By. Jeff
Here’s the lesson:
Even when you need them more than they need you, you can–and should–communicate and enforce your expectations of them.
Who is the “they” I refer to? Well, for you banks and credit unions, the “they” I am referring to are your customers and members. For the Oregon Zoo, the “they” I mean are their volunteers.
To explain, let me give you the brief rundown on the Oregon Zoo volunteer program, which my wife is heavily involved in. She is a ZooGuide, a completely volunteer program of probably 200 volunteers–these 200 volunteers comprise a substantial portion of the Zoo’s overall team. If you want to become a ZooGuide, here’s what you have to do:
- Commit to a training program, offered only twice per year [Get in line, volunteers]
- The training program involves FOUR CONSECUTIVE ALL-DAY SATURDAYS. [Bye-bye weekend fun for an entire month]
- Commit to volunteering 88 hours per year [Your entire company-provided vacation...plus one more day]
