What managers of any organization can learn from the volunteers at Hackett House in Tempe, Arizona.
Giving volunteers the freedom to succeed
“The key to success is lots of freedom, not lots of red tape.”
You might be tempted to credit this quote to Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg, but it is in fact the words and guiding philosophy of Dolores Salhuana, Executive Director of the Hackett House, a fund-raising organization of the Tempe Sister Cities Program.
Now in its 25th year, Hackett House is run by an all-volunteer staff of committed, energetic individuals who take this freedom and parlay it into a vibrant force for community enrichment.
Lessons from Far and Near
The heart Tempe Sister Cities is an exchange program that sends Tempe high school students to a foreign country in the summer before their senior year. The students reside with a host family for five weeks—that family, in turn, sends their child back to Tempe for five weeks. The kids are immersed in each other’s history and culture, from food to social interaction.
“That five weeks abroad teaches young adults not only a new language and exposes them to new cultures, it teaches them to become self-reliant,” says Salhuana, whose own daughter participated in the program. “By taking them out of their comfort zones here at home, they learn they can make it through anything life throws at them.”
Part of Tempe Sister Cities’ expenses are paid for through the fundraising efforts of the nearly 100 volunteers that work at the Hackett House during the course of any given year. Forty core volunteers are lead by a 12-member volunteer board of directors that spearheads their activities.
The diversity of the group’s events and offerings keep everyone busy and engaged, from the annual Oktoberfest to the New Zealand Wine Tasting, to the cooking classes, preparing food for the Children’s and Adults’ Teas, managing the gift shop, and assisting the high school seniors speak to area sixth graders about their experiences overseas.
What Motivates a Volunteer?
So h
ow does an organization achieve so much and handle so many responsibilities without a single paid staffer? Salhuana offers these key tips for keeping folks motivated:
- Empower your volunteers – this keeps new ideas coming in and things fresh
- Make sure activities are self-fulfilling for the volunteers
- Do for the volunteers as you would for the community
- Provide continuity so volunteers can build friendships along the way
Salhuana says she was somewhat surprised at the sustained level of volunteerism given the challenging economic climate of late. “I think we all feel that we must pay it forward, and there is magic in what we do for the community.”
The experiences of Hackett House volunteer Lesa Emery are a typical example of the kind of enthusiasm people bring to their philanthropic efforts:
I was laid off in November 2008 from my job as a Fashion Art Director/Graphic Designer, and a friend from out of state suggested I look into volunteering. About a week later, I met Dolores through a mutual friend and I went down to Hackett House to check it out. I needed something creative and physical so the kitchen seemed like a good start. I worked with a very creative woman there for eight months, and she taught me so much – the planning of the menus, the colors the centerpieces, the creative desserts, and the big events. I have always liked to cook and bake so now my talents go in the kitchen. I have met SO MANY nice people. New friends! This has opened up a whole new world for me – of people and learning new skills and talents.
Parents of children selected to be part of the Tempe Sister Cities program are required to donate eight hours of time during the year their child participates. The annual new crop of parents helps to feed fresh ideas into the group.
Individuals that come back each year (like the 84-year-old that works in the gift shop) provide continuity while novice and veteran volunteers alike revel in trying new ideas and ways to accomplish the goals of the program.
A Volunteer’s Bottom Line
All the volunteers have a love for each other, their local community and the wider world that fuels the enthusiasm and energy so characteristic of this organization.
“The Tempe Sister Cities’ volunteers each have a different tale to tell that brought them to this organization. The cooking staff has an interest in cuisine and fanciful presentation that leads to fun and experimentation in the kitchen. The shop staff keeps Hackett House as thriving as it was when it was a bakery in the late 1800’s. The Special Events staff finds new and interesting uses for this historic and special place in Tempe,” explains volunteer Teresa Borota.
So, besides just showing up, what makes a good volunteer? “Oh, that’s an interesting question,” says Salhuana, “but I would say it takes energy and a belief that what you are doing matters.”
Borota agrees, “Tempe Sister Cities provides a unique network of global-minded people who share a mission of ‘Bringing the World Together … One Friendship at a Time.’ The organization has enriched my family.”
If you’d like to be part of the Tempe Sister Cities program, visit historic Hackett House, attend one of the terrific events, or rent the facility for your own special occasion, please visit either the Tempe Sister Cities website or the Hackett House website.
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