mission Lip Service Must Have Mission

Independence Cares About Others

Feelings

Not a High Priority

Meetings Discuss, Discuss Discuss-Action

Technology Challenged, Likes TV State of Art-Web over TV

Community Rotary Beach Sweep

Family Family & Friends Friends Are My Family,

Multi-generational

One to One Communications

Assess Your Own Morals & Values

Create a Progressive Frame

Talk about morals and values first

If needed, pivot the discussion to values

Powerful: Ask The Other Person:

What are you most proud of when you helped

someone else without benefit?

Communications

Start

o 1) Focus More on Values

2) Morals and Action Projects

Keep On

o Highlight Dem Candidates –

Connect to Values

Stop

o Focusing exclusively on policy

positions. Yes-Refer people to

policy/media resources.

Newsletters, email blasts, and Facebook, and meetings

Meetings

Increase variety of activities –stop the “sit

and listen” approach for every meeting. Mix it up from month to month

Provide Orientations; Buddy System

Make them more active

Use membership meetings for planning action projects

Increase the fun

Increase opportunities for expression –e.g. open mic

Add music once in a while

Action Projects Meet and Then Act in

Community

Use Projects to Network(Jointly sponsor projects with other groups)

Connect Projects to Values; Later to Campaigns

Plan 1-3 action projects for 2018

Lots of publicity -Before and After

In Person Contacts

Postcards

Retaining Volunteers(and Connections)

Meetings Welcome

Orientation

Mentoring (Buddies)

Active Format

Projects Appealing

to Self Interest Environment

Hunger

Kids

Volunteer Management

Incentive

- A factor that drives performance to meet a goal. Delivers a tangible or emotional value

Appreciation

- A general expression of gratitude and demonstrates qualities of overall contribution

Recognition

- A specific expression for meeting or exceeding goal. Delivers an emotional value

Review

Volunteers-Their Perspective

Values

Explore New Approaches

Communications

Meetings

Action Projects

Customize to Your

Progressive or Dem Group

In ConclusionIn Conclusion