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The Rise of Micro-Volunteerism

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The muscle of ACDA comes from our volunteer membership. Our success as an association depends on the voluntary acts of our membership. I am certain the same is true for the choirs and organizations of most of our professional membership–we succeed in our choral mission and work, based upon the efforts of volunteers.
 
However, volunteerism is changing. The motivation is the same, but the schedule is adjusting. Along with what has been diagnosed as a decline in committment, there is also a decline in traditional volunteerism. The idea of doing the same thing at the same place as a volunteer, week in and week out, is not today's practice.
 
Today's trend is toward micro-volunteerism, characterized by the idea, "I have a couple of hours, how can I help you?"
 
Today's blog is asking for ideas of how you are implementing micro-volunteerism in your program? We are looking for pragmitism here, not theory, so please hit "Reply" with your approach to incremental volunteerism…
 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marie, I like the idea of giving adminstration tasks on Facebook to a trusted singer. Their motivation will exceed what paid staff might normally offer, and frankly,  if there is any job that can be managed in increments, it is the 24/7 availability of social networking. Your idea of taking a broader inventory of talent is excellent. Thinking beyond which section a person will be placed in is spot on.

  2. Joshua, I think your statement regarding “an additional 500-600 hours” of assistance should catch everyone’s attention. That is like having an additional staff member for three months, working totally on behalf of the ensemble.

  3. I conduct a semi-professional chamber choir–of my 14 singers, 10 have degrees in music or are presently earning their living directing, teaching or playing music in some way–every singer is a busy person.   All of them have talents other than music and I have tried to tap into those.  I realized early on with this group, I couldn’t do everything I wanted to do–and still be sane.  I asked for volunteers and….everyone wanted to help but no one was sure  what to do.  It struck me to look at their application/audition forms and see what else they do besides sing.  I came up with asking for folks to do one thing only and that has been the key. I now always ask about hobbies, etc. when I am interviewing auditioners.
     
    One soprano (with BM and MM in voice) has a desktop publishing business–she does our tickets.  For our two concerts a calender year, I give her info about six weeks before and she gives me tickets within a week.  Another singer helps with venues and post-concert receptions. Another handles our Facebook page and helps with photo shoots.  When we sing at paid gigs, someone handles logistics.  Each person is responsible for one thing—tickets or venues or photos or logistics–and only that.  I have a new mezzo (new this concert cyclle)who writes (and teaches a class in) grant writing……..and I think I know what I’m going to ask HER to help with!
     
    Marie
     
     

  4. We have a couple methods of making the most of our human resources here (students)  We assign or elect specific roles or tasks to students (i.e. organization presidents, managers etc.) We also empower and trust these people to complete tasks.  We also have required “choral service hours” for every student two hours per semester.  It is “micro” but I do not know if it’s considered “volunteerism” since it’s required.  But the net effect on output is the same.  Additionally, we have seen a significant degree of students willing to offer additional help when needed; and I think it’s in whole or part because they get a glimpse of the behind the scenes action when doing choral service hours.  Having an additional 500-600 hours of assistance each semester is quite significant for us.
     
    Joshua Oppenheim
    Kansas State University

  5. Thanks, Eileen, for this idea and post. Your point about the parents’ “inside look” is a significant externality that results from your ability to break these projects down into incremental components. It is a great reminder that we need to get work done, but the process also has an educational and mentoring potential lasting far beyond the tasks at hand.

  6. Hi Tim,
    I need help at my home office on a MAC desktop with documents that don’t transfer well to my laptop.  I also need help with other files that are in hard copy at my home office and can’t easily be transported to other locations.  At the first parent meeting in Sept., I ask for volunteers to sign up on a schedule for a specific time period (2 month blocks–Sept & Oct; Nov. & Dec, etc) and I list the specific time sensitive work that has to be completed in each 2 month block.  The time, day and number of visits per week are mutually decided by me and each volunteer.  The work schedule changes every 2 months (sometimes every week) but I get the work done and as an added benefit, the parents have an inside look at how much work goes into making this choir such a success.
     
    Eileen Finley
    Pennsylvania Youth Chorale 

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