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"It's simple, and above all, reassuring": how Mr. Picat brought his oldest volunteers on board with digital tools
"At first, our oldest volunteers struggled a bit with computers." Yet since 2024, every volunteer at Laives Patrimoine has been answering Joynit invitations to staff their 15th-century chapel. Mr. Picat, president of this historic preservation nonprofit in Burgundy, France, explains what made the difference: one simple email, a clear subject line, and no app to download.
Could you introduce yourself and your organization?
I'm the president of Laives Patrimoine, a nonprofit in the Saône-et-Loire region of Burgundy, France. We have just over 100 members, and we run large fundraising events, like flea markets, that pay for work on public buildings in our town. Over 30 years, we've funded about €300,000 in restoration projects.
We also look after a beautiful little 15th-century chapel, which we open to visitors from mid-June through European Heritage Days in September. Joynit helps us schedule the volunteer shifts that keep the chapel open, staffed by a fairly regular group of volunteers.
How did you schedule volunteer shifts before Joynit?
By phone. We're a small group, so we would call each other to find out who could take a shift. At first, that worked. Everyone picked up. After a while, it got much harder.
We tried an Excel spreadsheet with names, dates and attendance. That was a step up, but it had its limits. What I really wanted was a shared calendar, because calling everyone again and again was tiring and a waste of time. I found Joynit on Google.
The first time I used Joynit, it was a small revolution. People replied right away: "I can come" or "I'm not available." Everything got easier, except at first for our oldest members, who were less comfortable with computers. But they quickly saw why a shared calendar was useful for everyone.
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Were your older volunteers comfortable with technology, and how did you support them?
At first, it was a real challenge. In the first year, I had to follow up with our oldest volunteers several times. Some answered me by phone, others directly through Joynit. It didn't last all year, but yes, the beginning was harder.
I had sent everyone login details so they could sign in. Then I realized it was much simpler than that. Only my secretary and I need access to the platform to manage the schedule. Volunteers are invited by a simple email, like any other message. For them, it's easy: they just confirm whether they can make it.
Why did you choose Joynit?
I compared two or three calendar tools, but they were harder to set up and didn't look as good on screen.
With Joynit, you can add a photo to each event. It feels much friendlier, and I've noticed I get answers faster.
Did you need help from the support team?
At first, we tried to figure it out on our own. Then someone from the Joynit team walked me through it, and that unlocked many more features for us, such as the attendee list.
In 2026, we got back in touch by phone and set everything up together with your colleague. This year was much easier. Now I'm completely independent.
How important was it to have support you could actually reach?
Very important. Technical support that's easy to reach and answers quickly always matters. What counted for us was knowing there's a real team we can contact when we need it, one that helps us set up our shared calendar. We don't feel on our own.
What does Joynit change for you day to day?
It saves me a lot of time. With the paid plan, I schedule shifts in advance and volunteers sign up themselves: "I'll take that day." I can focus on other things instead.
Communication with volunteers is better, too. This year, we signed up many more people and got immediate answers for the first eight weekends on the calendar. Two months ahead, I already knew who would be there and who wouldn't.
How has the tool evolved since 2024?
There have been several improvements. For example, we can now add many more volunteers to the schedule at once using a list.
People have also gotten used to it. At first, you don't always answer an email when you don't know who sent it. After the first season, volunteers were no longer surprised to get Joynit messages about chapel shifts. In 2026, it was much easier for them.
What would you tell a nonprofit that hesitates to go digital because it fears its older volunteers won't keep up?
I'd tell them it's a simple tool. Volunteers get an email just like one from a family member or a friend. When they open it, they see they can come and help.
The subject line tells them right away that it's about the chapel shifts. Seeing that, they know it's their own organization asking if they can help. It's intuitive and, above all, reassuring for them.
Today, our older volunteers are getting more and more comfortable with digital tools on their own.
