Building a sense of team /
Ensuring inclusion of online volunteers
From Managing Offsite Volunteers via the Internet
by Jayne Cravens, Project Manager
In your continuing efforts to make volunteers feel included, make sure that all staff understand to treat online volunteers with the same respect and recognition of onsite volunteers. Staff should be given regular updates on volunteer activities, on and offline, and know how to interact with volunteers online.
Keeping offsite volunteers informed of team, project and organization information is crucial to helping them feel included. Make sure that all pertinent office memos are regularly distributed via e-mail to remote volunteers. Be sure volunteers receive any electronic newsletters you send to supporters highlighting program activities and accomplishments as well.
Online volunteers should receive the same invitations, information and "thank yous" sent to onsite volunteers, either via e-mail or postal mail. Managers should speak often of online volunteers' contribution to the organization. Develop a Web page that honors volunteers. If there is a way for volunteers who are geographically too remote to attend onsite celebrations, try to come up with a way for such volunteers to participate via technology such as phone or a live chat. You could even create an area where online volunteers can interact with each other about their assignments.
Asking volunteers for input is a form of recognition -- it says, "I value your opinion." So be sure to include volunteers when looking for suggestions about improving or expanding your program, or about an area the volunteer has indicated some experience in.
For more information, see Recognizing Online Volunteers and Using the Internet to Honor ALL Volunteers.
Other parts of this tip sheet:
- Management by objectives
- Regular Online Reporting by Volunteers
- Staying In Touch and In Tune With Online Volunteers
- Building a sense of team / Ensuring inclusion of online volunteers
- Additional Tips to Ensure Success of Virtual Volunteering
- Links to Related Resources