00:22, 28 December 2005
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Wired.com has a story about a new online volunteering initiative, called LibriVox. Like Project Gutenberg, LibriVox employs volunteers from around the globe to participate in recording works. Each book is divided up into chapters, and each person records one chapter, which usually ends up being about 20 or 30 minutes of audio. Many of the volunteers don't have or need a background in audio production, nor do they have professional recording equipment. Mark Bradford, one of the team leaders that coordinates the reading of an entire book, says that while he does have high-tech audio gear, that usually doesn't matter. "The important part is the enthusiasm and what they bring to the work," he said. "If there's a buzzing in the background, we can ignore that. The essence is the words and how they're delivered by the volunteer."
07:20, 24 December 2005
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PC World, via YahooNews, has presented a list of Tech Winners and Losers of 2005, by Dan Tynan. I thought this particular winner/loser set was interesting, relating to both volunteerism, accessibility and customer service: (please note that the comments are Dan Tynan's, NOT mine):
WINNER: The Survival Blog of New Orleans
Operating from the offices of Web host DirectNIC in downtown New Orleans, the Interdictor blog kept posting during the worst of Hurricane Katrina, powered by a 750-kilowatt diesel generator and a fiber-optic hookup. Blogger Michael Barnett and his colleagues slept in the air-conditioned room where they kept the servers, and blogged throughout the crisis. The Interdictor's live Webcam offered some of the first images of the city following the disaster, and the blog has continued to cover the region's recovery and rebuilding.
LOSER: The FEMA Web site
Though it hardly counts as the worst of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's transgressions during Katrina, the FEMA site where displaced people could apply for federal aid worked only with Internet Explorer and JavaScript. Relief workers using donated computers were forced to use the notoriously insecure browser to enter hurricane victims' personal information. Seems like everybody at FEMA was doing one heckava job. Read the entire list of Tech Winners and Losers of 2005
06:27, 22 December 2005
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Not All Grants Are Created Equal: Why Nonprofits Need General Operating Support From Foundations (31 pages, PDF), published by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, explores the ongoing debate about whether foundations should provide operating support to pay indirect expenses such as rent or mortgage, salaries, and office supplies, which are needed to deliver on the projects. The report details reasons foundation officials are reluctant to provide general operating support grants; describes foundations that champion these grants; and cites the challenges involved in receiving — and in giving — core support.
09:49, 13 December 2005
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The "North-American Computer Refurbishers Summit" will be held January 9-10 in San Francisco, California (USA). People interested in computer repair, refurbishing, and recycling are encouraged to attend this event, sponsored by TechSoup, Computers & Education "Computer Recycling Center" (CRC), and Computers for Schools Chicago. The conference will focus on creating standards for noncommercial and commercial refurbishing programs. "The standards we hope to finalize will address crucial elements, such as warranty, fail rate, end-of-life disposal, export, and data removal for refurbished computers." complete conference and registration information available online.
23:31, 5 December 2005
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Jacob Komar, 13, said he was nine years old and puzzled after hearing his sister's school was throwing out dozens of old computers. The computer whiz knew he could recycle many of them for use by poor kids. Komar -- did I mention he was 9 at the time? -- rebuilt the computers himself and developed training manuals. He now is founder of a group, Computers for Communities, which takes outdated computers from businesses and fixes them up. His group has redistributed more than 1,000 to needy families in Idaho, Texas and Colorado. "You don't need to have a genius IQ to set this all up, just the will to do it," Komar said. Komar was honored recently by the nonprofit Caring Hall of Fame, founded by Val Halamandaris, who was inspired by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. It inducted its first class of honorees in 1989.
02:36, 11 November 2005
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Susan Ellis of Energize, Inc. has a monthly "hot topic" relating to volunteerism, and it's always something interesting, though-provoking and helpful. Past topics of the "blog" have included "Volunteers Just Want to Have Fun," "Save a Life, Win a Car! When Do Incentives to Volunteer Cross the Line?" and "Chicken or Egg: Why Are Our Professional Associations Weak?" Also, Mary Merrill, another international volunteerism expert, has a Topic of the Month, which covers essentials in various aspects of volunteer management and emerging trends. If you work with volunteers, consider both of these blogs as mandatory readings.
11:27, 6 November 2005
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At a recent conference on development research (development as in community, human, institutional) in Bonn, Germany, I signed up for every free sample of journal that was available (I love free stuff). As a result, earlier this week, the Winter 2004 edition of Nationalism and Ethnic Politics arrived in my mailbox, and I've found its first article in issue #4 completely riveting: "Mobilizing the Past: Nationalist Images of History" by John Coakley examines the mechanisms by which myths of history are created and disseminated -- myths of origin, of development, and of destiny. This article offers terrific examples of how various communities and states around the world perceive their past, and how politicians and others work to manipulate interpretations of history in order to, thereby, manipulate people. To work with communities successfully anywhere means, at least in part, to understand how their members see their identity as a people -- even if that identity is based in myth. This is especially true for working with communities in conflict.
05:02, 3 November 2005
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For my final project to complete my MSc in Development Management, I investigated the non-artistic elements that are necessary for success in theater (live, in-person performance) as a tool for development (to educate local people about HIV/AIDS, to encourage more sanitary practices regarding water use among children, to increase awareness about domestic violence, etc.). The project is now COMPLETE, and I am not seeking additional information. You can view more about the investigation, including resources I used and profiles of initiatives that were included in the investigation, on this special section of my web site.
04:09, 1 November 2005
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Here is a phrase I think I could live the rest of my life without reading or hearing again: "A new web site has been launched to match non-profit organizations and volunteers." I think I've read or heard this phrase 20 times in the last 10 years. If the phrase applied to a country other than those in North America, the United Kingdom, or to Australia, maybe I would be impressed. If it served a country in Africa or the Middle East, I would be QUITE impressed. But, unfortunately, new volunteer matching services keep being launched to serve the same countries, usually the United States, and offer nothing new. The new sites crowd a field of already-existing volunteer matching sites, most of which are underutilized by volunteer hosting organizations. Please, no more volunteer matching sites for North America. There are plenty. In fact, in my opinion, there are too many. If you insist on launching such a site, I offer this advice.
04:35, 26 October 2005
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The Sanchez Elementary School Online Mentoring Program involved online volunteers all over the USA (and one outside the USA) mentoring students in two classes at Sanchez Elementary School in Austin, Texas, as part of the Virtual Volunteering Project. This model program is over, but the materials have been archived, sans mentor and student information and interactive functionality, to help others, particularly schools, to develop their own online mentoring programs. It includes all material used to train volunteers to participate in this program (something that is lacking in many other online mentoring programs).
06:01, 23 October 2005
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This month's "Resource Alert" by the Corporation for National & Community Service features a new an article about online volunteering by yours truly. "Resource Alert" is a publication of The Resource Center, "Tools and Training for Volunteer and Service Programs," which features a huge range of free resources for anyone who works with volunteers (not just in CNS programs). My online volunteering article links to many other resources prepared for CNS relating to using the Internet with volunteers.
23:57, 17 October 2005
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On TechSoup's Volunteers and Technology Online Forum, the "hot" topic lately has been how volunteers can use computer hardware, software, and other networking technologies to help in disaster relief efforts. If you are a tech volunteer interested in helping in situations like Hurricane Katrina or the Earthquake in Pakistan, or you want to see how tech volunteers contribute to such efforts, or if you are just interested, in general, in "tech" volunteering, visit the TechSoup forum (moderated by... me).
02:19, 15 September 2005
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There are lots of obstacles that can stand in the way of human, community and institutional development, as well as relief efforts, but there is one obstacle that rarely gets discussed: widespread misunderstanding. Folklore, rumors and urban myths often interfere with relief and development activities -- even bringing such to a grinding halt. They create ongoing misunderstandings among cultures, prevent people from seeking help, encourage people to engage in unhealthy and even dangerous practices, and have lead to mobs of people attacking someone from no other reason that something they heard from a friend of a friend of a friend. I'm collecting examples of this, and recommendations for how to prevent or address such.
02:12, 15 September 2005
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Volunteer Today, a free online newsletter for managers of volunteers, launched a special edition to provide assistance to managers of volunteers around the USA related to the Hurricane Katrina Disaster. The site provides access to information and resources to assist volunteer managers in the disaster area, and information to volunteer managers outside the area with information related to what is happening in the area in the context of volunteer management and how to mobilize volunteer efforts in their own area. There are more than a dozen managers of volunteers, trainers, and consultants contributing to this endeavor. The information on the page is changing *frequently*.
07:41, 29 August 2005
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In this article titled "Learning through networking and information exchange: how NGOs can increase their impact", it is noted that research by the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Institute for Development Policy and Management shows "that learning from the field is essential to enable INGOs (international non-governmental organizations) to influence wider policy-making and improve local accountability. As their focus changes from operational work to international advocacy, INGOs must strengthen institutional learning structures and learning skills." This site has a summary report of the research, together with links to additional resources. This is a great article to cite in internal strategic plans and funding proposals relating to networking and learning.
05:50, 16 August 2005
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Today, on CYBERVPM, an online discussion group for volunteer managers, I asked the following: Is there a danger of tieing volunteerism so very closely with being a good patriot/citizen? At the recent national conference by the Points of Light Foundation and the Corporation for National Service, volunteerism -- not just service through CNS but all types of unpaid, volunteer service -- was referred to by many speakers, again and again, as a patriotic act, as something a person does to support and promote their country's values, to be a good citizen, etc. But what does this alignment say to:
- people who volunteer for causes specifically to change official public policy or counter government action
- people who volunteer in watch-dog groups (animal shelters, the courts, environmental groups, etc.) to make sure government officials/staff are acting in a particular way
- etc.
In positioning volunteerism with patriotism, will this leave out some volunteers and the organizations who host them from national "mainstream" conferences? Are there things that the volunteer management field can learn from these... well, not-so-patriotic-volunteer movements? I'm really interested to hear what others think. Post your comments here on my blog, or join CYBERVPM and post there.
09:06, 17 July 2005
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For-profit companies, particularly large corporations, often sponsor specific programs at mission-based organizations (non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations/NGOs, civil society, school, etc.), providing funding, donated staff time, and in-kind equipment and services to help launch and maintain a program. In most ways, this is a blessing for the mission-based organization. But there are often hidden costs that lead to frustrations for everyone involved. This is a list of some of those hidden costs, and ways they can be avoided. This is part of the growing resources at Coyote Communications relating to volunteerism and volunteer management.
08:17, 3 July 2005
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TechSoup sponsors a number of ongoing online discussions and events, including a forum for the discussion of Volunteers & Technology, which I'm proud to volunteer my time to facilitate. This forum is to discuss both how volunteers are using computer and Internet technology as part of their service, such as online volunteering, and to discuss how volunteers can help civil society/mission-based organization with their network technology needs. Have a look so you can learn about resources, ask questions, offer opinions and share your expertise. The forum is updated at least a few times a month (with more participants, it could be updated even more often!).
03:02, 29 June 2005
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International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) has accepted the bid from the People's Institute for Development and Training (PITD) in India to host the 2006 World Volunteer Conference. It will be held in New Delhi September 23-27, 2006. Responsibility for planning and managing the conference rests with Indira Dasgupta. The National Volunteer Centre of IAVE India, registered as the Indian Association for Volunteer Effort, will spearhead the effort under the stewardship of Prof. Subhachari Dasgupta. The event is being organized by People's Institute for Development and Training (PIDT). The theme of the Conference is "Volunteering for Peace in Multi-cultural Societies." Check the web sites for more information.
01:58, 25 June 2005
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TakingITGlobal and UNESCO invite the submission of images and creative writings that interpret and express violence as a feeling, as language, and that explore alternative languages to violence. A limited selection of submissions will be chosen for a special publication which will be produced in print and online. The publication will spotlight the manifold forms of violence that young people encounter, perceive, and express in their daily social environment, with the ultimate aim of actively exploring and developing alternative languages to violence. The primary objective to shed some light on the multiple dimensions of the causes, contents, nature, and consequences of violence(s).
For further information, and to submit images and writings.
