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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

— Margaret Mead

Have you ever said, “I won’t do that again” after volunteering for a committee, fundraiser or organization? I know I have. Until recently, I had decided that volunteering to help was more of a hassle than it was worth. With three children, I have dabbled in volunteerism and often found the experiences disappointing.

For two consecutive years, my husband and I volunteered to coordinate ticket sales for my son’s group. Our job was to distribute and track raffle tickets parents were responsible for selling and to coordinate occasional group sales locations. This required a fair time commitment, but we felt good contributing to the organization. That good feeling quickly dwindled when we were yelled at — and I mean yelled at — by a few parents who were angry about having to sell tickets. It was the classic shoot-the-messenger scenario, and the parents seemed to overlook that we were just volunteers.

Recently, my belief in volunteerism was restored thanks to community members who believe in giving back. They showed me that volunteering can be a productive and rewarding experience.

It is important now more than ever that nonprofit organizations and other agencies get volunteers to meet their growing social needs. In a study published in July, the Corporation for National and Community Service studied why “over one-third of volunteers (35.5 percent) drop out of service each year and do not serve with any organizations the following year.” This study provides key insights about getting and keeping volunteers.

The following are key findings of the study, “Pathway to Service: Learning from the potential volunteer’s perspective.”

• People are more likely to volunteer if personally invited by a friend or relative. “Many non-volunteers said they had never volunteered because they had simply never been asked to do so by someone they trusted.”

• Non-volunteers see themselves as essentially different from volunteers. “Contrary to general perceptions, volunteers tend to have a busy schedule filled with work, children and other commitments.” Showcase volunteers so others can make connections and see they are the volunteer type.

• Non-volunteers worry about having enough time to volunteer. “Many non-volunteers ... felt that signing up for a volunteer activity meant they would be required to continue with that organization or activity indefinitely.” Organizations can work to fit volunteer opportunities with the amount of time volunteers are willing to commit.

• Poor volunteer management turns people off of service. Participants repeatedly said, “If they had a bad experience with one organization, they were turned off from volunteering altogether.” Wasting volunteers’ time, working them to death or mistreating them can mean the loss of volunteers.

• Skills-based volunteering can bring in new volunteers. “Opinions were voiced about the value of using an established skill and adding a new skill.” Agencies that match the strengths and desired tasks of volunteers with the needs of the organization will keep their volunteers happy.

As the study indicated when I had a few bad experiences with volunteering, I was inclined to be “too busy” to volunteer. I was asked recently to attend a meeting where community members were advocating for the school bond in the borough election Tuesday. Like the research states, I went because a friend asked me to. Once I was there, I learned about the purpose and benefit to the community. The committee was productive and set specific outcomes. We shared the workload, so no one was overloaded. Our meetings were constructive because updates were e-mailed beforehand. That way, the meeting could focus on actions and decisions. It felt good to work with such dedicated community members, and it will have a lasting impact on my willingness to volunteer. The effectiveness of the process reflected the principles our country was founded on and are at work today. I witnessed true citizenship and selflessness. Even with the work involved, it was rewarding to give back to our schools. Don’t forget to vote Tuesday.

Keli Hite McGee is an executive coaching and strategic planning consultant for Hites Consulting Inc. and an instructor for the UAF/TVC Professional Development and Corporate Training Program. She can be reached at hites@mac.com. This column is provided as a public service by the UAF Tanana Valley Campus Applied Business Department.