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Developing: Recruiting Volunteers

Volunteers are the basis of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The existence of this nationwide, community-based movement is due to the willingness of volunteer medical and public health professionals to serve their communities in times of need. Without this generous service, there would be no MRC.

Identifying and recruiting volunteers is one of the most essential tasks of the MRC unit. These tasks begin with developing a clear idea of your MRC unit’s role in the community and crafting a message to help you communicate this vision to potential volunteers and partners. Once the message is crafted, you can begin advertising your MRC unit to your community.

Developing the Messages

The MRC unit concept is a complex one—many people do not have a full understanding of public health or emergency management, and the development of an MRC unit involves both. There are many common misconceptions about emergencies, the role of volunteers, and the role of medical professionals. In presenting information about your MRC unit to the public, it is important to have a clear and concise description of the unit and its role in the community. Although it may seem obvious, the first step in creating this description is for you to understand this role.

If you can provide a clear, concise (30- to 60-second) description of your MRC unit to someone who is not familiar with the program and have them understand the concept, you are a long way toward developing effective messages for marketing, public relations, and volunteer recruiting. Although 30 to 60 seconds is not long enough to fully explain the MRC concept, it is enough time to stimulate interest in potential volunteers. Having a clear understanding of the unit also makes it easier for your partners and stakeholders to describe your unit to others.

Be patient and be persistent—with the messages that bombard us every day, people may need to hear your message several times before they will act on it.

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Last Updated on 8/21/2006