Re: MG

Tell me about the GenX..
It's pretty long and involved. The class was months ago and lasted over 2 hours and I didn't take much in the way of notes. But I can relate some vague impressions I recall. I may have some of it wrong, but it will get you started on track to figure out the differences.
Retirees - I don't recall the actual name used, one website refers to them as veterans. They are categorized as dutiful, plugging away at whatever they're asked to do until it is done. Boomers might be similar to veterans but a bit less dedicated. Seem to want or feel they should have/do it all - hence spread thin. GenXers - beginning of latch-key kids. Give them a job and let them go do it on their own; they don't want you to hover. GenY/Millenials - best group for working with veterans as they crave the contact with older people (this surprised me) They're latch-key, too, but more so.
Since both GenX and GenY have developed in a much more fast-paced world, given to multitasking and soundbites, you have to get their attention quickly and positively. They are both turned off and turned on to things quickly. If you don't succeed with them right away, they're gone; onto something else.
Most info I found via google had more to do with either the differences in the hiring of or marketing to the different groups. However, reading these does give clues as to what makes each tick and how best to approach them and can be applied to volunteers. 
Try: http://tinyurl.com/63tqrx
Also, go to this pdf and scroll to the bottom of pg 11 to see motivational differences for each group. http://tinyurl.com/63kxbj Try googling something like "babyboomers volunteer program GenX GenY Millennials" and peruse the entries. You might find something that is helpful and enlightening.
And, if you or your MG coordinators are seriouslyy interested, I could put you in touch with our Hort Educator and he might be able to help them obtain the class material for it. It is very interesting and pertinent. 

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message ----- From: "Daryl" <dp2413@comcast.net> 
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] MG
Tell me about the GenX and GenY volunteers, please. How do you approach and retain them? How do they differ from boomers? I can see how they differ from 
retirees, as I can see how late boomers differ from early ones.

The only things I've noticed is that they seem to have shorter attention
spans, but like my generation (60's do-gooders) they (especially the
youngest) are eager to help when shown a real need. The early gen X seem to 
be more difficult to bring out of their "me first" attitude.

d



I can suggest two more possible explanations for that.  One, from my
experience, the other from our extension agent's perspective. What I have 
seen of volunteers is that a person who likes to volunteer, does so in
many venues, not just one. They then simply spread themselves too thin to 
be readily available for projects.  Second, our Hort Ed has studied
volunteer phenomena and statistics and brought a class to us to try to
explain differences in 4 age groups and how they work, listen, volunteer,
differently from one another, thus meaning they must each be approached
differently.  It's very interesting and insightful.  It explains a lot of
why a mainly babyboomers and retirees group has trouble retaining the
interest of GenX, GenY, and Millenium volunteers.

Just more possible explanations of the issue, not criticisms.

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5


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