A Slight Detour

VRM Clearinghouse is pulling up roots and moving.. and most likely changing focus.

 It will soon be found at http://ivmaday.org  under “Blogs” along with some other important resources for managers of volunteer resources.

 If you have us on your announcement l ist, leave us on it at nan.hathorne@verizon.net.  We may or may not use your information, but we want to know about it anyway.  And you should get on the announcement list for IVMA Day at that site too as there may be many excellent opportunities you will want to know about as things develop.

 Thank you!

Nan Hawthorne

Volume 1 #3

1 February 2006  Volunteer. 1 #3
 
What’s in this Edition?
* What’s New?  New articles on baby boomers, volunteer awards, FLSA and youth volunteering, more.
* What’s the Buzz?  The latest topics of discussion on CyberVPM, volunteerweb, etc.  
* Now THAT’S Interesting!  Canada has it goin’ on.
* Great Finds   Get free training designs, photos of volunteering.
* Previously Unknown Tools   A blog for nonprofits, more background checks.

* What’s Going On?  Dallas/Fort Worth conference, diversity training near Seattle, a free volunteer leader workshop in Boston.
 
* What’s New? 
 
On VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT REVIEW
http://CharityChannel.com/enewsletters/vmr
 
January 27 – Has Anyone Seen Our Award Winner?  Tammy Vega invites your thoughts on why volunteers who receive awards seem to disappear.
 
January 18 – Creating Boomer-friendly Volunteer Opportunities: Part 1: Restructuring Existing Opportunities.  Scott Martin’s sound advice on making the best use of Baby Boomer talent.
 
On Energize!
http://www.energizeinc.com
 
The Fair Labor Standards Act and Other Obstacles to Progress
The job of legal, financial and IT staff is to listen to what we need and want to do and then help us to find the best and appropriate ways in which to do it. Unfortunately, in the real world of volunteer management, these experts too often instead are our “no” people.
 
Also be sure to visit “Breaking News” at http://www.energizeinc.com/news.html where you will find a mention of this blog, as well as newsworthy items on a study of overseas volunteers developing important new skills, an update on a prominent mentoring project, and more.
 
On Merrill Associates
http://www.merrillassociates.net/topic/2006/02/engaging-youth-volunteers/
 
Topic of the Month – Engaging Youth Volunteers.  Mary Merrill writes about a Corporation for National and Community Service study just released that suggests a growing interest in volunteerism among young people. This study reveals some additional interesting facts.
 
On OZVPM: Australasian Volunteer Management
http://www.ozvpm.com/hottopics.htm
 
This Month’s Hot Topic will consider whether we have over regulated the way we manage volunteer programs – that is have we lost something along the way.  Make sure you also join OZ-VPM’s discussion group on Yahoogroups.
 
* What’s the Buzz?
 
A selection of topics being heatedly discussed in some of the most active online discussion groups for managers of volunteer resources.
 
CyberVPM
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cybervpm/
Volunteer manuals, online referrals, whether to tell volunteers of a crime committed near the site, more on volunteer recognition.
 
ozvpm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ozvpm/
Job descriptions, the Adelaide Fringe Festival, refugee women volunteers, faith-based volunteering, more.
 
volunteerweb
http://www.dgroups.org/groups/VolunteerWeb/index.cfm?CookieTested=TRUE
Are there no volunteer opportunities for poor people?  More.
 
VOLUNTEER-ISSUES
http://CharityChannel.com
Follow-up discussion on awards and volunteers from article listed above for VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT REVIEW.
 

Do you  have a discussion group you’d like to share with other blog visitors?  Let us know at nan.hawthorne@verizon.net
 
* Now THAT’s Interesting!
 
Featuring items that speak to a higher level of thought on volunteer resources management.
 
The Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement
http://www.volunteer.ca/volcan/eng/content/can-code/can-code.php
 
Not only does the VolunteerCanada site has this extremely thoughtful overview of principles of volunteer management, they have an audit you can use to make sure you are on the straight and narrow.  You don’t have to be in Canada to benefit from looking to a higher standard.
 
* Great Finds  
 
FREE Training Designs by Betty Stallings
http://www.bettystallings.com/promo.htm
 
Get “Six Training Designs for Recruitment of Volunteers” as well as other free documents by well known trainer and all around cool person Betty Stallings.
 
Picture Me Volunteering!
http://www.volunteering.org.uk/imagebank/
 
VolunteeringEngland has an image bank of people volunteering that you can borrow.  I especially was pleased to find images of volunteers with disabilities.  Sometimes the best way to attract diversity is to display it.
 
* Previously Unknown Tools  
 
Britt Bravo’s Blog
http://www.netsquared.org/blog/britt-bravo
 
Britt has a blog on NetSqaured: Remixing the Web for Social Change – A Project of Tech Soup.  The current entry on Britt’s blog concerns the results of a poll on what Internet tools are potentially most  useful for nonprofit organizations.  Take a look to see if the tools you need made the grade.
 
MORE Background Checks
 
Mary Finley of the Volunteer Central of Greater Tulsa shares: “Through a partnership with Volunteer Central of Greater Tulsa and American Background Checks, nonprofit organizations can order criminal background information online for only $3 each.  A portion of this small fee is donated to Volunteer Central to help support the many services offered to local nonprofit agencies including our volunteer referral service.  For more information please visit our website at http://www.volunteercentral-tulsa.org . 
 
* What’s Going On?
 
Dallas/Fort Worth Area 
15th Annual VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE Friday March 3, 2006 9:00AM-4:00PM
at Celebration Fellowship 1140 Morrison Drive Fort Worth, TX 76120 (I30 and Cooks Lane)
Hosted By: Director’s of Volunteers of Dallas, Tarrant, and Denton Counties and The Volunteer Center of North Texas
For more information contact: Marilyn Hughes @817-412-5602 or Email mhughes@carterbloodcare.org   or 
after Feb. 1, check www.dadv.org  for a registration form.
 
Greater Seattle Area
“How You See Me:  Issues of Diversity in Volunteer Management”
Date:  Friday, March 3, 2006
Time:  8:30 am (registration) to 3:30 pm (the actual training goes from 9 pm to 3 pm). 
Morning Session: “Viewing the World from Our Own Cultural Lenses” – Colleen Almojeula
Afternoon Session: “Effective Applications of Diversity in Volunteer Programs” – Nan Hawthorne
Location: IslandWood – 4450 Blakely Avenue NE, Bainbridge Island, WA
Additional Information: – Terry Schroeder – 360-475-3571 – thes300@dshs.wa.gov  or Cynthia Wingren – 206-855-4340 – cyndiew@islandwood.org
 
Boston
Hands On Network in partnership with Boston Cares, is offering a FREE comprehensive Volunteer Leader Training Program, Friday, March 10 from 3 pm – 6 pm. This introductory course will help more than 500 individuals build, strengthen and polish their volunteer leadership skills. Taught by professionals who have built their careers on volunteer leadership training, it is open to all audiences and we will be specifically recruiting local Bostonians interested in the fundamentals of volunteer leadership and the Hands On Model. This certification program is FREE. Registration for the conference is not necessary in order to attend this workshop.  Estimated number of attendees:  500+  Location: Boston Sheraton
Follow this link to register:
http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=85459&RegTypeID=66385  
 
Everywhere, All the Time
Volunteer Recruitment That Actually Works
CharityUniversity
http://CharityChannel.com
An audio-visual training on effective recruitment of volunteers by Nan Hawthorne that you can download and share.
 
–
 
Visit Volunteer Resources Management Clearinghouse at https://vrmclearinghouse.wordpress.com  regularly to find updates and comment on content.
 
Until next time,
 
Nan Hawthorne
 Editor, Volunteer Resources Management Clearinghouse
Recognizing Volunteers: Right from the Starthttp://www.volunteertoday.com A training kit you can use for a fun, stimulating and effective workshop on how to build recognition into every aspect of volunteer resourcesmanagement.  Nan Hawthorne’s well-loved training kits. 

 

Introducing Some Categories for your Delectation

What’s in this Edition? 

• What’s New?      What are some of your favorite publications covering in their current issues?
• Great Finds       Useful tools from outside the industry.
• Previously unknown Tools       New to us.. maybe new to you too?
• What’s Going On?       Events you  may want to check out.

* What’s New? 

On VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT REVIEW

http://charitychannel.com/enewsletters/vmr/

January 11 – Blogging: A Primer for Volunteer Managers, by Joan Perry.  What are blogs and are volunteer resources managers using them?

January 4 – The Less Tangible Value Volunteers Bring to your Organization, by Nan Hawthorne.  However you calculate the hourly monetary value of volunteer work, there are other types of value they bring that money simply cannot buy.

On Volunteer Today

http://www.volunteertoday.com

Volunteer Today has monthly articles and news stories on Boards and Committees, Training, Recruiting and Retention, Government, Supervision of volunteers and more.  Here are just a few of the many articles you will find in this month’s issue.

In Recruiting and Retention – View of the Future—Issues for Volunteerism: Part Two.  Futurists predict trends in health care and other areas  that may affect your volunteer program.

In Training, Quick-Assessment of Training.  Three ways to tell if your volunteer training is working.

In Management and Supervision, a quick test you can take to see if you are cut out for Leading Volunteers.

You can also subscribe to their email updates for free.

On eVolunteerism

http://www.evolunteerism.com

eVolunteerism is a paid subscription publication with regular departments: Feature Articles, Point of View, Keyboard Roundtable, Research to Practice and more.  Here are just some of the offerings from the current issue.

How Much Is An Hour of Volunteer Time Worth? By Sarah Jane Rehnborg with Carolyn Barker and Mark Pocock 

The Power of Personal Connections, by Katherine H. Campbell 

A Review of “Volunteers in Action – Engaging Volunteers in the HIV/AIDS Sector”, by Steven Howlett

On OZ-VPM:

http://www.ozvpm.com/

Here’s to a truly inclusive New Year, by Andy Fryar.   Developing an awareness of the many differences in human experience.

On World Volunteer Web

http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/

The Current Highlight is “Is volunteering always about money? Who is a true volunteer?”  The discussion about  whether there are volunteer opportunities for the poor has spread to other discussions, such as CyberVPM’s (http://www.avaintl.org) spirited debate on whether formal volunteerism is a product of the middle class.

The Resource Center

http://nationalserviceresources.org/epicenter/index.php

Many of their articles and other offerings change weekly, so you might find something different when you get there.

In Effective Practices Collection,  Starting a new program.  Five steps for new program directors to establish a strong program.

Are there publications you would like an update on here at the VRM Clearinghouse?  Let us know at Nan.hawthorne@verizon.net .

* Great Finds  

Here we list some jewels found in unexpected places.

Free Management Library

http://www.managementhelp.org/

Developed by Carter McNamara, Authenticity Consulting, LLC, this huge resource offers links to authoritative materials on many aspects of nonprofit management including volunteer programs.

* Previously Unknown Tools  

Liability and the law:  State Liability Laws for Charitable Organizations and Volunteers   http://nonprofitrisk.org/pubs/PDFs/sll.pdf

The Nonprofit Risk Management Center offers this tool for nonprofit organizations as an Adobe Reader file.

Inclusive practices:  Helping Managers Understand Mental Health Problems  http://www.conferenceboard.ca/boardwiseii/signin.asp

Register for free on the Conference Board of Canada’s  e-Library for information to help you address concerns about working with mentally ill volunteers.

Background screening:  Blake Lightholder shared the following information with us about his company:

VolunteerCheck. works with volunteer and nonprofit groups to provide risk management by checking the backgrounds of their staff and volunteers.  We are a for-profit company, but we do offer reduced rates to volunteer groups.  You can find more information on the kinds of searches we provide at www.volunteercheck.com .

We also have another site that we offer as a free resource called www.ResumeFraud.com .  This site was created by the pre-employment screening arm of our business and has a number of tools that might be helpful for nonprofit managers who are interviewing for paid positions.

* What’s Going On?

Starting with our next issue we will provide information on conferences and other events of interest.  Make sure yours is mentioned by writing to Nan.hawthorne@verizon.net .

Visit Volunteer Resources Management Clearinghouse at https://vrmclearinghouse.wordpress.com regularly to find updates and comment on content.

Until next time,

Nan Hawthorne,  Editor, Volunteer Resources Management Clearinghouse

Don’t forget to check out VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT REVIEW at http://CharityChannel.com/enewsletters/vmr for weekly articles on managing volunteer resources!

(c) 2006 Nan Hawthorne

Next Steps for VRM Clearinghouse

Thanks to those who have left comments and also sent me messages expressing enthusiasm for this blog!

Next Steps/Plan

Your comments actually will help me get started on the contents of this blog.  I want to structure it around the major sites for Volunteer Resources Managers (VRMs) and what their latest articles and other tools are.  I will be writing to a number of them today for permission, etc.  What I hope to accomplish with this is to help VRMs keep track of all the material on our profession that is out there.  I remember when the only sites on VRM were my CyberVPM website and list and some great articles on the topic at CASANet.  I was thrilled when the resource I love so much, the Internet, was picked up and used, as I knew it could.

I am still developing ideas for VRM Clearinghouse and will soon announce the sections I hope to have in each update.  There will not be original articles. I will save that for VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT REVIEW  which you can find a link to on the right of this page.  My plan, as earlier stated, is to cover what sorts of new material is out there on the web, etc.  I would love to do book reviews but as I am severely visually impaired, I cannot do that in a timely fashion. But I certainly want to hear about reviews published elsewhere, of books, training, software, web sites, you name it.

 I am a skilled self-promoter, balanced by the larger proportion of what I do being given rather than sold — so I will keep you apprised of course of my own doings in the field.  But that is not the primary purpose. Bringing it all together in one place is.  Hope that works for you. 

~ Nan Hawthorne

You Asked For It

In this section, I will address specific requests for information or tools on a space available basis.

Communicating the Value of Volunteers

There are so many ways and terms for calculating this value.   

Perhaps the best single resource for making the Powers That Be in your organization get how valuable volunteers, and even more to the point, a well-managed volunteer resources program, is Susan J. Ellis’s extremely fine book, FROM THE TOP DOWN: THE EXECUTIVE ROLE IN VOLUNTEER SUCCESS.  You can get it at virtually any bookstore, but why not get it at Susan’s own site, Energize!?  Susan herself describes the book thus:

The first and only book that addresses the top decision-maker’s role in a volunteer program. It illuminates the issues necessary to facilitate volunteer program success, including developing a vision for volunteer involvement, addressing questions of policy, budgeting funds and other resources, staffing the volunteer program, assessing the impact of volunteer contributions, and dealing with legal, risk management, and insurance issues. Also includes the revised FASB regulations on accounting practices regarding donated time are explained.

Some other articles and tools you might consider:

In VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT RECIEW: 

The Case for Hiring a Manager of Volunteers by Nan Hawthorne

Cashing In on Your Volunteer Program by Michael Lee Stills

What Makes a Good Manager of Volunteers? By Nan Hawthorne

Out on the web:

If you Google “calculate value volunteer” you find many terrific articles on this topic.

Exploring the value of volunteering from the Merrill Associates site offers a nice synopsis of the issue in two parts.

Dollar Value of Volunteer Time (USA) on the International Association for Volunteer Administration does as well.

The economic equation of volunteering from the UK’s Joseph Roundtree Foundation looks at the value/cost equation, which can be helpful when justifying a volunteer resources program.

But when calculating value, there are so many more assets volunteers provide other than labor.  For more on this take a look at these sites:

Value of a Volunteer Hour?  Hands On Orlando.

While writing this I actually went looking online to find an article I thought I wrote on how value involves things like impact on community relations, access to talent and tools, the value of volunteer donations, and much more… it is out there somewhere.  As I looked, though, I ran into literally dozens of useful sites and articles.  I hope you will share your favorites with us by leaving a comment.  (See below.)

Until next time, then.

If you are receiving this by email from a colleague, visit https://vrmclearinghouse.wordpress.com/ for more like this.

Welcome to a new VRM blog!

The Volunteer Resources Management Clearinghouse is a brand new tool for professionals to find and share tools to improve program management.

No matter where you are or in what capacity you work with volunteer resources, you are invited to visit us and to share tools you use with us.  Make sure you look through our archives in the future to make sure you don’t miss a single tool.

The Volunteer Resources Management Clearinghouse is brought to you by nanhawthorne.com. 

Cordially,

 Nan Hawthorne