Retention and replacement
The goal of volunteer retention is to develop a sense of organisational commitment among Volunteers.
Although volunteer turnover is to be expected in Clubs and creates opportunities for organisational change, high rates of turnover can hinder the capacity of Clubs to operate in an efficient and effective manner. Clubs with high rates of volunteer turnover may have to divert large proportions of limited resources to recruiting, orientating and training new volunteers.
As long as the volunteer replacement process takes place in an orderly and predictable manner, the stability and continuity of the Club is rarely threatened. An important aspect of volunteer replacement is succession planning.
Succession planning
Most volunteer turnover occurs at the end of the season or at the time of the annual general meeting (AGM). A succession plan is necessary to provide opportunities for potential leaders within Clubs to be identified and developed in readiness to move up into leadership positions. Clubs that plan for smooth transitions of leadership positions are less likely to experience disruptions to their operations, and can better position themselves to replace volunteers who leave their current positions.
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Acknowledgements
Reproduced with permission from the Australian Sports Commission and the Department of Sport and Recreation Western Australia.
