February 2015 by Gerri Kappler

Audience: Executive Leadership, Foster Caregivers, Shelter/Rescue Staff & Volunteers

Video Length: 62 minutes

Austin Pets Alive! is well known for its huge volunteer force (over 2,000 hours per week). In 2008 APA! started with no funds for staff and relied solely on volunteers to do everything related to saving lives and building a huge organization. Gerri Kappler, an APA! board member and current Volunteer Director, shares insights on why volunteers volunteer, recruitment strategies, how to make a volunteer’s experience worthwhile so they keep coming back for more and the team structure that is needed to get it all done. This program was part of the American Pets Alive! 2015 No-Kill Conference.

About Gerri Kappler

Having worked professionally as a corporate finance manager for 15 years, Gerri Kappler now spends her time raising her family and many pets, volunteering as the director of APA's volunteer force, serving on APA's Board of Directors and is a many-times-over APA! cat and dog foster. In the five years she's been volunteering for APA! she has seen amazing growth and progress in their no-kill mission and is thrilled to be part of such an amazing organization.