Whether you're working with paid employees, volunteers, agency personnel, or politicians, acknowledgment of everyone's contribution is a crucial part of completing every task, project, and event. If your work becomes an ongoing concern, volunteer acknowledgment and coordination takes on greater importance.

Recruiting

The most powerful form of recruitment is word of mouth. When people have a good time and feel a sense of community, they share their excitement with others and bring them along for more.

Publicity about your project may attract new recruits. If someone contacts you, ask them about their area of interest and pair them up with something they'll enjoy doing. This way, they'll stick around.

People volunteer for their own reasons. If you provide opportunities that fulfill their needs, you've got a match. Some want a one-time experience of planting a tree; others are looking to make a serious lasting commitment to neighborhood restoration.

Assistance is a resource similar to money. If you have a clearly defined project and clearly defined needs, resources appear, as if magically, to meet those needs. Your challenge is to recognize the resources when they show up, and make effective use of them. Similarly, people don't show up or stick around if they're not needed. If you personally cover all the bases, others will soon figure that you don't need them, and they'll stop appearing at your doorstep.