Something New Every Month,
Rotating Between Three "Knowledge Areas"

Each month a new Featured Topic will be highlighted on the Main Page, rotating among the three "Knowledge Areas" shown below.  Each Featured Topic will be presented with a set of online resources that can include online seminar modules, self-teaching guides, audio interviews, checklists, and more.

Below are sample lists of the topics under consideration.  Final selection will be made with the input of Charter Members as The Corporate Track moves forward.

 

A Growing Archive

Each time a new Featured Topic is posted, the previous month's resources will be moved to an archive to create a growing library of practical how-to materials accessible to your learners for as long as you remain a member of Everyone Ready

The Volunteering World

Resources about the " industry" of volunteerism, of which workplace volunteer programs are a part.

Topics under consideration:

  • Introduction to the nonprofit/government world in which company employees will volunteer
  • Trends, philosophy, structure of volunteering in The United States and around the world (including corporate volunteering)
  • Cross-sector differences (businesses, nonprofits, and government units)
  • Demographics and statistics
  • Social and economic factors influencing who volunteers, why and how they serve

Workplace Volunteering Strategy

Help in developing and managing a best-practice workplace volunteer program, company-wide, and at key sites.

Topics under consideration:

  • Setting goals and objectives for the company’s volunteer efforts – which model of program is right for you?
  • Budgeting and resource allocation
  • The tie-in to marketing, publicity, image, employee benefits, company philanthropy, etc.
  • Gaining executive support
  • Key questions to answer in designing your WVP
  • Translating corporate strategy to the local level
  • Selecting causes and projects to support
  • Risk management strategies
  • Building relationships with a community project sponsor/host
  • Developing a company-wide volunteer recognition plan
  • Recordkeeping and reporting on community service
  • Finding and supporting volunteer leaders
  • Measuring impact

 

Project Leadership

For the person on the frontline who is organizing and leading an on-the-ground volunteer project. 

Topics under consideration:

  • The role of a project leader
  • Selecting the right project
  • Working with the host community organization
  • Designing the work volunteers will do
  • Recruiting employee volunteers
  • Screening and selecting volunteers – matching to roles
  • Orienting and preparing employees to volunteer
  • Coordinating and supervising
  • Communication for ongoing motivation
  • Limiting risks and preventing accidents
  • Measuring impact
  • Recognition
  • Special issues involved in running a one-day service event
  • Following up after a project is done
The set of resources developed for each topic will include materials such as:

Online Seminar Modules

Brief Flash® media presentations outlining a specific topic, including electronic handouts, created by experts in the field.

Self-Teaching Guides

Short packets of written information and exercises learners can do at their desks.  There will also be the option of listening to each Guide with a downloadable audio (MP3) version.        

Best Practices/Model Programs

We will provide a variety of information on what other companies around the world do with their employee volunteer programs.  This will include brief audio interviews, sharing of sample materials, and other items to encourage your creativity and possibly foster collaboration.

Checklists and Other Tools

Concise carry-away materials that reinforce and support the Featured Topics so that project leaders can remind themselves of the key points they have learned.  These will be in the form of checklists, sample forms, worksheets, and similar tools.

In addition, the following resources are available to your network all the time:

Discussion Board with an Expert Trainer/Consultant

Each month the expert trainer who has created the new Featured Topic resource will be available to answer questions via a Discussion Board on the Main Page.  This means all your learners have access 365 days a year to individualized attention.  The Discussion Board is shared among all Everyone Ready – The Corporate Track members so an added benefit is that your employees learn from the experiences of counterparts in other companies, too.

e-Volunteerism Journal Articles

Now in its 9th year and with an international perspective, e-Volunteerism:  The Electronic Journal of the Volunteer Community, is fully accessible to your entire company through Everyone Ready.  Articles relevant to the Featured Topic will be highlighted each month on the Main Page to guide your learners to items of special interest. This resource, including the archive of past issues, will be immediately and fully available at The Corporate Track’s launch.

Energize Online Bookstore

Each employee has a year-round 20% discount on any title purchased individually in the bookstore (instructions will be provided on the Main Page).  Books relevant to the Featured Topic will be highlighted monthly.

 

Energize, Inc. and VISTAS Volunteer Management Solutions Web Sites

While both of these Web sites are public, they offer well over 1500 pages of resources on all aspects of volunteer management and corporate volunteerism.  Each month, therefore, links will be provided on the Main Page to match the Featured Topic to give your learners a head start in finding more materials on the topic.