- Public involvement volunteers can help a group or agency who is undertaking a public information campaign or a public consultation process. For example, public involvement volunteers may be enlisted to do the following:
- Handle general administration: fold, staple, telephone, file.
- Staff open days or open house.
- Distribute material door-to-door or at meetings.
- Act as a volunteer speakers' bureau.
- Stretch a limited budget.
- Having public involvement volunteers can also:
- Expand possibilities for community participation. More volunteers offer more choices for meeting community groups at a place of their choosing, which increases the number of participants in a planning process.
- Help the organisation understand community viewpoints.
- Help the community understand the issue and/or process.
- Add vigor to the public involvement process.
- Help assemble a community perspective on a project or program.
- Add a level of person-to-person communication.
- Bridge communication gaps.
- Offer an advantage in eliciting concerns and issues.
- Help identify people for leadership positions. (Source: US Federal Highway Administation http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/pittd/contents.htm)