Workshop attendees will gain an understanding of how to replicate the characteristics of an organization that has made strides in transforming its culture, stakeholder support, marketing message, and organizational structure to make the most of baby boom volunteers. It is now no secret that boomers wish to be cultivated and engaged in meaningful work, so as to impact organizational development and contribute more directly to the mission of the organization. Therefore, discussion will include how agencies can gain the commitment of older adults and boomers to contribute rich and robust work/life experiences by demonstrating integrity, a vested interest, competence, and an integrated and strategic approach to capturing their talents and skills.

Workshop objectives/takeaways:

• understand the unique characteristics of boomers as they relate to enhancing organizational capacity;
• identify the elements of organizational culture that can be transformed to engage and embrace the use of paid and unpaid volunteers;
• identify issues of risk management, performance quality improvement, volunteer stewardship, and the impact on the organization’s resources; and
• access turn-key tools for replication in other organizations.

Presenter: Jenni Frumer, associate executive director, Alpert Jewish Family & Children's Service

Workshop synopsis:

This interactive workshop will describe three specific models of engaging older adults, primarily boomers, in enhancing organizational capacity. The first focuses on the organization’s strategy for hiring boomers as employees. It addresses offering flexible work schedules, support, and a culture that has been recognized as best practice by The Conference Board in the recent report “A Perfect Match? How Nonprofits Are Tapping into the Boomer Talent Pool.”

The second model focuses on paid volunteers who provide a significant direct service to older and disabled adults. The Enhanced Companion Program offers transportation, meal preparation, grocery shopping and light housekeeping to people with disabilities. This collaborative program maintains the independence and optimal functioning of its older adult volunteers and the people they serve.

The third model represents the Ambassadors Strategic Model, partially funded by a mini-grant from the Alliance New Age of Aging initiative, which describes a strategic model that has significantly enhanced organizational capacity to assist thousands of older adults aging in Florida’s gated communities.

In addition to briefly describing each model, this workshop will focus on the development of a strategic model, creation of a vision statement, and the process by which the organizations’ staff and board processed the need and identified the capacity building opportunities of engaging boomers to maximize the potential for organizational sustainability.

While there are demographics unique to the baby boomers of southeast Florida, boomer characteristics are ubiquitous and the process of implementing a strategy that actively embraces and delivers techniques and mechanisms for creative implementation of paid and unpaid volunteer opportunities can be replicated in any community.

This workshop will outline the elements to consider in the development or enhancement of a boomer volunteer engagement strategy. It will address issues such as interviewing techniques for the assessment of volunteer talent, volunteer background screening, staff training, volunteer stewardship, and outreach methods.

This workshop will also address and explore the critical components of creating a culture and philosophy geared toward appealing to boomers. Areas for discussion will include: redefining volunteerism, creating a more collaborative environment, and placing a greater focus on the cultivation of skills. A packet of materials including “turn-key” tools will be made available to participants.