Hot Topics

Responses to: Universal Standards vs. Your Own Situation

Submitted on 13Nov2003 anonymously
How to get information about other volunteer programs: I've been in volunteer management for 8 years now, and maintain good relationships with other volunteer managers through a professional organization, Volunteer Coordinators Council.  No one "owns" an agenda and everyone is willing to share, so if I need a piece of information or find something puzzling, I simply call a colleague and ask.  Most people feel flattered and the information is forthcoming.

Submitted on 7Oct2003 by Cheryl Morehouse, Volunteer Manager, Creighton University Medical Center, Nebraska, USA

In answer to Susan's questions: What questions have you been asked by your boss (or the media or anyone else) that you are expected to answer with "standard volunteer" information?

Recently I had been asked by my boss to provide information about attrition of volunteers. We have a high degree of turnover, simply because a large number of our volunteers are students, and our minimum commitment is one semester. So short-term, episodic volunteering is a big part of the normal process at our facility.  However, the actual percentage of volunteers leaving for reasons that we could effect is very small.

In answer to: What "comparative data" have you found valuable or not, and why? How do you get information about what other volunteer programs do and how do you put it to use?

I am fortunate to have a fabulous peer group of ladies from other local hospitals that I meet with on a monthly basis.  Even in between our meetings, if one of us is in a bind, and/or needs some on-the-spot input, advice, or direction on how to handle certain situations, we email each other and are very quick to come to each other's aid. They are a tremendous resource, source of support, and I value them all as priceless treasures personally and professionally.

Submitted on 7Oct2003 by Aimee Hepler, Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator, South Dakota
Library volunteers are extremely and surprisingly varied. When I receive an application I take some time to review volunteer positions that are available and try to match the personality with the application. When I interview I often find out that the positions I suggest don't match the individuals goals. You can't tell a book by its cover! Trying to stereotype volunteers just doesn't work.

Overall  we have a varied age group of volunteers, however the hardest demography to tap are those with full time jobs. We offer special projects or single time commitments to those individuals that we capture in this area. Better yet getting them involved with the Friends group. There is something for everyone.

Submitted on 06Oct2003 by Rob Kantenwein, Assistant to the Director, Princeton, New Jersey
Great analysis!  I have always been wary of using the IS's "Value of a Volunteer Hour" figure in any funding proposal I have prepared.  I have read the logic that they use to arrive at that number, but a one-size-fits-all value has very little meaning.

I also realize that just because a survey finds that 44% of Americans volunteer that does not mean that 44% of New Jerseyans volunteer.  I have seen some organizations extrapolate data from a national study/survey for their own needs locally.  The only way to capture locally relevant data is to collect it locally through a local study.

Submitted on 2Oct2003 by Andy Fryar, Director, www.ozvpm.com, Australia

I have to say my favorite question that I am expected to have a standard answer to is "Why are so few people wanting to volunteer these days?" or "Why is it so hard to find 'good' volunteers?" - in spite of the fact that statistics (at least here in Australia) show more people are volunteering than ever before!

A good example that I found recently was when my local newspaper (I live in a regional city) had a full page feature about how "so few young people are attracted to volunteering" - and yet the article referred only to very traditional volunteer groups and was surrounded by pictures of 70 + year old female volunteers.

...and they wonder why young people aren't attracted and why I don't have a standard answer! Yikes!

Great hot topic as always Susan

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