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Experienced Volunteer Coordinators share their advice with the following statements:
- Communication is the biggest factor for success. Be explicit and clear about goals, expectations and roles. Who calls whom next? Who actually will do the leading?
- Community organizations appreciate being included in the planning process.
- A twenty-minute face-to-face planning meeting between teacher or youth group leader and agency staff person will make the whole process go better.
- Remember that not all organizations have a full-time volunteer coordinator.
- Be organized about dates; "Calling more than two days in advance helps."
- When you leave a phone message, state exactly when you can be reached.
- Nonprofit organizations are well networked with each other; if one says no, ask if they can recommend another organization.
- Get information about the organization, its mission and policies, and share that information with the youth before you arrive with your group.
- Teachers need to provide information about the culture and work of their schools.
- Don't show up with a group that you know is larger than the agency's maximum group. Projects are most often planned for an explicit number of people.
- You need to come through on your time commitment to the agency, including arriving on time. Note that some agencies find replacements for late volunteers.
- Adults who come with a group of youth need to supervise their group, and not relinquish that responsibility in the hope that the adults at the community organization will assume it.
- "It's so wonderful if the teachers send the written reflection activities to people at the agency!" Student reflection papers have been the inspiration for more than one Sunday's sermon at Glide.
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