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Provide ongoing support, feedback, and evaluation

· Use email to stay in touch often

· Reinforce positive attitudes

· Respond promptly to inquiries, even just to acknowledge receipt if you don’t have the answers immediately

· Monthly check-in via phone, postal mail, email or in person (or every two weeks) noting status of projects, accomplishments, and contributions

· Conduct a simple and formal evaluation once a year with committee members

· Follow up immediately after each meeting with a thank you

· Always provide opportunity for volunteers to evaluate committee’s mission and activities

· At meetings, recognize efforts of committee members

· Ask how the volunteer is doing; ask how the chair is doing

· Provide thank you and job well done at all times

· Send out copies of summary reports to all committee members

· Back up praise with a specific example of what you are praising to be credible

· Speak with volunteers individually to provide feedback

· Recognize positive ideas before offering ways to improve when giving feedback

· Next day after a meeting or conference call, send a recap email that specifically names committee members and what they contributed

· Have committee self evaluate to see how they consider their progress

· Let volunteers know they have your support and listen to their needs

· Make note in your own planner/calendar to “check in” with volunteers

· Include subcommittee reports on all conference calls

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