What if some of the most important work in volunteer engagement happens long before anyone ever signs up to volunteer?

In this episode of Making a Ruckus, I explore the idea of hidden impact – the conversations, connections and moments of belonging that rarely appear in our reports, but shape communities in profound ways.

Drawing on a story from last week's conversation with Tom Gill and introducing the thinking behind my emerging Campfire Model, I challenge the assumption that community connection only matters if it leads to recruitment.

Instead, I ask a different question: what if connection is an outcome in its own right?

If you've ever felt that your impact reports capture what volunteers do but miss what volunteer engagement creates, this episode will encourage you to look beyond hours, headcounts and applications, and reconsider what counts as meaningful work.

Because perhaps our role isn't just to process people once they arrive.

Perhaps it's to make the distance between community and volunteering shorter in the first place.

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Links:

• Listen to episode 17 with Tom Gill, "People don't want to volunteer. They want to belong" where we explore community, belonging and the barriers that stop people from volunteering.

Connect:

• Learn more: www.⁠⁠⁠traceyoneillconsulting.com.au⁠⁠⁠
• Join the conversation on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠@traceyoneillcva⁠⁠⁠
• Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@tracey.volunteerengagement⁠⁠⁠
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