Hello everyone! I hope all of you are doing well during this time.

I was really struggling with the fact we had to cancel all 6 of our spring events, including in-person volunteer week. We always provide catered breakfast and lunch Monday - Friday, as well as provide all volunteers with a small gift. How do we stay connected to our volunteers in a safe way?? We miss them and they miss us.

I wanted to share what we're doing, in case anyone else is struggling with ideas. This list is compiled of ideas I've gathered by attending various webinars, networking with other volunteer leaders, and just brainstorming with my co-workers. Hope it's helpful!! :)

FYI: Qualtrics is the secure survey site we use in our office. You could use any survey website though!

Pre-volunteer week email: Week of April 13^th – probably Monday or Tuesday. Share how volunteer week will look with a brief description of events. Mention that we do want to have our normal volunteer week celebration as soon as we’re physically able! Send link to volunteers for them to sign up if they are interested in the virtual book club (Tuesday) or the state of UKHC chat (Friday). Sara to create links in Qualtrics.

For the book club: Offer them time slots to choose from (they would select all available), then based on that we could divide groups up to be the smallest amount possible.

Everyone who completes the survey for the book club or state of UKHC chat will be emailed a Zoom link for that day/time.

 National Volunteer Week 2020 (April 20 – 24th)

Monday –Friday appreciation on Social Media

Feature different volunteer each day Monday – Thursday (adult, college, teen, Auxiliary board member); Friday: Staff photo collage, each staff member holds a sign. Either saying Thank You or writing out a message to volunteers.

Monday April 20^th email to all volunteers

• ·         Kick off appreciation email

• ·        survey link (we haven't done a volunteer survey in 5 years!!) via Qualtrics

• ·         yearly annual review (general info + HIPAA) via Qualtrics

Tuesday April 21^st Virtual Book Club

Remote book club via Zoom – max participant each session to 10; Zoom calls end after 40 minutes, so any more volunteers and they all wouldn’t get to speak. Agenda: welcome, 5 min chit chat, each one Discuss what books we are currently reading, not same book today. Choose book for May to discuss. Moving forward we all commit to reading the same book in one month, end of May. Same date, time, 4 weeks later. That would be Tuesday, May 19^th.

Wednesday April 22^nd Spirit Day

Wear your UK or UKHC swag and email me (Sara) a picture! No swag? Wear anything blue and white!
To encourage a feeling of community even though we are apart. Put in May newsletter and June if we get a lot.

Thursday April 23^rd  Throw Back Thursday

Ask volunteers to share old photos…from volunteer week or other past events….email to Sara.  Use photo files from for old photos if we don’t get enough.  Put in May newsletter and June if needed.

Friday April 24^th Zoom Call!

Volunteer Zoom Call w/ State of UK HealthCare with Katie
Opportunity for volunteers to connect with each other and us, as well as hear an update on what’s happening. Ask them to come with their favorite beverage. Plan for 30 minutes, zoom calls max. at 40 minutes and it will abruptly disconnect. Mute everyone at beginning!

Best of luck with planning your programs! Happy Volunteer Week!! :)

Sincerely,

Sara