Volunteers are the soldiers in any political army.
Here are some basic tips for developing and working with volunteers:

• Remind potential volunteers of the special skills or expertise they have (and being a
  member is one of those) so they understand that they are needed.
• Give people choices—a member who might not want to knock on doors, might be
  more than willing to phone-bank or stuff envelopes.
• Don’t overload volunteers or you’ll lose them. The solution to getting more work done
  is recruiting more volunteers.
• Demonstrate what you expect volunteers to do—for example, rehearse a phone bank
  script.
• Be clear from the beginning about the time commitment you’re asking for.
• Make sure volunteers complete their assignments—that not only gets the job done, it
  sends the message that their job is crucial.
• Always find a way to thank every volunteer. A thank you can be training for more
  complex assignments, a certificate or plaque, a thank you letter, sending a birthday
  card or recognition through your publications or at a meeting.
• Remind volunteers to dress weather-appropriate, and provide them with food,
  beverages and restrooms.

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