Volunteering is mutually beneficial. Associations gain from the energy, work, and passion of the people pitching in, while volunteers—especially student ones—develop life skills and a broader perspective to become valuable members of society.

Volunteer experience can also help make students more attractive to college admission officers and prospective employers.

VolunteerMatch provides ways to help encourage more students to spend time volunteering.

Begin by defining the purpose of volunteering. “Try to explain to them the weight of what they’re about to do and how they can make a difference in the world. Give them a purpose and let them take it from there,” says blogger Nicole Boyer.

Also, make volunteering fun. “Some students think that volunteer work is boring, tiring, and requires too much time and physical strength,” says Boyer. “Add fun to your volunteer opportunity by incorporating activities like games into learning activities.”

And always remember to lead by example.

Find out more ways to inspire student volunteers here.

Twitter Method

https://twitter.com/socialfish/status/826084437406384130

We’ve all experienced the struggle of trying to get our content in front of the right audience.

Twitter is an excellent content distribution channel for those purposes, but with the millions and millions of tweets that go out every day, how can you make sure that your posts are standing out above the fray?

SocialFish proposes a tactical way to use Twitter to ensure that your content is reaching highly targeted influencers who will share your articles. Their post, syndicated from the blog Junto, takes you step-by-step through the Twitter Leapfrog Method. Instructions include creating new Twitter accounts for content, finding top influencers in your field, and having an efficient method for reaching them.

Other Links of Note

Growth management: Grit Marketing wants to know if your online community has grown too large to be effective?

Networking do’s and don’ts: Networking is at the heart of many associations, but mingling with a room full of people can be anxiety-inducing for some. A psychologist provides The Guardian with ways to make you more confident at your next event.

Travel stress relief: The New York Times recommends several meditation apps designed to help soothe people in transit.