How would you word this email?

My suggestions

1. Don’t discuss that you spend your time reading. Instead, talk about having time for more responsibilities/tasks. “As the volume of visitors needing direction is low during my assigned hours…”

2. Expand on your request for other times by asking to expand your volunteer time. Don’t expect them to just shift your schedule, because they need someone present Saturdays from 4 to 6.

3. State something positive that also reminds them you are a volunteer. ” I appreciate being able to expand my skill set by volunteering at….”

Hello,

I currently am a volunteer on Saturdays from 4–6 at the help desk. I really enjoy volunteering here and am proud to be part of such a fine organization. I am writing to you to see what other opportunities may exist for someone like me to either utilize the skills I have and possibly learn new skills and procedures. I am available to meet with you at your convenience to discuss the many ways I can volunteer and help in a meaningful way.

Sincerely,

Sgt Queen

I would include a brief description of what skills you may bring to the table that could help get you out from behind the help desk. Good luck.

Thanks for the responses you guys :)

@Cruiser‘s last suggestion is vital. You don’t want to “bring a problem” to a supervisor. “The problem” in this case is “what to do with @SergeantQueen?” (I once heard the recommendation that you think of problems like dead fish. And you certainly wouldn’t lay a dead fish on a manager’s desk.)

So instead, you want to bring “solutions” to your manager’s desk. Ergo, there is a problem of “what to do with @SergeantQueen, but I also have a solution to that problem, and that solution is…” what? That’s what you need to provide here. If you don’t have a better suggestion to offer the supervisor, then it’s too early to write the email.

What do you want to do? Where could you be better utilized? Where would you be more valuable to the organization?

When you approach it like that, and “bring a solution” to your supervisor, then it is much easier for the supervisor to “consider and approve” rather than have to waste precious time and brainpower thinking “what to do about the problem of @SergeantQueen.” (Which would also associate you with problems, rather than solutions. And that’s not an association that you want to foster.)

Here’s a thought. If you’re truly passionate about this idea, show it by having a face-to-face conversation (like in olden days). It’s a great way to avoid misinterpretation on either side and perhaps improve the bond with your supervisor. You can then follow up the conversation with an email outlining the meeting and reaffirming your interest.

I like the email idea just because the recipient can read it and think about it at their convenience.

I would definitely put in @Cruiser‘s idea of talking about your skills. “As you know I’m an exellent typist and I would love to utilize my typing skills.”

The good part about being a volunteer is they want you to be happy, otherwise you may stop volunteering.

Instead of focusing on yourself (“getting the most out of this program”), talk about being able to make a greater contribution. Rather than talking about acquiring skills, say that you have a set of skills that would allow you to do more. The volunteer program was not set up for personal enrichment, but for helping others.