feel easily replaceable and less
responsible for doing a job.
e. Discuss their own goals and
how they fit into those of the
association. People have their
own reasons for volunteering,
and you need to know them in
order to lead effectively. Also,
you must help people keep their
expectations realistic; otherwise
you will not able to meet them.
f. Ask what they would like to
know and give them plenty
of time and help in raising
questions. Many people are
reluctant to ask questions, but
they will work better after they
have done so.
g. Do these things in person, do
not rely on printed circulars,
letters, e-mails, and phone
calls. There is no substitute for
talking face-to-face. It lets the
person know that you consider
the discussion important, and
it gives you a chance to get
acquainted with them.
h. Be enthusiastic about the
importance of your work.
Working on behalf of the people
who work in public schools
is something of which you
should be proud. Enthusiasm is
contagious – it will get across to
the people you talk to and they
will respond to it.
i. Before you start a discussion
with someone take time to think
about how you got involved and
the first time someone asked
you to do something for the
association. You need to be able
to relate to the members you are
asking to volunteer their time.
18 – AR Handbook
Ideas for making
committees function
effectively
1. Committees should be
appointed only when there is
a specific job to be done. The
president should outline the
general work of each committee
with its chair and supply or
suggest sources of materials.
2. For each activity, get agreement
on group goals. Achieving them
will give everyone a real feeling
of accomplishment. If there are
no challenges, members feel that
activity is unimportant.
3. Get enough people to do the
job. Overworked volunteers
stop volunteering, and besides,
the extra lift of the group really
begins when you have at least
seven or eight people involved.
4. Be sure members know their
jobs and positions in the group.
It’s not enough for you to know;
ask the volunteers and listen
to make sure each individual
knows as well.
5. Keep your committee together.
Call meetings regularly; don’t
keep in touch with each person
separately. People need to see
and to feel that they are part
of something big, not just hear
about it from you. Let members
share in deciding what jobs to
do, how they can best be done,
and who can do them best. They
know some things you don’t and
they will work harder for things
they decide for themselves.
6. Committees in the local
association should meet at a
time and place conducive to full
discussion.
7. Do things at meetings. Transact
business; make decisions; review
past work; plan new tasks.
People will be more committed
to tasks that have been agreed
on in the group. Besides, they
won’t keep coming to meetings
unless they accomplish
something.
8. Each committee, after the
first meeting, should submit a
written report to the Executive
Committee about plans
formulated, dates for action, and
funds needed.
9. Committees should
prepare reports of the work
that was done and make
recommendations for what
ought to be done next. These
reports should be used to guide
future committee activity. Keep
a permanent file of committee
activities.
10. Continuity of committee
appointments is desirable. Not
more than two or three persons
should be new to the committee
each year.
11. Use the association newsletter
and meetings to pay tribute to
committee members.
12. Pay attention to people who
don’t meet committee standards
and expectations. If you ignore
their failure, other members
will follow them. If a member
doesn’t live up to committee
standards, speak to the volunteer
personally asking frankly what
the problem is. Be encouraging;
offer help. Other members
can speak and show interest.
Reassign the person to another
job if necessary.
13. From time to time, the chairs of
all committees should report to
the Executive Committee.
14. A workshop for all committee
members and association
officers is helpful in getting
activities started early.