Volunteer Center's Blog

The Promise and Challenge of Service

nmrussell3 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:27:00 +0000

I recently attended City Club’s 2009 Jefferson Awards luncheon. As a volunteer management professional, I was definitely inspired to hear the remarkable service stories of this year’s award winners, Dallas Jessup, Janie Plath and Mariana Quanstrom. Check out their stories! What was really cool (and new this year) was that City Club arranged for the award winners to participate in a panel discussion with 3 of Seattle’s community leaders – Alison Carl White of Seattle Works, Nancy Long of Executive Service Corps, and David Okimoto of United Way of King County. The topic: “The Promise and Challenge of Service”. When you read the extraordinary service of people like Dallas, Janie and Mariana, you do get a clear picture of the incredible promise of volunteers. But what about the challenge? In an environments where volunteering and service is “in”, what gets in the way? Here the discussion turned to the challenge of managing today’s volunteers effectively. While 4 out of 5 nonprofits engage volunteers, the majority are not tapping the full potential of their volunteers. As Nancy Long put it, “there aren’t that many envelopes to stuff anymore”. Yet many nonprofits struggle to move beyond “envelope stuffing” kind of volunteering to a more effective repurposing of the skill sets that today’s volunteers bring to the nonprofit sector. To accommodate the influx of new volunteers, nonprofits will need to “repurpose” their volunteer involvement efforts. So here is the question: What does that look like?

To my delight, I listened as three key leaders in our community emphasized the important role that managers of volunteer involvement efforts play in nonprofit organizations. Effectively tapping the skills of today’s volunteers requires more skill, training and resources than is often accorded to those placed in volunteer coordination roles. Repurposing our volunteer involvement efforts will require elevating the position of volunteer managers within our organizations and providing all staff with the skills, training and resources to engage volunteers effectively. Shifting the way we think about and engage volunteers is the nonprofit challenge. Learning to partner with volunteers in new and innovative ways is the promise! These are exciting times for volunteer management professionals for sure!

Martin J Cowling of People First coming to town!

nmrussell3 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:37:13 +0000

If you haven’t had the chance to sit in on a training with Martin J Cowling, now’s your chance! I am excited that Martin will be coming to Seattle (all the way from Australia!) to present a workshop on Recession Proofing Your Volunteer Program.

I’ve had the opportunity to participate in workshops with Martin at the National Conference on Service and Volunteerism. He is fantastic!

If you’ve been concerned about how the economic downturn is affecting your program and are interested in learning about strategies to build a more resilient program, even when times are tough, then Martin’s training is for you.

Workshop Information:

Recession Proofing Your Volunteer Program

Date: September 29^th

Time: 9:00-4:00 pm

Location: 2100 Bldg, Seattle

Cost: Only $50.00 for a full day of Advanced Training!

Description:

Are you concerned about the impact of the economic downturn on your Organizations Volunteer Program? Please join us for a full day of training with Martin J. Cowling to learn strategies for recession proofing your volunteer program and preparing your organization for the future of volunteering. Martin will discuss current trends in volunteer management and the important role of 21^st Century volunteer managers.

Martin J Cowling, CEO of People First – Total Solutions, an international trainer and consultant working with nonprofits in Australia and internationally, brings his experience from his own volunteering in Australia and El Salvador, and combines that with over 20 years of experience in leadership and management roles in the nonprofit sector. Martin believes that people are the key to success or the very reason for the failure of a project. He is passionate about ensuring successful relationships between organizations, staff and volunteers!

Detail of Training Day:

§ Welcome & Introductions

§ Session 1: Volunteer Management Trends Today

§ Morning Break

§ Session 2: Recession Proofing Your Volunteer Program

§ Session 3: People First & the Volunteer Program Assessment

§ Lunch

§ Session 4: Preparing Your Organization for the Future of Volunteering

§ Session 5: Being a 21^st Century Manager

For descriptions of United Way workshops, please visit the UWKC training calendar or call 206.461.5014. To register for this training, complete and fax in the workshop Registration form (PDF)

nmrussell3 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:50:00 +0000

United Way of King County

presents

Recession Proofing Your Volunteer Program

September 29^th

9:00-4:00 pm

2100 Bldg, Seattle

Are you concerned about the impact of the economic downturn on your Volunteer Program? Please join us for a full day of training with Martin J. Cowling to learn strategies for recession proofing your volunteer program and preparing your organization for the future of volunteering. Martin will discuss current trends in volunteer management and our role as 21^st Century volunteer managers.

Detail of Training Day:

Welcome & Introductions
Session 1: Volunteer Management Trends Today
Morning Break
Session 2: Recession Proofing Your Volunteer Program
Session 3: People First & the Volunteer Program Assessment
Lunch
Session 4: Preparing Your Organization for the Future of Volunteering
Session 5: Being a 21^st Century Manager

For cost and descriptions of United Way workshops, please visit the UWKC training calendar or call 206.461.5014. To register for this training, complete and fax in the workshop Registration form (PDF)

SAVE THE DATE for Advanced VPM with Betty Stallings

nmrussell3 — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:12:08 +0000

Advanced Volunteer Management Training with Betty Stallings

Leading the Way to Effective Volunteer Partnerships:

A Workshop for Executive Leaders and Volunteer Management Staff

Tuesday, June 16^th

9:00-4:30 pm

(9:00-10:30 special session designed for executive leadership)

Location: 2100 Bldg, Seattle, Washington

Workshop Registration Form

(See registration instructions below)

Join United Way of King County and the Volunteer Administrator’s Network (VAN) for a unique opportunity to engage in lively discussion with Betty Stallings, internationally renowned expert in the field of volunteer management and author of 12 Key Actions of Volunteer Program Champions: CEOs Who Lead the Way and Training Busy Staff To Succeed With Volunteers: The 55 Minute Training Series.

Betty Stallings will present a highly interactive workshop focused on building the elements of an exemplary volunteer program and highlighting the leadership role required by executive staff to ensure successful volunteer partnerships and the dedication and competency needed by all staff to effectively interface with today’s volunteers. Betty will begin the all-day training session with a special 1.5 hour session devoted to the executive leadership’s role in ensuring exemplary volunteer engagement. Executive leaders are invited to attend this special session with their volunteer management staff.

Workshop Agenda:

9:00-10:30 Taking the LEAD: The Executive Role in Ensuring Exemplary Volunteer Engagement

The full day workshop will begin with this 1.5 hour session addressing the importance of organizational commitment and the critical role of senior leadership in effective volunteer engagement. Executive Directors/CEOs can choose to attend just the morning session with their volunteer management staff. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage in a lively discussion with Betty on the results of research findings from Nonprofit Executive Directors who are Volunteer Engagement Champions. Presentation will focus on:

The 12 key ways executives can support volunteer involvement (Most take very little time!)
The return on investment with strong volunteer partnerships (The benefits to the organization are far greater than the resources to support excellence in volunteer engagement.)
The challenges of executives to support volunteer engagement, especially in times of financial downturn (Needs are greater, resources are in short supply.)
Resources to enhance executive support of volunteer involvement (Some tips and tools to make your support doable!)

10:45-3:30 Building the Elements of an Exemplary Volunteer Program:

Betty will delve into a more in-depth discussion of the 10 essential elements of exemplary volunteer engagement important for volunteer managers and executive leadership. This section focuses on building the case for organizational commitment to volunteer management; the return on investment of strong volunteer partnerships; and strategies for diminishing barriers to effective volunteer engagement, especially in times of financial downturn, when needs are greater and resources are in short supply.

Section 1 (10:45-12:00) highlights:

The leadership role of the volunteer manager
The importance of a volunteer engagement philosophy statement
Integrating volunteers throughout the organization
Understanding trends and cutting edge volunteer engagement strategies

Lunch (noon-1:00): Lunch is included for full-day workshop participants!

Section 2 (1:00-3:30) highlights:

Staff partnership, competency and buy-in
Strategic planning and volunteer management
Attracting and managing diverse volunteers
Volunteer-friendly organizations

3:45-4:00 Small group consultation time: Betty will lead the group in responding to specific volunteer management issues/challenges

REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Full Day Tuition: $85.00 Morning Session Only (9-10:30a): $20.00

Executive leaders may attend the1.5 hour morning session free of charge if they have volunteer management staff registered for the full day.

To register for the workshop, please click Workshop Registration Form, complete the form and fax to Evelyn Marymee at 206-461-8495. If you are attending the full day session, we encourage you to invite your Executive Director, Board Chair or another member of your executive leadership team to attend the morning session (complimentary) from 9:00-10:30. Please include the name and position of the executive leader that will be attending the morning session with you.

Interested in the morning session only? The cost for the morning session is $20 (except for executive leaders attending with their volunteer managers). Please indicate on the workshop registration that you are registering for the morning session only.

Effective Volunteer Management Training in May

nmrussell3 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:04:44 +0000

Effective Volunteer Program Management 101: A Training for Volunteer Management Professionals

When: May 5th & May 19th

Tuition: $170.00

This two day series is designed to meet the special needs of volunteer program managers new to the field of volunteer management. This is also a great ‘refresher’ course for more experience volunteer program managers. The seminar provides an overview of the essential components of successful volunteer programs, identifies resources for future development and provides great networking opportunities. Topics covered over the 2 day training:

Elements of Effective Volunteer Management
Developing effective job descriptions
Recruitment and marketing your program
Strategies for matching jobs and volunteers
Volunteer orientation and training
Supervisory skills
Volunteer Recognition

To view information about the trainings and to register, please follow this link: www.uwkc.org/nonprofit/training/calendar.asp

Limited partial scholarships are available for this training

It’s that time: Jefferson Awards nomination deadline is April 30th

Erica Ellis — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:58:51 +0000

Do you have an outstanding volunteer? Someone who has made a difference? Someone deserving of a Jefferson Award? Then nominate them today! City Club is accepting nominations until April 30th. Just complete this downloadable PDF nomination form and mail or email it, with an explanatory letter, to CityClub, 1333 Fifth Avenue, Suite 24, Seattle, WA 98101-2600. Entries must be received by April 30.

The Jefferson Awards, sponsored annually by the American Institute for Public Service, honor ordinary people who do extraordinary things for others. Since 1976, when the program began here, people from all over Washington have earned Jefferson Award medallions.

You can nominate your local hero.

Comcast Cares!

Erica Ellis — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:31:00 +0000

Here’s a great example of a company taking the initiative to moblize their employees and benefit the greater community. On April 25th Comcast, in partnership with Solid Ground, will be holding Comcast Cares Day at Magnusen Park in Seattle. 250 volunteers will work together to revitalize the transitional housing units for low income single mothers, youth, families with children, and single adults. They will be doing a variety of landscaping projects, painting interior and exterior buildings and painting murals to hang in the units among other service projects. To learn more about this event, visit the event’s Facebook page. Way to go Comcast!

Mariners Salute to Volunteers!

Erica Ellis — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:33:10 +0000

Looks like even the Mariners know how important it is to recognize volunteers. On Tuesday, April 21st (during National Volunteer Week) the Seattle Mariners will be offering discounted tickets to volunteers! Ticket prices will be substantially discounted ($8 View Reserved-normally $20 and $25 Field Level Seating-normally $40). To learn more and purchase tickets, click here!

Volunteers needed for Homeless Needs Assessment

Erica Ellis — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:50:09 +0000

United Way of King County and the City of Seattle are recruiting more than 500 volunteers to conduct the Homeless Needs Assessment on Monday, April 13.

The City of Seattle invests more than $40 million a year in services to prevent and end homelessness. In order to gain more information about who is homeless and why, the city is undertaking a homeless needs assessment.

Teams of volunteers will ask questions of every person they encounter in designated study areas. The information gained will complement existing data collection methods such as the Safe Harbors Homeless Information Management System and the One Night Count of homeless people in King County.

Click here for more information.

Twitter and Facebook and Blogs. . . oh my!

Erica Ellis — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:31:10 +0000

With social media ballooning and changing at an unprecedented rate, it’s no wonder many non-profits choose to ignore it. . . or worse yet, blindly set up profiles on every site from Facebook to Flickr to Friendster. For those of us who are new to social media, it can be a lot to wrap ones head around. You’ve probably heard lots of strange, new words like widget, mashup and wiki (if you have no idea what these terms mean check out the social media glossary) and may be asking yourself right now “What the heck is social media?” The simplest definition I have found is courtesy of primalmedia.com: Social media is people using tools and sites to share content and have conversations online. Conversations are key to successfully using social media. Social media is not a tool for you to shout information at your audience. It is a means to listen to your supporters (and adversaries), hear what they have to say, and engage them in a conversation and maybe even propel them into action. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, it can be. It can also be a huge time-suck, so beware. Engaging your supporters and gaining a following can take a lot of time, so it is important to be strategic and use the social media tools that make sense for your organization or cause. After all, how can time-starved non-profit professionals possibly maintain a presence on Facebook, Myspace, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin, and all the other sites out there? Below are some resources that I have come across in my own adventures on the world wide web that have helped me unscramble the crazy jumble of social media out there. Hopefully they will provide a useful jumping off point for you too.

Best Practices for Non-Profits Using Web 2.0

Beth’s Blog: How nonprofits can use social media

8 Useful Tips to Become Successful with Twitter

Adults and Social Network Websites

Facebook Best Practices