<VV> Getting Volunteers

[BobHelt at aol.com]

WE  LIKE TO BE ASKED 
By Bob  Helt



Yes, we girls liked to be  asked. We liked to be asked for a date, We like to 
be asked to go out. We like  to be asked to go to dinner (and have the fellow 
pay for everything). We love  it. We even like to be asked to go out with our 
girlfriends. Why? Well it sure  makes us feel good. It builds our self 
esteem. It complements our own feelings  about ourselves. It is exciting. It is “
living”. In fact the ultimate is to be  asked to marry the guy we admire most and 
are in love  with. 
We also like to be asked to  do things that may involve our time or effort 
when the feeling is that the  people asking really value our participation and 
help. It gives us satisfaction  to think that someone really values us and our 
involvement. In addition the  opportunities for accomplishing challenging 
tasks increases our knowledge and  self worth. Psychologists often say that 
accomplishment within a job offers the  greatest satisfaction, rather than money or 
perks. 
But the guys say, you girls  aren’t the only ones who like to be asked. We 
get great satisfaction by being  asked out by our girlfriends too. In fact our 
feelings aren’t much different  from you gals. We love to be asked to join the 
team (even if we don’t follow  thru).  Being asked tells us that  the other 
party values our knowledge, friendship and help.   
On the other side, just  imagine how you feel when your friends are chosen 
for some activity but you are  not. You are unappreciated. You are an outcast. 
It tends to work both  ways. 
GETTING  VOLUNTEERS 
OK, let’s consider the  question of getting volunteers for accomplishing some 
activity or project. Let’s  say we are in charge of some charity project and 
need unpaid help to accomplish  our goals. Well, we could just sit at our desk 
and wait until the right people  walk thru our door. Will that work?  
We could maybe advertise  for volunteers in the local papers or with posters 
in the neighborhood. How will  that work? We might get some people who 
perceive the need for their help and  understand the implied benefits of 
volunteering. Maybe, depending on how the ads  were worded. 
But I’ll bet that by  personally contacting prospective candidates and 
personally explaining why they  are needed and how much their help would be valued 
would get more volunteers.  People like to be asked. It makes them feel good. 
If you are seeking unpaid  volunteers, you have to sell the job to them. There 
is no money involved so you  have to emphasize how much they are needed and 
how valuable their contribution  would be. And how much job satisfaction they 
will enjoy from their  participation. 
So which path would you  suggest that CORSA takes when they need volunteers 
to participate in some  activity? 

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