Volunteers
Many PTOs and Boosters will find a substantial decrease in volunteer involvement in the fourth quarter. Everyone has given a lot of effort to the school year and with the end in sight, interest fades. Your own board may have dwindled with changes to work schedules and interest levels. There are still important events ahead, including teacher appreciation. So how do you get people to remain involved?
First, keep it as simple as possible for them to participate. Create sign up genius and ask for donation for items or volunteer time in smaller increments. Not only will people be able to easily sign up for something, they will also automatically receive reminders of what they committed to do. Providing a gift card at this time of year is far simpler than committing to a three hour event.
Second, try to make it fun. People want to be a part of something good. Whether it is a fundraiser or teacher appreciation, a well thought out theme that people are excited about will motivate them to contribute their time and money.
Third, communicate the upcoming events repeatedly. Email, Social Media, and text messages help your community remember. People are busy and your event may be a lower priority to them at this point.
Finally, be realistic. Everyone has a limited amount of time and money at this point, including you.
Teachers and staff are not looking for over the top gestures, but simple signs of appreciation. Consider your budget, your time, and be honest about what you can expect from volunteers so you are not causing yourself undue stress. Your events will be successful when it is well thought out and your best effort is made.