Recruiting AmeriCorps*VISTA members and volunteers with a newspaper column
Abstract
The RSVP of Cocoa, Florida, uses a local newspaper column on volunteerism to recruit AmeriCorps*VISTA members and volunteers for the project. The weekly "Spotlight on Volunteers" column provides an opportunity to highlight the efforts of the AmeriCorps*VISTA members and announce current volunteer needs.Issue
Finding enough qualified applicants from the community to fill AmeriCorps*VISTA positions can be challenging for program directors.Action
A "Spotlight on Volunteers" column was already a regular weekly feature in the local newspaper. The RSVP coordinator submitted information about the AmeriCorps*VISTA openings and projects and received an overwhelming response. To recruit new members, the coordinator submitted a "spotlight" on a current AmeriCorps*VISTA member and information about the open positions. Now with all the AmeriCorps*VISTA positions filled, the RSVP programs continue to "spotlight" an AmeriCorps*VISTA member and promote the volunteer opportunities within the AmeriCorps*VISTA projects.Context
The Cocoa, Florida, RSVP program has three AmeriCorps*VISTA projects, each with two AmeriCorps*VISTA members:- E-mentoring (Training seniors to use e-mail and they in turn e-mail students in the public school system.)
- Senior TranServe (Utilizing volunteer drivers to transport seniors on short-notice trips.)
- Head Start Grandparent (Recruiting seniors to go into the Head Startclassrooms of the county and help with thechildren.)
Outcome
The articles generated a lot of free publicity for the project.Evidence
The project was able to recruit AmeriCorps*VISTA members of good quality because of the articles in the paper, and it has received many calls from people interested in volunteering in the specific projects.Posted On
November 12, 2001For More Information
Deborah Kelly
RSVP of Brevard County
Director
3600 W. King Street, Suite 6
Cocoa,
FL
32922
Phone: (321) 631-2749
Fax: (321) 636-8446
Email: community@brevard.net