Articles by CharityChannel Members
CharityChannel members who have years of experience in their field may apply to join a Contributor's Panel. Once accepted to a panel by the panel's editor, the member will work with the editor to determine article topics and to prepare an article that is ready for publication. With tens of thousands of colleagues in the CharityChannel professional community, this is a key opportunity to give back to your profession by sharing your hard-won expertise and wisdom.
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Volunteer Management Review Turns Three Contributed by:
Michael StillsWednesday, November 12, 2003 (9 years 186 days ago)
Beginning this month, Volunteer Management Reviewstarts it third year of publication. Launched, Nov 7th, 2001, VMR is working hard to provide you with the best information on leading 21st century volunteers. Written by professionals and practitioners with years of experience leading volunteers, readers receive real world advice and well-researched information on best practices in our field.
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Get Connected: Dial Up Your DOVIA Contributed by:
Michael StillsWednesday, June 04, 2003 (9 years 347 days ago)
Rarely does a month go by that I don't get a few requests from new Leaders of Volunteers (LOVs) asking for advice to on managing their volunteer program. Many have just recently discovered Volunteer Management Review ? as a source of helpful information. After speaking in front of a group of LOVs, I often hear from new LOV's who are excited to have found someone who understands their situation. I have had this experience so many times that I can usually tell what someone is going to say before they get the words out. It is usually something like, " I never knew anyone else understood my situation" or "I never knew there were so many resources on leading volunteers." Unfortunately, most of those requesting assistance often do not have the resources to pay for professional help or have yet to discover how professional help may well be worth purchasing. Thus, like many of today's LOVs, they must rely upon the good will and charity of experienced leaders to guide them in the right direction. Fortunately for new LOV's there are DOVIA's (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies.)
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Vol-Mart: Shopping for Organizational Success Contributed by:
Michael StillsWednesday, May 21, 2003 (9 years 361 days ago)
Are you happy with your organization's efforts in fulfilling its mission?
If not, you may be buying the wrong brand of volunteer involvement. Unfortunately, many organizations approach volunteer involvement as if they were obtaining bulk quantities of volunteers at the super store. Overwhelmed by the seemingly low prices, they buy too much. Without thinking through your purchases, you waste time and money and end up with a lot of useless stuff. The trick is understanding how volunteers benefit your organization and then involving the right volunteers to meet your needs. By becoming a professional shopper in the field of Volunteer Administration, you can purchase quality volunteers that successfully impact your organization. The professional Leader of Volunteers (LOV) asks the question, "what do volunteers offer our organization?"
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Retiring With Dignity: Volunteer Emeritus Programs Contributed by:
Michael StillsWednesday, May 14, 2003 (10 years 3 days ago)
With the Baby Boomers heading toward retirement, the number of volunteer programs dealing with issues of aging volunteers is increasing. One of the challenges will be to "retire" once magnificent performers who are now demonstrating diminished physical and/or mental capabilities. Tempted as we may be to "dump them and run" our challenge will be to transition them with dignity and grace while recognizing the benefits of their contributions. One part of the solution may be in the creation of a Volunteer Emeritus program.
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Volunteers 'A La Carte' Contributed by:
Michael StillsWednesday, May 07, 2003 (10 years 10 days ago)
In the 2003 April-June issue of eVolunteerism(tm), Steve McCurley and Susan Ellis ask the question, "Are We Using the Wrong Model for Volunteer Work?"
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Discover Your Power: Get a LOVA Contributed by:
Michael StillsThursday, May 01, 2003 (10 years 16 days ago)
I have met many LOV's (Leaders of Volunteers - notice it expresses a popular sentiment and spelled backwards is VOL (short for volunteer), I'll take credit for that). As I am sure most of you would agree, LOV's are some of the most overworked, under appreciated, failed to be effectively engaged, rarely recognized magicians of their workplace. How many times have you said, "Oh if they only knew what I do?!" When I hear you say this, I respond, "LOV...if you only knew the power you have...get a LOVA!"
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Volunteer: Still A Rose by Any Other Name Contributed by:
Michael StillsWednesday, April 23, 2003 (10 years 24 days ago)
As National Volunteer Recognition Week approaches, hundreds of organizations will be hosting extravaganzas to recognize the contributions individuals are making to civil society as volunteers. Each organization, indeed, each individual recognizing their volunteers will have their own definition of Volunteer.
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Building a Volunteer Management Legacy Contributed by:
Michael StillsWednesday, April 16, 2003 (10 years 31 days ago)
We have all heard the expression, "leave it better than you found it." Unfortunately for the incoming leader of volunteers, we often can not find useful evidence amid what was left.
As a leader of volunteers, your job is to balance your volunteer's needs against the needs of your organization. This central fact is the source of much consternation in our field. Many would-be Managers of Volunteers find these often-competing interests too stressful to effectively manage and move on to other endeavors. Much of the work they have accomplished usually goes out the door with them. Unlike the would-be Manager of Volunteers, you enjoy this challenge. But what would happen if you suddenly left the program?
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Does Employment Law Affect Your Volunteer Program? Contributed by:
Michael StillsWednesday, November 13, 2002 (10 years 185 days ago)
It has become popular to refer to volunteers as "unpaid staff." More and more, organizations are recognizing that the effective involvement of volunteers requires good management and the inclusion of volunteers in the operations of the organization as if they were paid staff. But did you know that the laws that affect your paid staff might also affect your volunteer staff? In some cases, volunteers may actually be seen as employees in the eyes of the law.
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Volunteer Management Review Celebrates One-Year Anniversary Contributed by:
Michael StillsWednesday, October 02, 2002 (10 years 227 days ago)
Next month Volunteer Management Review will celebrate its one-year anniversary. Inaugurated under the editorial leadership of Nan Hawthorne, CharityChannel launched VMR on Nov 7th, 2001 with the desire to provide you with the best information on the professional practice of leading 21st century volunteers.
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Cashing In on Your Volunteer Program Contributed by:
Michael StillsWednesday, February 27, 2002 (11 years 79 days ago)
There is a new gold rush today in modern mining. Technology has enabled today's miners to extract gold from once-abandoned mines, and they are generating a profit in the process. Like the gold miners of today, there is gold to be found in under-utilized volunteer programs for those who know how to look.
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