The new Volunteer: How to build a System for accepting First-Timers and Lateral-Movers

The membership is the heart and soul of volunteer fire organizations. You may have an accountant, doctor, or plumber who has joined your organization with the purpose of serving their community – or just to drive the big red engine.

Your members’ experiences can be priceless, but they can also impact your culture and direction. Further, how does the impact differ with members who transfer from another organization? Their experiences might create unique challenges for the organization, but they can also add significant value if you take the following “new member” approach.

Before accepting new members, though, it’s important that your organization has an established culture that fits the membership. The organization’s mission, vision, and values are derived from the community’s needs and the organizational memberships values. Without a clear mission, vision, and values, the culture of your organization will change directions constantly, like a weathervane in a tornado. Your members must have ownership in the culture to steady the course and successfully add new members. Read More…