Tools and Tactics are replicable templates Connectors can use to multiply and amplify action and collaboration in their communities. We find they also make for great stories about people all over the world who are promoting good in interesting ways.

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Modeled after speed dating, volunteer speed matching allows lots of potential volunteers to “meet” lots of organizations in the span of one morning or afternoon to learn more about what’s going on in their community and how they can help out.

Below, Tony Frew, General Manager for The Centre for Volunteering in Sydney, Australia, shares a bit about his experience with The Centre’s first volunteer speed matching event:

Dragons as well as people came to learn more about their volunteering options.
(image courtesy The Centre for Volunteering)

Q: Did your event go as planned? If not, what changed?

A: We made minor adjustments throughout the planning process but nothing major. Planning was meticulous by a very experienced team and we had excellent support from the City of Sydney. The event was well-resourced and managed on the day.

The MC was great in reading the audience and making changes on the fly—the most significant in being more direct during the afternoon session and closing early as the audience thinned out. We issued a survey after the event and one respondent wrote, “They persevered and adapted very well to changes in pace throughout the day.” So I guess it was noticeable!

Although we also got the comment, “Reduce speaker volume,” so maybe we should persevere more quietly next time.

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