Are you motivating your volunteers?

Are you motivating your volunteers? - When was the last time you treated a volunteer to lunch?

A very simple gesture for just a couple of dollars really shows that you care and appreciate that volunteers support and efforts.

Idea to retain your volunteers

Idea for retaining volunteers – be clear and concise with your expectations. Make sure your volunteers know that they will be doing and that the organization will do for them.

Are you motivating your volunteers?

Are you motivating your volunteers? - When was the last time you welcomed a volunteer by saying thanks for coming to help us today?

Retain volunteers by recognizing them

Idea for retaining volunteers – Recognize your volunteers. Always show your are grateful for their time and talents by thanking them and offering appreciation activities.

It is too easy to get caught up in the day and forget to say thank you.  Schedule the time to show your appreciation and they will keep coming back.

Helping Grammy … what you learn by helping others

67 years young, a brand new cemented hip and an unplanned trip to Tampa. It is never easy when an older parent that lives far away needs your help, but when things happen what are you going to do? That's been my last couple of weeks. Grammy went down, broke her hip and had total hip replacement before I could even figure out what happened. It is 3 weeks later now and here I am in Tampa Florida releasing her from the hospital rehabilitation center and transitioning her back to her home where she lives alone. Interesting time and much to learn on several fronts.

Let's not get into the crash course on types of cemented vs non cemented hips, the expected rehabilitation times and insurance forms and documentation. For this post I want to share share how I felt I could help, how I saw my job during my 5 day trip to help Grammy.

We help in many different ways and helping older parents can be an interesting experience. They kinda become the kids. My job was similar to that of my teenager that is beginning to prepare for college. I needed to prepare Grammy to live on her own. My job was in 5 days to help her be able to live on her own again. To build the confidence in her ability and stability with the new hip. To make her house accessible for walkers, high toilet seats, and shower facilities she can safely use. I needed to clean the place, and make sure she had food and everything she needed since she can't drive for another 3 weeks. I also needed to balance the me arranging things for her and the her taking charge for things so she can keep progressing when I leave. Those of you that have experienced this before know what I am talking about.

I think things went well and only time will tell how it is going. Obviously the concern and purpose of the visit was for Grammy, but as we give of ourselves there is always something that we end up with also. The surprising thing is; what I got was totally unrelated to the purpose of the trip.

I got to get away from work with no internet access. I got down time. I got the ability to just slow down (it was necessary for her to do things slowly). I got to see how much her friends in the area love and care for her. I got to realize how this is a result of how she has cared and helped them over the last several years. I got to learn and I got to grow. - I got to realize I have a lot to learn.

HelpTime hits 1,000

Time to Celebrate !

 

HelpTime hits 1,000 – Time for a celebration for those 1,000 generous and giving people that volunteer their time for others 

– Thank you and keep up the good work.

HelpTime for Halloween Celebration

HelpTime Tip - Halloween is coming up, if you're planning a party or event that needs volunteers to help, this is a perfect use for HelpTime. Create your event, add your tasks and share your signup page. - Perfect for those school and class parties. http://helptime.com/EventNew.aspx

Are you motivating your volunteers? - When was the last time you asked volunteer if they were enjoying their work?

Too often we just expect our volunteers to contribute.  We need to take the time and ensure that they are enjoying what they are doing.  If they don't enjoy the work they will eventually stop coming back to help.
Just ask!

HelpTime Highlights - August 2011

HelpTime Highlights – August 2011 Free Online Event Management Site Makes Coordinating Volunteers Easy!
News Update: WOW! 100 events and growing faster every day. HelpTime continues to grow and we are pleased to share a significant milestone. Since launching HelpTime earlier this year, we have already supported over 100 different events. PTA and youth sports events, religious and charitable events, events that support the elderly and the hungry - the uses people have found for the site are fantastic. We are thrilled that our efforts are being recognized and that HelpTime is benefiting others by making it easier for people to coordinate their volunteer activities. Keep up the great work and happy volunteering! HelpTime Tip … Setting a reminder for your volunteer task Did you know that as a volunteer, when you sign up for a task you can have an email reminder sent to you the day before you are scheduled to help? On the event sign up page there is a checkbox just above the task list. Just check the box and you will get a gentle reminder one day before your task. HelpTime.com Recent enhancements: Added the ability to upload/import your own contact list into a HelpTime distribution list – this allows you to use the communicate tab and have HelpTime send emails that include personalized links to your event sign up page (dashboard – distribution list) An event coordinator can easily select only those participants that have signed up to volunteer and send them an email. This allows you to share pre event information with only those that need it and to send thank you notes when the event ends (event communicate tab)	Create your own event by clicking here You can support a FREE HelpTime by making a donation or using our CafePress link to purchase any items you may need for your events. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and keep up with the latest HelpTime updates
We welcome your questions and suggestions Just reply to this email or send to [email protected]

The Importance of Volunteering by Brian Jones

Sometimes we come across people who spend their free time volunteering in different organizations and charitable institutions. Sometimes too, we learn of people who volunteer in neighborhood drives; whether it's a clean-up drive; a fund raising for the community or even spending a few hours helping neighbors take care of their overwhelming chores.
 
The possibilities of volunteering are endless. But really, Why Is Volunteering Important? Why do people do it; and some don't? What can we get out of volunteering our time, effort and sometimes even our resources?
 
THE REWARDS OF VOLUNTEERING
 
Volunteering not only works for those receiving help but also those who do different kinds of volunteering acts. Truth be told, when faced with the question of Why Is Volunteering Important; there are many reasons why it is beneficial to all concerned.
 
Firstly, when we volunteer our time for a good cause; the rewards we reap are far greater than any promotion we could get from work; or good grades we get from school.
People who volunteer can't help but feel just a little bit more positive about life. When we see the dire straits of others; we feel lucky and blessed to have a better life.
 
Another reason on Why Is Volunteering Important is that we imbibe in others the spirit of generosity - of giving back to others; even strangers, all the good things we have received in life. It's paying it forward as volunteers would often tell people who ask Why Is Volunteering Important to them?
Still perhaps to others, when asked Why Is Volunteering Important; we say that its importance lies in showing those who need help that the world is still a beautiful place to live in. It's validating that no matter what kind of tragedy strikes; there would always be a silver lining to every rain cloud.
Volunteering also gives hope to those who may have lost all hope to live; who may have lost their trust on humanity. We may even be instrumental in inspiring others to pick up their lives and start over; and perhaps also inspire others to volunteer their time, talent and resources.
 
WHERE CAN WE VOLUNTEER?
 
If we want to volunteer but don't know where to start; we can always check out different organizations on the internet where they could use all the volunteer help they can get. These could be helping save animals; making the elderly feel loved and happy again; or we can simply check out our own community and see where we can help.
 
We don't have to start big when considering Why Is Volunteering Important and where we can share whatever we have to the less fortunate. Volunteering to help a friend; a family member; giving our time to school activities; and even simply helping someone at random are already good acts of volunteering.
There are infinite ways for us to do volunteer work; we need only be open to our surroundings and really observe what goes on around us. Before we know it, we could already be in the middle of fund raisers; or helping those struck with natural calamities rebuild their lives again. Volunteering is a positive chain that goes around making the world a happier place for everyone.

About the Author

Visit these sites if you want more information about why is volunteering important or why is communication important in particular.

HelpTime Highlights - July 2011

HelpTime Highlights - July 2011 Free Online Event Management Site Makes Coordinating Volunteers Easy!
News Update: HelpTime continues to grow and we would like to take a moment and say thank you for your support. It is very rewarding to see the site helping so many groups and volunteers. Since our formal launch just a few months ago, we have had several hundred members sign in to volunteer for an organization and cause that they care about. - Thank you! HelpTime Tip … Setting up a multi day event Did you know that you can set up events and tasks for more than one day?On the event summary tab there is a calendar. By clicking on any date, you have selected that day as part of your event (you will see the date turn blue). Once the days are selected you can add the tasks that your are asking people to help with. If you forgot to select the day, no problem, you can always go back to the event summary tab and select more days. HelpTime.com Recent enhancements: Event coordinator can copy the link of the sign up page with a one click button (event communicate tab) Volunteers can receive an email reminder the day before their task begins (sign up page) Events can be setup so volunteers names are either displayed or kept private (event summary tab) Volunteers that are not already named in your participant list can still volunteer as “provisional”. The event administrator has the ability to remove them and make their tasks available again. (event participant tab)	Create your own event by clicking here HelpTime is proud to have partnered with to provide unique and personalized items for your event. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter and keep up with the latest HelpTime updates
We welcome your questions and suggestions Just reply to this email or send to [email protected]

Event Finder Tip

HelpTime Tip:

When using the “Event Finder” you can enter partial words and it will return all events that have that partial word in the event name or description. - it is like a wild card search.

HelpTime and CafePress join to make event related novelty items available

HelpTime is pleased to announce our partnership with Cafe Press to provide novelty items for any of your events.  Unique and theme items for your volunteers or event guests are all available.  You can select from current designs or upload your own images and artwork for a custom product.

Shirts & clothing, cups, mugs, water bottles, pens, stationary, journals, calendars, picture frames, home accents, stickers, magnets, ... the options and possibilities are endless.

ACS Relay for Life - A model for fund raising

Tonight is our local Relay for Life event and I have to say ... that is a model of how to do fund raising and increase awareness.  How and event can raise hundreds of thousands of dollars with the help of volunteers that are all having such a fun time is amazing.

The night becomes a family and community fun night from 6pm to 6am.  Yes there is awareness and time for reflection, but there is also a lot of fun and enjoyment.  Truly an event people look forward to ... that is a winning formula.

HelpTime Enhancement

Now you can review potential new volunteers directly in HelpTime. If someone that is not on your named participant list volunteers, you can email them directly from HelpTime to validate their qualifications. You can also accept them (adding them to your list) or decline them making the tasks they signed up for available for others to volunteer for.

A quote that brings things into light

“If you light a lamp for someone else it will also brighten your path.” ~Buddha

HelpTime Introduction Animated Story

Check out our introduction animation below. At HelpTime we make it easier to coordinate volunteer activity with our online sign up sheets. Just Create-Communicate-Contribute.

GoAnimate.com: HelpTime Introduction by HelpTime

A quote

"May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion." - Thomas Jefferson

Volunteer fact of the day

Volunteer fact – Did you know that 50% of all volunteers, are also employed with full time jobs  >>> interpretation, you are not to busy to find time to help.

HelpTime now sends reminders

HelpTime can now send email reminders to your volunteers.  The day before they are scheduled to help, your volunteers will receive a friendly email reminder email, just letting know only one more day until they are needed.

Volunteer fact of the day

Volunteer fact of the day – Did you know that 33% of volunteers, volunteer their time to a religious service or organization?

Volunteer fact of the day

Volunteer fact of the day – Did you know that 26% of volunteers, volunteer their time to a youth or educational service.

Coordinating a charity event

Coordinating a charity event – Let HelpTime make it easier for you and your volunteers. Create an event with the specific tasks (and times). Add your volunteers and HelpTime will send an email with a link to click on – volunteers select an open slot to volunteer. No duplication and no miscommunication

Have a spring cleaning day where you have volunteers signup to do the work

Have a spring cleaning day where you have volunteers signup to do the work – Let HelpTime make it easier for you and your volunteers. Create an event with the specific tasks (and times). Add your potential volunteers and HelpTime will send an email with a link to click on – volunteers select an open slot to volunteer. No Duplication and no miscommunication.

Volunteer fact of the day

Volunteer fact of the day – Did you know that 30% of volunteers, volunteer their time to more than one organization.

School PTA can use HelpTime for any group activity

School PTA can use HelpTime for any group activity. A book fair, holiday boutique, a school fair, fun run, spring cleaning/planting, you name it, if you depend on volunteers HelpTime makes it easier. Create the event and add the tasks you need help with. and HelpTime will send an email with a link to click on – volunteers select an open slot to volunteer. No duplication and no miscommunication.

Give it a try at http://www.helptime.com/

Volunteer fact of the day

Volunteer fact of the day – Did you know that an estimated 62 Million Americans volunteer their help through some organization each year.

HelpTime Quick Help Guide

How to change or set password:

After you are signed in, from the top of the screen, select the “Edit Profile” button. At the bottom of the Edit Profile screen you will find the Change Password option.

What if I forgot my password?

If you enter an incorrect password a box will appear to give you the option to reset your password. It will send you an email with a link that you must use to reset the password.

What is “My Dashboard”:

My Dashboard displays all of the events you are invited to volunteer for, and those that you have already signed up for. It displays the events you manage and lets you create new ones. It also allows you to create and manage distribution lists.

What are distribution lists:

Distribution lists allow you to create “groups” of people that you can include as participants to the events you are managing – this makes it easy to add many people in a single entry. You can share your distribution list by making any member an administrator of the list. Distribution lists are managed from your Dashboard.

How can I see what my volunteers will see?

From the communicate tab of your event you can click on the underlined event name to go directly to the volunteer sign up page.

How can I send emails to specific (or newly added) participants?

From the communicate tab you, select the notification emails “Change” just above the text box. From there you can select or de-select who will get the current email.

How can I include the volunteer sign up link on my web page or Facebook post?

From the communicate tab of your event, place your mouse over the underlined event name and “right click” to copy it to to your clipboard. Now go to your web page or Facebook post, and you can “right click” to paste the link there.

Note: Links posted this way do not include participant specific information that is included in email sent directly from the HelpTime site

How to create/maintain events, tasks, participants and communications:

From your dashboard click on an exiting event or select “New Event ...”- you will go directly to event summary

Event Summary - Fill in or maintain the following

Event Name – The name of your event

Event Description – Describe your event in detail, including the location and date.

Contacts – Who volunteers should contact for questions (name, phone, email)

The above information is shown on the volunteer sign up sheet

Date(s) – select every date that you will need volunteers to help with something

Organization – Enter the name of your organization (informational only)

--- Press SAVE then go to “Add Tasks” …

Add Tasks – Tasks are things you need volunteers to do or to supply

Press “Add Task” button to add each new task

Select the date for the task to be performed (and times if necessary)

Task Description – A short description of the task

More Info – This is additional information about the task that the volunteer can see

Copies – Each task is designed for one person, if you need multiple people for a task

change this value to create multiple tasks at once.

After tasks are created you can modify the details with the “Modify” choice on the right side

Add Participants – Participants are names of potential volunteers that can receive email invitations directly

from the site. Participants will receive an email with a link to the event that makes it very easy for them to sign up with just a click.

Add Participant – allows you to add one participant a a time

Add from distribution list – adds all names on the selected distribution list at once

Add from other event – Allows you to include all participants from another event at once

You can select any participant as an “administrator”. This gives them the ability to add tasks,

participants, and send communications for the event.

Communicate – HelpTime will send an email to your participants that includes a link to the sign up page.

You can also copy the sign up page link into your own email, web page or Facebook post to share it.

To send emails - fill in the text box with what you want the email to say and select “Preview”

When ready press “Send Message” and the emails will be sent out for you.

To use the sign up page link in your own email, web page or Facebook post

Place your mouse over the underlined event name and “right click” to copy it

In your own email, web page or Facebook post, you can “right click” to paste the link

Assignments – This allows you to assign your named participants to specific tasks.

Be sure to press Save at the bottom to save your changes

Note: Assignments will only show for people that are named in your participant list

HelpTime supports local youth sports organizations with registration day volunteers. If you have a registration day that uses volunteers to be successful, try HelpTime.

Sample volunteer sign up screen

Below is a sample of a volunteer sign up screen. 

You can see the actual screen and try it from this link

You can now add participants by first or last name (not just by email).

You can now add participants by first or last name (not just by email). By typing a volunteers first or last name you will see a list of people already in the system that you can invite just by clicking.  If the name is not there, just keep typing to add it.  This works on events and distribution lists.

Your HelpTime Dashboard

Did you know from your HelpTime “Dashboard” you can see all of the events you created, volunteering you have completed, and your upcoming volunteering? You can even create a new event from the Dashboard. - Did you also know HelpTime is free to use?

Are you wondering, what is HelpTime?

Are you wondering, what is HelpTime? … HelpTime makes communication with volunteers easy. HelpTime lets you create and communicate your needs - more importantly it makes it easy for volunteers to contribute. Take a look, here is a sample event signup page:

http://www.helptime.com/EventLandingPage.aspx?EventID=62

Volunteer fact of the day

Volunteer fact of the day – Did you know that on average, a volunteer spends 52 hours volunteering each year.

A class parent can use HelpTime for a school party.

A class parent can use HelpTime for a school party. Add items you need parents to supply. HelpTime will send an email with a link to click on – parents can see what is still needed select it to volunteer. No duplicate items and no miscommunication.

Volunteer fact of the day

Volunteer fact of the day – Did you know that  1 in 4 adults in the US volunteer their help through some organization each year

First week of Beta testing is Complete?

Our first week of beta testing is complete and we thank everyone that has provided such fantastic feedback. We have implemented many of the suggestions already. Most notable we have added some “helper text” to the top of each tab, enabled creation of multiple tasks with a single entry , and now allow email sent to individual people in addition to the full group. Thanks again and keep the feedback coming.

 

HelpTime Released for Beta Testing

HelpTime has been released for "Beta" testing and we value your feedback.  We welcome you to try the site and provide input and suggestions. HelpTime makes it easy to manage event activities that need volunteer support.

How it works:
The general concept is: The event coordinator creates an event, adds tasks, participants (potential volunteers) and sends email - all from the site. The potential volunteers will follow a link in the email directly to the event and see a list of the things tasks that volunteers can sign up for. They click an open spot and their name fills in.

The system also allows you to create your own distribution lists (or you can share them with others). When you create a new event you can include all of the people on the distribution list automatically in the event – this means the volunteer list only has to be created once.

Give it a try and share you feedback, suggestions.

Thank you
http://www.helptime.com/

Let HelpTime help with your Superbowl party

Having a Superbowl party and expect people are going to ask; “What can I bring”? Use HelpTime and create a list of what you would like to be brought (you can be as specific or general as you like). Just create your list and email a link directly from HelpTime.

Your guests can just follow the link and “click” on what they would like to bring – It’s that easy.

Give it a try at http://www.helptime.com/.  If you have any questions email [email protected].

HelpTime announces our dot com (.com) address

HelpTime is here to make it easier to lend a hand. We make it easier for people and organizations to setup events and ask for help of volunteers. We also make it easier for volunteers to sign up to support specific needs or tasks.

Well now we’ve made it even easier to find HelpTime on the web. As a site that helps to make volunteering easier we can be found at HelpTime.org, but we recognize that on the web most of us think and just automatically type .com. With that in mind, we now can be found at HelpTime.com as well as HelpTime.org.

- Just another way we’re trying to make it easier to lend a hand.

Thanks and visit is at http://www.helptime.com/

Happy New Year from HelpTime!

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2011!

Here at HelpTime we are very excited for what we have to offer this year.  We soon we will be releasing a competely revised and updated version of our event management system.  Helping should be made easy.  It should be easy for the event coordinator to setup and even easier for people to volunteer to help out and lend a hand.

Have a happy, healthy and safe new year.

- Your Friends at HelpTime.org