Is it Realistic to Recruit Volunteers as Successfully Elsewhere, Since They are So Vital to the Lake County Prototype Because volunteers have such meaningful roles without having unreasonable demands placed on them, CEC has enjoyed outstanding response. It is the structure of the jobs given to volunteers that encourages such enthusiastic response. The recruiting pool is very broad with tutors ranging from Ph.d. Each tutor receives regular personal feedback that their work is meaningful directly from the students. Each one is scheduled only as much as they feel comfortable, so no undue burdens are placed on anyone.
Volunteers also perform many other roles in the organization.
The most important factor is that all volunteer roles are structured so that they are meaningful, the tasks are clear and do not exceed the ability of the volunteer. They get a great deal of satisfaction from being a meaningful part of an organization that has a significant mission and is performing that mission well. The experience of the founding Board of Directors with various volunteer organizations in various regions of the country indicates that Lake County is not uniquely blessed with community volunteers. There is an enormous and untapped pool of Americans everywhere who seek opportunities to truly be of service to their fellow humans. Often they are discouraged from service in other organizations because paid staff have all the important roles.