Leverage Volunteers as Strategic Ambassadors

Volunteers are the backbone of any association, but as member expectations evolve to include opportunities to lead, contribute and make an impact, leaders need to take a closer look at how they engage the people most connected to their organization’s mission.

One of the greatest opportunities many associations have is to empower their volunteers not only to support their shared mission, but also to represent the profession. At PMI, that idea recently inspired a new approach to volunteer engagement: Chapter leaders were invited to play an active role in national advocacy by bringing their local expertise and firsthand experience into conversations with policymakers.

The result was the first PMI Chapter President’s Day on Capitol Hill initiative, where 20 volunteer chapter leaders from across the United States took part in more than 45 meetings with congressional offices in Washington, D.C. During these meetings, chapter leaders shared the "so what" and how their chapters make a unique local impact. Volunteer leaders shared how project professionals contribute to their communities, strengthen local workforces and help organizations navigate complex challenges.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE's Center for Association Leadership.