New structural changes at an association will mean helping volunteers to take on new roles and understand the reasons for the change. Here’s now to make the transition as painless as possible.
Should a strategic plan trigger a look at your volunteer structure?
What I’ve learned from observing a few associations, along with efforts in my own associations, is, yes, it should. In fact, there are many reasons beyond a strategic plan to evaluate your volunteer structure. Data and trends tell us our models for volunteering are largely in conflict with what volunteers prefer.
A strategic plan can become a catalyst for exploring new options, since it’s likely that the board is enthused about the plan and committed to its success. Restructuring could be one option: updating committee charges and creating new task forces or subcommittees to address elements of the plan. A major governance restructuring might be appropriate. Or, you might want something in between. Regardless, the challenge is how to engage volunteers to look at their “jobs.”
