[Deptheads] We need more volunteers

Fri Feb 24 16:49:00 PST 2012

Perhaps figure out how many total volunteers we'll need to run the
convention smoothly, effectively, with little burnout (base it on pledges
of 8 hours) and *announce* how many positions are still open.  "We have 100
Volunteer hours available!  Sign up now for an two 4 hour shifts and touch
a fellow gamer's life! (or something equally intrinsically motivating)  You
also will get your con pass for FREE!" (because, let's face it, that is
still a draw).  Once you get a few people signed up, check the pledged
shift hours and adjust accordingly, "Hey, only 25 hours left!  Remember, if
you pledge to work 24 hours, you get a, b, and c--PLUS!  You may be the
gamer that makes a difference in someone else's experience!" (again,
something equally inspirational that isn't as cheesy).  If you work it like
a drive--and *start now*--you will likely find that you have plenty of
volunteers.

On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 4:40 PM, Kryssie <phantom.hopscotch at gmail.com>wrote:

> As I re-read a lot of this, now that I'm slightly more awake and my brain
> isn't slurggy, I think something else to keep in mind is that we're a
> varied staff--some of us have a great deal of experience and some of us
> don't.  We *are* all volunteers and we do all have the same goals:
> Improving and growing the convention.  We need to be careful not to fall
> into the trap of "We tried this before and it went horribly wrong."  We're
> a different group now than we were then; we need to be willing to listen to
> new ideas and new suggestions--even if it's a "we tried it before" thing.
>
> Boardgames is having trouble attracting and retaining volunteers.  Since
> that's our primary draw, we need to cater our volunteerism towards them.
>  Will the other departments benefit from the changes we use for boardgames?
>  Very, very likely.  I think if more people understood what working in HQ
> was all about, they may be more willing to do it.  I've heard Ken tell me
> about the fun he's had working at the desk...I've watched his face light up
> with joy as he got to tell someone all about a tournament or a game--in
> fact, I saw him help a little boy who was so proud to be at his first
> convention.  It's a very rewarding position and I really think we need to
> advertise *those* benefits more.
>
> If we use volunteering as a marketing/promotional tool, I think we'll find
> that we'll have more people wanting to join in and help out.  If we give
> people some idea of what's available for them to do, I think they'd be more
> willing to help out.  Rather than just saying, "Volunteer for 8 hours!" and
> the person going, "Uh....what do I do?" offer them something more... like,
> "Share your passion--run a game for Boardgames!"  Or "Be a leader by
> serving fellow gamers at Boardgame HQ" or something.  Something that
> appeals to the inner person--something that *might* look good on a resume.
>  That's how Downing lured me onto the marketing team.  "Kryssie, why don't
> you write the e-mails for marketing...you could put that on a resume, you
> know..." Leverage the intrinsic stuff.  I know most people are motivated by
> extrinsic rewards, but I think we're putting too much emphasis on that...if
> we're losing volunteers, clearly the extrinsic is either not of enough
> value OR it's not the correct motivator OR both.
>
> Perhaps we should go back to the beginning and think about how and why we
> each stepped up to volunteer.  Was it just for the free badge?  Or...was
> there something deeper?  Play on that "something deeper" and use it to
> attract others.
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 4:25 PM, Fred Upton <frupton at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>> Edit:  Caught up on my E-mail and see I have been ninja'd by Victor about
>>  4 hours ago.  So I'm seconding that, I guess.
>>
>>  ------------------------------
>> *From:* Fred Upton <frupton at sbcglobal.net>
>> *To:* deptheads at strategicon.net
>> *Sent:* Fri, February 24, 2012 4:19:38 PM
>>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Deptheads] We need more volunteers
>>
>>  One of the first cons I came to, about 7 years ago, there was a guy
>> walking around the ballroom handing out small cloth stick-on banners that
>> you could affix to the bottom of your badge.  It was sort of like a post-it
>> note, but about 4.5" wide and about 1" high.  (Like a ribbon, but
>> sideways.)  The one I got said "Gaming Minion" and it drew quite a lot of
>> positive attention.
>>
>> I realize that we already have the different colored stripes on the
>> badges for the volunteers and that's essentially free compared to the cost
>> of add-on badge banners, but the banners are, well, cool.
>>
>> So an idea is that we could give them to volunteers (or pre-affix them to
>> their badges).  We could even have ranks ('Minion", "Senior Minion",
>> "Minion Extraordinaire") and you could "upgrade" someone if they help fill
>> in something for you in a pinch.  They'd also be much easier to wear than
>> sashes or even armbands. (Though the armbands are also kinda cool.)
>>  I suppose if folks don't want to wear them they could remove them, but
>> I would expect that to be uncommon.
>>
>> -- Fred
>>
>>  ------------------------------
>> *From:* Kryssie <phantom.hopscotch at gmail.com>
>> *To:* deptheads at strategicon.net
>> *Sent:* Fri, February 24, 2012 1:58:09 PM
>> *Subject:* Re: [Deptheads] We need more volunteers
>>
>> I would agree...except I seem to be the token cosplayer.... so, I'm
>> automatically wearing something different from everyone else.  Though, I
>> could have a handler to keep the creepers at bay.  Like Assless Chaps Man.
>> <shudder & twitch> So glad he wore actual clothes this time...
>>
>> Anyway, seriously, though.  I think a unified look is an ideal.  I just
>> don't know how it could be implemented consistently throughout staff and
>> volunteers.
>>
>>  On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 1:51 PM, Taralyn Frasqueri-Molina <
>> theunsquare at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>  In volunteering, I think one unified look is important.  If that's not
>>> a shirt, then a very prominent badge or pin or hat.  I really think we
>>> should all be wearing something visibly distinguishable that is the same
>>> (or the same from dept to dept) since we are different from the patrons
>>> playing games.  One look, one team.
>>>
>>>   ------------------------------
>>> From: cyrissia at hotmail.com
>>> To: deptheads at strategicon.net
>>> Subject: RE: [Deptheads] We need more volunteers
>>> Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:52:57 -0800
>>>
>>>
>>> Good point Neil.  Everyone has different motivations for what they do.
>>> I would be fine with it either way, or another direction entirely.  My case
>>> is for the earned distinction rather than a big label that says "I
>>> volunteered and you didn't."
>>>
>>>
>>>  ------------------------------
>>> Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:17:03 -0800
>>> Subject: RE: [Deptheads] We need more volunteers
>>> From: fadtwentythree at gmail.com
>>> To: deptheads at strategicon.net
>>>
>>> Your take on the volunteer shirt and mine are diametrically opposed.
>>> When I volunteer for an event, I'd rather not have a shirt that says
>>> "volunteer" on it. I can't express how strongly I feel about this.
>>> Now an alternate volunteer-exclusive design, THAT I can get behind. Just
>>> leave off the descriptive text and I'd actually wear it.
>>> A question to follow that is how much would that cost?
>>> Of course, the notion that 16 hours would earn a shirt was a suggestion.
>>> 12 hours would be just as good to me, provided we found something
>>> worthwhile for 16 and 20 hour volunteers.
>>> twenty-three-skidoo,
>>> Neil Figuracion
>>> On Feb 24, 2012 10:53 AM, "Ken Barnard" <cyrissia at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>  A bit of a follow on here that came up discussing this with Kryssie.
>>>
>>> This con I worked 12 hours.  Board Games was running a little short so I
>>> offered the extra time to help make ends meet.  12 hours for me is a good
>>> cap because I like to hit the RPGs and each shift I work cuts out exactly
>>> one RPG session that is available to me.  16 hours would have excluded a
>>> fourth session so I don't think I would have been excited to work a fourth
>>> shift.  I can't honestly say if a free con shirt would have made me want to
>>> work another four hours, but I wouldn't have thought twice about doing it
>>> for an "exclusive" volunteer shirt.  That's not ego, that's all geek.  You
>>> can buy the con shirts, you have to earn the volunteer swag and that makes
>>> it special.
>>>
>>>
>>>  ------------------------------
>>> From: cyrissia at hotmail.com
>>> To: deptheads at strategicon.net
>>> Subject: RE: [Deptheads] We need more volunteers
>>> Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:32:54 -0800
>>>
>>> It seems to me that we could mitigate that and distinguish our
>>> volunteers at the same time.  Say for example that we add a free con shirt
>>> with 16+ hours of service.  If you volunteer well in advance your shirt is
>>> ready and waiting on Friday evening.  This is especially important if we
>>> make the volunteer shirts a different color and/or add the word "volunteer"
>>> prominently under the Strategicon logo.  Everyone at the con knows at a
>>> glance that you are a volunteer who has put in some serious hours.  Late
>>> additions who get in their full hours will still get the same shirt, which
>>> they can pick up at the next con.  (Yes, I know that I'll have to inventory
>>> and store them)  I think that would save us the hassle of trying to guess
>>> at how many extra shirts we'll need and it really incentifies volunteers to
>>> commit in advance.  The flip side is that we'd probably all need to contact
>>> our volunteers a little earlier than we have in the past.  Then again, I
>>> have no idea how far in advance we'd need to order the shirts or the added
>>> cost of modifying the design.
>>>
>>>
>>>  > From: ealdrich at mac.com
>>> > To: deptheads at strategicon.net
>>> > Subject: Re: [Deptheads] We need more volunteers
>>> > Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:49:06 -0800
>>> >
>>> > I like the ideas put forth in the various emails, but as much as I
>>> > like the TShirt idea, it's not so simple -- we'd have to take a guess
>>> > as to how many extra to print. I'll do it, but I'd expect a few misses
>>> > the first few time as we try to get the numbers right.
>>> >
>>> > Eric
>>> >
>>> > On 24 Feb, 2012, at 06:21, Tim wrote:
>>> >
>>> > > I agree with Victor. People volunteer for different reasons but the
>>> > > hardest ones to get are the ones who work the 'desks'. I think
>>> > > adding a t-shirt for the 16 hour level works. We could also do a
>>> > > raffle for a free badge next con. I think anything that awards
>>> > > "best volunteer" or some other subjective criteria will cause a lot
>>> > > of grumbling and is something that can be abused.
>>> > >
>>> > > I volunteered at these cons going back to the early '80s.
>>> > > Originally I did it to save the $30 (I think) admission fee. After
>>> > > doing it for a few years, I got burned out and found it was more
>>> > > enjoyable to just buy a badge and have no responsibilities other
>>> > > than to play games.
>>> > >
>>> > > So my thought is a raffle or a set number of (48?) hours will get
>>> > > you a free con badge.
>>> > >
>>> > > Tim
>>> > >
>>> > > On 2/24/2012 12:01 AM, Victor B wrote:
>>> > >>
>>> > >> You can bling up your vols as you see fit. Just probably best to
>>> > >> avoid best or make anything a competiton since where there are
>>> > >> happy winners there will be disgruntled losers or those who feel
>>> > >> slighted.
>>> > >
>>> > > --
>>> > > Hadrian decided to build his wall so the Scots would be left
>>> > > undisturbed in their never-ending war against their mortal
>>> > > enemies... the Scots
>>> > > _______________________________________________
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>>> >
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Kryssie Mackey
>> Talent Acquisitions & Marketing
>> 310-766-9954
>> phantom.hopscotch at gmail.com
>> Strategicon Events <http://www.strategicon.net/>
>> Follow me on Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/Kryssieness> & Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/Angelkins>
>> !
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
> Kryssie Mackey
> Talent Acquisitions & Marketing
> 310-766-9954
> phantom.hopscotch at gmail.com
> Strategicon Events <http://www.strategicon.net>
> Follow me on Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/Kryssieness> & Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/Angelkins>
> !
>
>

-- 
Kryssie Mackey
Talent Acquisitions & Marketing
310-766-9954
phantom.hopscotch at gmail.com
Strategicon Events <http://www.strategicon.net>
Follow me on Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/Kryssieness> &
Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/Angelkins>
!
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