Expanding Your Staff:Using Volunteers and Interns

Kaia LandonExecutive Director

Brigham City Museum & Box Elder Museum

Why do people volunteer?

Answer a need

To feel good about one’s self

Give back to the community

Develop new talents

Make new friends

Learn new things

Deepen one's sense of belonging

Set a good example

Keep active

Feel a sense of accomplishment

Enrich one’s life

Get Service learning hours

Volunteer Benefits

Discounted or free admission/membership

Opportunities for personal growth or learning

Income tax deductions for travel to museum

Training

Opportunity to work with artifacts/art

Discounts at store/cafe, trips, etc.

Invitations to special events

Volunteer vs. Intern

Whatever needs doing

Flexible, often shorter hours, may be more spread out

General interest

For the benefit of the organization

Project based

Set term

Job training

For the benefit of the intern

How To Start

Talk to Legal & Human Resources

Application requirements/forms

Age requirements

Background check and/or fingerprints

For-profit FLSA requirements:

Six criteria:

1) The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;

2)The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;

For-profit FLSA requirements:

3) The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff;

4) The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;

For-profit FLSA requirements:

5) The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and

6)The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.

Policies to Consider

Volunteer policy Job descriptions Required applications/ interviews/

background checks Performance reviews

How to Start

Decide what opportunities you can offer

Write description(s) More detailed is better List of possible projects Hour/day/week/month requirements Qualifications How to apply

Consider MicroVolunteer Opportunities

Distributed Small Online Low-security Not urgent or critical Little supervision Individual (not team)

How to Start

Advertise: Website Newspapers College job boards, career centers,

faculty/staff Craigslist Idealist/All For Good/etc. Speak at clubs, Senior Centers

How to Start

Interview prospective interns/volunteers.

Consider: Fit Availability Reliability

Training

Introduce to staff and other volunteers (important they feel comfortable)

Tour of facility

Object handling (if relevant)

Task specific (may be ongoing)

Manual?

Contact list, procedures, etc.

Recognition

Utah Governor's Volunteer Recognition Certificate

Awards are mailed every two monthsUMA Bessie Jones Volunteer Award

Each fall Local or regional civic awards

President's Volunteer Service Award

President's Volunteer Service Award

Any individual, family, or group can receive Presidential recognition for volunteer hours earned over a 12-month period or over the course of a lifetime at home or abroad. The following are the eligibility requirements for each age group:

Bronze Silver Gold

Kids (age 5-14)

50-74 75-99 100+

Young Adults (15-25)

100-174 175-249 250+

Adults (26+)

100-249 250-499 500+

Family & Groups

200-499 500-999 1000+

Recognition

Lunch Organization recognition events Newspaper Civic (local or regional) recognition Volunteer week Events Treats Gifts

Management

Track hours, projects

Scheduling

Ongoing training

Evaluation

Supervision

School Credit

Questions?