How to start a Volunteer Club

 

A few easy steps
1.  Commit to starting a Volunteer Club and being the Club leader.  Your main job is to keep everyone motivated and keep the Club going

2.  Send an e-mail to friends that may be interested in joining a Volunteer Club.  A sample of the original e-mail for our Club is below.  In the e-mail, explain how your Club will work.  We did not want people asking for donations, so we limited our Club to events only

3.  Set up an e-mail distribution list of all interested Club members

4.  Each month, the Club leader sends an e-mail asking for someone to coordinate an event for that month.  Usually a member will coordinate an event once or twice a year

5.  The coordinator contacts a charity of their choice to see what can be done to help.  The coordinator then e-mails the group about the cause, event, time, date and place

6.  Whoever is available commits to the event.  Sometimes you may have two people, sometimes ten

7.  The Club leader sends an e-mail to everyone recapping the success of the event.  That's it!



The original e-mail sent to start the Club
Hello.  I believe everyone is generous and wants to help those that are less fortunate, but life gets in the way.  We are so busy that sometimes it’s hard to step back and make time for something that isn’t necessarily imperative.  However, even when we are so busy that we can’t see straight, occasionally we make time for a drink after work or a movie on the weekend.  I think we sometimes fail to give back because what is missing is a good plan (and everyone knows I love a plan!).

So, I would like to start a Volunteer Club.  It works a lot like a book club.  One person is in charge each month of coming up with a volunteer opportunity and organizing the group.  The beauty is that when you are not hosting, all you have to do is show up for a few hours once a month.  Plus, it’s an opportunity to hang out with your friends and maybe even have some fun.  But, most importantly, the additive effect is amazing.  If an average of five people volunteer for three hours once a month, we’ll give 180 hours!  
The volunteering can be anything that you think is interesting, that will help society and does not require money.  You can contact your favorite local non-profit and see if they can use a volunteer group.  You can research ways to help the environment, discuss over wine and get each person in the group to commit to at least one thing (you are volunteering to help save the world!).  You can call your church or a family you know in need.  There are a ton of volunteer opportunities, but if you are blanking the month you need to coordinate, then someone in the group will be happy to help brainstorm.

I think it’s a good idea, but let me know what you think and if you are interested.  
I’ll be the first to host and will coordinate once the group is set.  

Thanks!
Lisa