What challenge inspired this recipe?
In one of our organization, the volunteers are automatically part of the board of the organization for the time of their project. They are invited by the president of the organization to participate in the regular meetings of the board. They can vote (one voice for the volunteers).
Ingredients :
This best practice depends on each organization will to integrate the volunteers in the board so feasibility has to be studied. Time must be taken by a member of the staff to explain the different topics that will be tackled so that the volunteers, especially when there a problem of language barrier, can follow and express themselves.
Step by step guide
When they arrived, the volunteers are invited by the president of the hosting organization to participate in the regular meetings of the board.
Because of this participation, they have to be aware of all the subjects that will be tackled during the meeting. A special time before the meeting is taken by the manager of the organization to explain these subjects.
Then, at the beginning of the meeting, there is time planned (10-15mn) to express their requests or opinions, to ensure that they are able to take part in it.
At the end they are invited to vote all the decisions as one member of the board.
As they have one voice for all the volunteers, they sometimes need to debate and agree before the meeting, getting deep into governance.
Important to highlight!The volunteers can then feel more integrated in the organization and also empowered by the fact that they can express themselves and vote. |
Before you start cooking, keep in mind…
Language barrier: even for volunteers who have a good level in the language it can be difficult to follow.
Schedule: these meetings take place in the evening (not working hours) as the members of the board are not staff but volunteers.
Such a meeting can also be perceived as ‘boring’ for the volunteers as there are long talks and debates in a foreign language. That is why they have to be well-prepared before (so time again and willingness).
