VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT

February 2018 

The list below highlights volunteer recruitment ideas from across the state. These were pulled from the 2017 10 Criteria Reports.

For additional resources on Volunteerism, see these links:

Amarillo: Center City has a staff of only two with an additional summer intern, so volunteers are how we make things happen downtown. Volunteers staff events such as Create!, High Noon on the Square, and Jazztober. Then, they work up to being a committee member, and finally to a board position.

Corporate volunteer programs allow companies in the area to supply volunteers for events and allow new volunteers to be part of making Center City thrive. Current programs are with Xcel Energy, Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, and Happy State Bank.

Volunteer Statistics & Engagement Self-Assessment

Bastrop: Given that community action programs like the Bastrop Main Street Program (BMSP) are “staffed” by a passing parade of volunteer talent, the BMSP is blessed to retain a cadre of volunteers whose engagement spans the 10-year-history of the program and who provide institutional memory and effectively mentor “newbies.” The 2008 Recession and the influx of younger families on the community has transformed the potential volunteer workforce, just as many of our long-term volunteers are scaling back their volunteer activities. While we have seen diminishing interest in becoming a member of a year-round program of work, the number of volunteers forming standing committee membership rosters has thinned. We have had much success with recruiting volunteers for a single event or series of events, seen by many as a better use of volunteer time and talent. Concurrently, two of our standing committees (Promotions and EV) have divided themselves into various project teams whose focus is a single initiative, event, program, etc. These teams work independently; their progress is coordinated/monitored by the co-chairs within the frame works of a committee work plan; teams augment their resources through recruiting as needed; co-chairs report progress regular to the advisory board. Our premier Table on Main was an example of such expanded project specific teaming. A small army was mobilized specifically for this event and included Downtown Business Association members and individual and individual merchants and artists, restaurateurs, and local growers/producers, Chamber office en masse, BEDC staff members, BISD student volunteers, “regular” BMSP volunteers from across the committee structure as well as volunteers recruited specifically for this event. In response to the trends described above, the advisory board formed an ad hoc committee to look at BMSP’s volunteer needs and how those needs might best be met. The committee formulated a series of steps to ramp up our recruiting initiatives. Following acceptance by the advisory board, the Organization Committee has amended its work plan to accomplish the committee’s recommendations and will spend much time developing tools (elevator speech, updated recruiting brochure, a speakers’ bureau, an enhanced volunteer/volunteer recruitment database, etc.).

 

Beaumont: Beaumont Main Street collaborated with a local professor from Lamar University to create a downtown map for our community. We have also solicited volunteers from Lamar university and Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School for our annual Dog-tober Fest event. Community involvement from volunteers of varying age groups is integrated into our solicitations.

 

Beeville: Joe Barnhart Scholarship Foundation at the Beeville ISD, Boy Scouts of America, Bee County Veterans, City of Beeville Municipal Court provide aid in volunteers for community service. Examples of events include the Armed Forces Day Celebration, Bee Jamboree, Holly Jolly Christmas Lighted Parade and Events, and Halloween Block Party for games and activities.

Brenham:

Individuals

  • Individuals from the community serve on committees and volunteer for events.

  • Local History Day draws a number of individual volunteers.

Industry

  • Local businesses support our downtown events, with employee volunteers.

Financial Community

  • Local businesses support our downtown events, with employee volunteers.

 

Bridgeport: Individuals- Main Street has some wonderful, dedicated individuals that serve on the Main Street Board or that just like to volunteer for events. The Main Street Board could not put on great events and execute them if it wasn’t for our great volunteers. We need so many individuals to volunteer through the year for judging the Window Decorating Contest, decorating downtown for Christmas, judging the parade entries for the Christmas Parade and Butterfield Stage Days Parade, setting up for special events like Girls Night Out and Barktoberfest Pet Festival. We appreciate all of our individuals that volunteer for Main Street.

 

Canyon: Our Organization Committee is responsible for suggesting new volunteers. Once applications are submitted, volunteers must be approved by the City Commission and Main Street Advisory Board. We start each year with a Main Street Volunteer Kickoff Luncheon to introduce new members and educate all volunteers on the goals of Canyon Main Street. We end the year with a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and recognize all members whose terms have expired. Many times, these volunteers end up coming back the next year when they are again eligible. This year we also added in a Volunteer Recruitment Lunch in April, encouraging each volunteer to bring a least one person who is not already involved in CMS. Our goal was to increase our number of volunteers, as well as get more young people involved with CMS. We gained six volunteers from the lunch, who either joined a committee or have helped in CMS events.

 

Carthage: An amazing group of volunteers and Carthage Main Street Board members and Youth Advisory Council members worked in Anderson Park raking leaves when the county was low on trustees who normally do this job.

  • Volunteer Recruiting: word of mouth, information tables at community events, presentations to community groups which this year included the Retired Teachers Association, The Lions Club and the Rotary Club and Panola County Democrats meeting, press releases in local and community newspapers, Web pages and Facebook, welcome letters to all new volunteers with a yearly calendar of events as well as just talking to everyone we can.

  • Youth Groups - The Carthage Main Street Youth Advisory Council was formed in May of 2016, consisting of 14 Carthage High School Students, in May of 2017 the group had grown to 20 members.  They have already proven to be fantastic volunteers as well as getting involved in all activities downtown.  They have also established a new downtown tradition with the success of their first annual “Homecoming Street Dance” which had many corporate sponsors. The Carthage High School Bulldog Belles Drill Team are a tremendous help at our Breakfast With Santa, they dress as elves and help the kids with their art projects as well as entertain them with a dance and singing while we give Santa a little rest. The Belles serve as hostesses at our Annual Mom & Me Quilts & Tea Party, the little girls love having them there. Additionally, The Belles help with games and our Flash Mob at Halloween on the Square.  Panola College Students, Band & Choir help with Clean Up Carthage Day and Halloween on the Square.  The Panola County Chapter of FFA also assists with serving the food and beverages at Breakfast with Santa.

 

Celina: Volunteers are key to Celina’s program. Advisory board and committee members include building owners, historic preservationists, church staff members, professionals, and residents. The Chamber of Commerce, City Council, Economic Development Corporation, and Celina ISD have ex-officio members on the advisory board. Event volunteers consist of community groups, such as Boy Scouts and National Honor Society, as well as individual residents. Tenure of volunteers vary from one time to over 11 years contribution to the Celina Main Street mission. Volunteers are solicited through word of mouth, sign-ups at events for future opportunities, and online sign-ups.

 

Clarksville: Volunteer recruitment is done through various avenues. There is a Volunteer Recruitment Rally held in January.  Additionally, individual committees and organizations continually recruit volunteers through other meetings and socials. Churches and local schools are a rich source for volunteer recruitment.  Media outlets including printed, broadcast, and social are other ways that volunteers are solicited for our MS program.  Volunteers are recognized in October, and with a brunch and a time for sharing and socializing.

Main Street Program volunteers are oriented and introduced to our MS vision, mission, and goals.  Our Board meetings are open to the public, so we encourage our volunteers to attend to enhance their knowledge of the programs and share with us their thoughts for the program. 

 

Goliad: Most of the Goliad Main Street volunteers are returning volunteers which works out great because they know how the event runs and they are so important in keeping things running smoothly. Some of our volunteers and friends and family of board members and the board members are great at recruiting new volunteers for different events. We are currently working on establishing a list of volunteers for different events, this way we are not overworking our volunteers.

 

Gonzales: Main Street has long term volunteers that contribute to the program by knowing what the program is about and the activities that Main Street does. These long-term volunteers are able to train the new volunteers who join us on a regular basis. Some of the volunteers have been aboard for over five years. Board members recruit the volunteers by asking friends and relatives to help out. Also, our events are a great way to show what we do and how a little bit of your time can help the community. To retain our volunteers we show them respect and ask for their input on our projects as well as time doing things. Every volunteer receives a Thank You Note for a job well done. If the volunteers are setting up for an event, putting up Christmas Decorations, picking up trash, or manning an event, we make sure that refreshments are available. This year Texas, Gonzales Northern Railway, TXGN, volunteered four of their workers to help the City of Gonzales clean up the town. The workers cleaned flower beds, butterfly garden and painted some of the trash cans. TXGN volunteered these workers and paid their salaries and benefit

 

Grapevine: Individual volunteer opportunities are available at Nash Farm, the historic Palace Theatre, with the Heritage Education Program tours and school presentations, festival volunteer opportunities, as well as service as a Grapevine Heritage Foundation board or committee member, or as a Grapevine Historic Preservation Commission member.

 

Harlingen: Downtown Harlingen has long-time volunteers who contribute to our program and stay actively engaged. Some of our volunteer board members have been active since the 1980s.  Because of the marketing and growth of Downtown Harlingen, a number of new volunteers join the program because they support their town and what it has to offer especially downtown. Our volunteer process includes recruiting volunteers on website, newspaper, social media and word of mouth.

 

Hillsboro: As far as volunteers are concerned, we have many who have been volunteering since I arrived in 2015 and we regularly are adding new volunteers through the school district, local churches, businesses, and individuals.  In 2016-2017, we were able to simplify the process of volunteering by creating online registration on our website for volunteers.  This helps us track who is volunteering, obtain their contact information for future events, and also have a clear list that is submitted to the local newspaper after events to thank our volunteers.

 

Kingsville: We have an informal volunteer recruitment program reaching out to community members with appropriate skillsets or we know will be interested in/supportive of the project based on past experience. We try to build off connections with Main Street Advisory Board members for example, looking to the Board member who is the editor of the local newspaper to provide a couple of his staff members to assist with the downtown passport program for Small Business Saturday. Or calling on other organizations such as the Chamber who sponsors the traditional pet parade that happens in conjunction with the larger 4th of July parade downtown and provide Chamber Ambassadors to assist with the accompanying celebration. Or the University who provides engineering students to work on downtown design projects or student athletes for downtown clean-up projects.

Laredo:

  • Texas A&M International (TAMIU) provides volunteers for our special events and interns for special projects.

  •  We participate in the annual iServe hosted by TAMIU to recruit volunteers.

  • United High School, Alexander High School, United South High School provide volunteers for our monthly El Centro de Laredo Farmers Market and special events.

  •  IBC Bank provides over 150 volunteers for our annual Jamboozie Festival

  •  Falcon International Bank provided over 50 volunteers for our annual Jamboozie Festival

 

Levelland: There’s been a new surge in interest to volunteer for the Main Street Program this year.  At least six new volunteers sought the Main Street Program out.  Two of those volunteers have been retained.  The Organization committee developed a tool to help recruit new volunteers, rack cards were created with talking points for current volunteers to use to reach out to potential new volunteers. 

 

La Grange: In 2017, the recruitment and engagement process for volunteers was centered on personal contact with community members, articles in local news media, and posts on Facebook. We also reached out to some of our event sponsors to encourage their employees to volunteer and have a presence at our events. We have several new energetic volunteers who have helped with several events and are serving on some of our committees. We have continued to see an increase in local sponsors supporting staff volunteerism at our events. Most of these sponsors are “off of the Square” businesses that have allowed their employees to represent their companies at various events including Trick or Treat on the Square, Schmeckenfest, and Movie Nights on the Square. In addition, La Grange Main Street has seen an increase in active volunteers this year.

 

Luling: Luling Main Street is lucky to have an array of volunteers that help with all kinds of different aspects of our program. Volunteers will come with all kinds of skill levels, commitment levels, and levels of available time. We have been able to keep them engaged by plugging different volunteers into different activities that fit their individual talents, strengths and levels of commitment. We have a great mix of long-time supporters who love our program and always help with events and projects, and also have many newer volunteers who want to get plugged in and are infusing new blood and ideas into our endeavors. Luling is a small community so word of mouth, along with posts on our Facebook page and Main Street columns in the local paper is generally how we get the word out when help is needed for something. Recognizing that families keep themselves extremely busy, we have made a concerted effort to offer an array of possibilities for volunteers to feel comfortable helping us get things accomplished throughout the year.

 

Mount Pleasant: Our program is successful only because of the many volunteers. We use our Facebook and events to attract more helps. These volunteers are a huge source of information and give stability to our downtown. Downtown has attracted new businesses and with new owners, added new interest in the program.

 

Mount Vernon: Our volunteers are the backbone of our program. They assist with festivals, bring food for workshops, attend a cross section of entity meetings, and are strongly involved in planning and implementation of all projects. We are always recruiting volunteers and members for the program’s 4-point committees. In addition, to celebrate our volunteers, we have an ice cream-pie social annually.  Our organization committee is beginning to develop a Main Street Volunteer of the year award to be given at our annual social.

 

Paris: MSAB utilized a web email based volunteer signup platform called “SignUpGenius.” Volunteer email is added as requested. This platform helps track hours on projects, streamlining communication. The program has also utilized Facebook for volunteer opportunities. This platform reaches younger people for volunteer base.

 

Pittsburg: Since we are a small community, I am heavily connected with a variety of community driven groups. I continuously speak at civic organizations such as Rotary, Lions, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Retired Teachers, etc. to keep them apprised of our Main Street Program and volunteer activities. The high school clubs DECA and Interact Club volunteer at all Main Street events. We work with the Boy Scouts on clean up and beautification projects on a regular basis as well.

 

Royse City: In order to promote Main Street and recruit volunteers, we have compiled email addresses on volunteers; we also use social media, the local newspaper, and word of mouth during local events; we have the support of civic organizations, local churches, and we use a website called Sign Up Genius to create signups for each event.

 

San Augustine: Our way of recruitment is definitely informal. Most recruits come by interaction at events.  We find individuals that have special interest in an event and ask for their input and move forward to ask them to serve as a Main Street volunteer.

 

San Marcos: We promote our volunteer opportunities and encourage people to sign up through our website and social media. We also post volunteer opportunities through the Student Volunteer Connection newsletter created by the Texas State University’s Student Affairs Division as well as through the Serve San Marcos website.

 

Uvalde: Our organization is always looking to recruit new volunteers for various projects.  The program reaches out to the Uvalde High School to recruit students as volunteers to help them with needed hours for college applications and to help them instill a sense of community pride in themselves.  The NJROTC program is the principle school organization that lends to volunteerism.