the importance of working with volunteers

Volunteers are the backbone of any organization. They often assist with administration and certain physical jobs. Volunteers are often motivated by three reasons to becoming volunteers which are to contribute to a good cause, they also volunteer with the hope of developing new skill or gain experience and meeting new people.

Even though volunteers offer their services without monetary compensation or even without the qualification or experience that most permanent staff have in the organization they still require recruitment, training, management and supervision just like the paid staff.  In many cases volunteers often feel violated and sidelined by the paid staff.

Most volunteers feel sidelined and walked over by paid staff, this conflict is caused by feeling of fear and from the paid staff. The paid staff fears that the volunteers will take their jobs or are sometimes are getting more attention than they are which then in turn the paid staff excludes the volunteers and often harass and bully the volunteers.

Volunteers take their time to offer their services for free; they commit themselves to assisting in the success of the organization. It would really be nice if people in big companies and successful organizations could start treating volunteers with respect and as equals. It's important to remember that if someone has a bad experience with your organization, they may never again volunteer – for your group or others.

Volunteers are just as important !!!!