Education through Celebration on International Volunteer Managers Day

November 5th is International Volunteer Managers Day (IVMDay). Although still not widely known, IVMDay has grown remarkably since it was started by one American back in 1999. The international steering committee, chaired by Australian colleague, Andy Fryar, has worked hard to build an attractive and useful Web site and to encourage a wide array of organizations to sign on to its mission. Check out the many planned activities already posted, as well as the free posters, banners and thank-you notes you can download to pass the celebration forward. The illustration below is the ready-to-send card Energize has contributed to the festivities.

IVMDay acknowledges that volunteers are active everywhere on the planet, but that “volunteering does not succeed in a vacuum.” Therefore:

It is important to let those professionals know that the spirit of volunteerism is enhanced and enabled by them – and to thank them…Just as important is the opportunity to educate others about this important work, which is why we encourage the catch phrase “Education through Celebration” when we acknowledge IVMDay each year.

Most professions do not expect or need a special day of recognition – why do we? Because we are still largely invisible to everyone except the volunteers we lead. I personally do not think of IVMDay as a “holiday” and, while recognition of my colleagues is well deserved, hope that someday it will no longer be necessary to make a big deal out of November 5. To me, IVMDay is indeed education through celebration – an opportunity (or an excuse, if you will) to get others to pay attention to what it takes to coordinate volunteers effectively.

Education Challenge #1: Decision Makers and Those Who Educate Them

Regular readers of these Hot Topics know that one of my recurring themes is getting executive or senior management to understand the incredible potential of volunteers and then, by extension, the importance of placing a great staff member into the volunteer resources manager (VRM) position. We all continue to tilt at this windmill and IVMDay gives us a chance to highlight the issues, with the backup of an international movement.

IVMDay is also a good time to advocate for volunteer management as a legitimate subject in the curricula of relevant professional academic degrees. Only a tiny percentage of universities offer a few hours of teaching about volunteers, let alone an entire course. Here’s a great (or sad) example. A few miles away from my office sits the University of Pennsylvania, which just announced a brand new “Masters of Science in Nonprofit Leadership” program. A search on its long core program Web page produces 0 results for the word “volunteer” (although there is one reference to “paid and unpaid” labor), 2 results for the word “board” (under governance and not modified by the terms volunteer or unpaid), but 6 mentions of “funds” or “fundraising.” Yet another source of highly educated executives, credentialed by an Ivy League school, unaware of what they do not know about a set of supporters vital to their organizations – or the skills needed to engage them.

Education Challenge #2: Leaders of Volunteers Themselves

A unique professional challenge is identifying fellow colleagues. Who else does this work and what do we call ourselves? Consider:

1. The vast majority of people who have been designated as VRMs neither see themselves nor want to be part of the profession of volunteer management. Working with volunteers is only one part of their job, added on to a long list of other, more valued, responsibilities. Ask these folks what their job (or profession) is, and you’ll hear social worker, probation officer, activities director, teacher, curator, park ranger – certainly not “volunteer resources manager.” How does anyone, therefore, identify or even count the full range of people in our field?
2. Even colleagues in full-time VRM positions do not necessarily feel committed to volunteer management for the long term, as a career. It is often seen as a stepping stone to other, more desired, and more high-level jobs.
3. Huge numbers of people whose daily work centers on effective volunteer engagement never see their connection to a field of volunteer leadership. This includes clergy of all faiths, institutional chaplains, political campaign managers, youth sports organizers, alumni association staff, most fundraisers, and more.
4. Volunteering is so much larger than the activities of volunteer-involving organizations. While there are thousands of all-volunteer associations active in communities around the world, rarely do we (paid VRMs) reach out to the presidents and officers of these groups, even though they must be skilled at most of the volunteer management functions we perform in agencies. Conversely, volunteers who lead other volunteers are frequently the least aware of training and resources that could help them be successful in their voluntary role.

Might IVMDay be an occasion to identify, find, and invite all of our colleagues to come together? I put this challenge to all DOVIAs and other professional networks of VRMs, and to volunteer centers and all peak bodies in the volunteer field. How can anyone else give us recognition when we can’t even communicate together?

Education Challenge #3: Each of Us Individually

Here are some ways I think each of us can act in the spirit of IVMDay. Please add your own ideas so we all can benefit:

1. Think about your own attitude toward volunteer management. Is it your
   • Career?
   • Profession?
   • Current job?
   • A sideline?
   • A hobby?
   • A volunteer activity?
   • Something else?
2. Does your title reflect your connection to volunteerism? Should it? Can you suggest/ask your organization for a clearer title?
3. Are you active in a local network of VRMs? (Not sure if there is one? Try the list at http://www.energizeinc.com/prof/dovia.html.) Should you invite a few colleagues to lunch and start one?
4. Has your local VRM network made an attempt to recruit volunteers who are officers of all-volunteer groups as members? How about inviting them to even one meeting of mutual interest? (Note: It might have to be at night or on the weekend, since volunteers are likely working at unrelated paying jobs during weekdays.)
5. Send a thank-you note to any one you know who works with volunteers, whether or not they self-identify as being “in” volunteer management. Remember you can use the IVMDay resources.
6. Write a pointed note to any college or university (like the University of Pennsylvania above) that offers a degree or certificate in nonprofit management, public administration, arts management, or any other program that should teach about volunteer involvement but does not.

Now, what are your ideas for what one person can do to celebrate IVMDay?

And thank YOU for all you do, every day, to support volunteers in giving their best service to so many different causes and missions. You make it look like magic!