There was a Volunteer Council in place when I took over Volunteer Services in 2009. However, the same volunteers served year after year and it was stagnant. So I put new policies in place that included term limits and prioritized representation from various service areas. We meet monthly. I provide a monthly report and our agenda covers any projects or initiatives I'm working on. But of course, the best part is just getting any feedback they have to share each month on anything that is happening. They also help with the planning of events such as the education open house, volunteer appreciation week, and the volunteer appreciation event. Each council member also has a group of 15-20 volunteers that they provide additional communication to, with the goal of aiding in engagement and retention. I also take any new ideas I have to them and get their thoughts before I move forward.
