Profession/Field of Volunteer Administration

Passion, Not Mimicry

The disappointment began with a simple question: What are the significant issues facing volunteer managers today? And when the answers mimicked the exact same responses from 10 years before, volunteer management expert and Points of View co-author Rob Jackson’s heart sank: The profession of volunteer management hadn’t progressed at all over the last decade.

That was in 2007. Now, as Jackson and co-author Susan J. Ellis write, “it seems as if our profession is still stuck at the same stage of development. How are we ever going to succeed if we cannot collectively overcome the challenges that continue to dog us in our field?”

In this Points of View, Jackson and Ellis suggest a simple path toward change: Steer clear of the choice to mimic what others are doing and instead develop and follow a passion for volunteer management work by refocusing on its purpose and promise.

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Mistakes and Failures Are Our Greatest Teachers: Do We Make the Most of Them?

Volunteer engagement certainly encounters its fair share of mistakes and failures, which is part of life. But think about it: When was the last time you went to a conference workshop that focused on how someone failed? Don’t we most often focus instead on the successes we've had?

In this Points of View, Rob Jackson and Susan J. Ellis argue that while no one likes to admit – or recall – such uncomfortable experiences, we should learn from them and be willing to share the experiences of mistakes and failures with others. Activities without risk may seem safe, they point out, but “are actually dormant. Worse, they may no longer be helpful to your mission, which means that you are asking volunteers to waste their time.”

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The Professional Responsibility to Have and Share Opinions

Just recently, Rob had one of those conversations that sparked a long chain of thought. A colleague expressed the wish that professional associations for volunteer resource managers would ‘accredit’ volunteer management training in some formal way. The associations would vet and list ‘approved’ training providers so that their members would then be confident of hiring trainers who would deliver excellent learning experiences.

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Bridging the Divide Between Volunteer Management and Community Organizing

A community organizer is usually a social agitator who wants to build grassroots power. While a volunteer manager may be working toward social justice, the primary goal of this position is usually tied to a pre-determined objective, like service delivery or broader organizational support like fundraising. In practice, the roles often overlap. Both require a high level of interpersonal skills, insight into what motivates people, and the leadership to get those people to act in ways that benefit the community.

In this e-Volunteerism feature, author Aimee Inglis discusses the often fine line between the two fields and the tension this creates in the volunteer community. Inglis explains that “as a volunteer manager who is also trained in community organizing — and currently working at a nonprofit that organizes for social and economic justice and tenants’ rights — I have felt the line blur between the two fields. I have also felt the tension as both fields professionalize and learn the same lessons in silos where they would be stronger sharing notes.”

Inglis builds on her personal experiences as she examines not only the history of community organizing but also how community organizing and volunteer engagement have become part of the profession. Inglis also proposes ways for volunteer managers to bridge what she calls the unnecessary divide between these fields.

 

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The Evolution of International Volunteer Managers Day

On November 5, 2014, for the 15th consecutive year, volunteer management professionals around the world will celebrate International Volunteer Managers Day (IVMDay). This global event acknowledges the people who lead volunteers, salutes them for their essential role in creating dynamic volunteer opportunities, and works to raise the profile of the volunteer management profession. While still evolving, IVMDay is growing in visibility, with more and more celebrations taking place in many countries.

But just how did it all begin? What mechanisms have kept the show rolling for 15 years? And just what might the future hold?

Join e-Volunteerism's Andy Fryar and members of the International Volunteer Managers Day Committee as they present and review the evolution of this important annual event.

 

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Reflections and Recollections: A Quarter Century in Australia's Volunteer World

Intrepid Australian volunteer and traveler Louise Rogers writes:

Don’t you love travelling? The preparation…the journey…the reflections…the recollections…and ah!...the experiences to be had?

I’ve had an amazing journey over the past 25 years, working in the voluntary sector in Australia and, in particular, the field of educating those who work with and lead volunteer effort. I’ve travelled through this time with many colleagues and friends, accumulating some wonderful experiences and being part of incredible changes in the volunteer world in Australia.

Now in the first flush of retirement, I have the opportunity, indeed the privilege, to reflect on those adventures – the challenges, the achievements, and the lessons learned along the way. As I look back, the landscape is barely recognizable. Like every other area of our lives, volunteerism is responding and adapting to rapid social, cultural, and economic changes.

Join Rogers in this special e-Volunteerism feature as she reflects on a quarter century in the volunteer world. You may find yourself nodding and smiling in recognition.

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The Challenges in Educating Senior Managers

A central issue in the volunteer field has long been the lack of true support for volunteers (and of our professional roles) by organization executives. Oh, there’s been lots of lip service with lavish praise along the lines of “volunteers are the heart of our services.” But the saccharine compliments rarely come with strategic planning to assure that volunteers have the greatest impact possible and rarely present with enough resources to provide all the necessary tools and training.

It’s not as if no one has tried to “educate up.” Many books, articles, blogs, and conference presentations have laid out the arguments very well. So what is stopping them from being heard? In this Points of View, the ever-contemplative Rob Jackson and Susan J. Ellis share their individual perspectives on this question. They conclude with some proposals for action and, as always, invite you to contribute to the discussion.

 

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Isolation Is Not an Option

Connecting with colleagues in volunteer management is essential for the profession and for each of us as individuals. No one argues this point. But are we as a field effectively networking and collaborating with the tools available to us today?

Despite enormous technological progress in global communication, many volunteer resources managers express continuing feelings of isolation in their work. In a world where everyone automatically goes online for movie show times or restaurant reviews, why do so few of our colleagues think of Googling “volunteer management” to connect professionally? What can we – the wired editors and readers of this journal – do to change the situation? In this Points of View, Susan J. Ellis and Rob Jackson review the options. 

 

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Engage: The global voice of leaders of volunteer engagement
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