Fantastic discussions for volunteer managers
11:19, 20 November 2009
.. Posted in Volunteerism and Volunteer Management.. Link
Another week, another set of lively, relevant, fascinating discussions on two of my favorite online communities, both focused on people coordinator or manage volunteers: OzVPM and UKVPMs.
If you work with volunteers in any way -- as the coordinator or director of volunteers at an organization, as a staff member who works with volunteers, and as a paid staff member or volunteer yourself -- you should join these YahooGroups. Don't just join via email; create a Yahoo account or use one you have already to join so that, even if you choose to receive messages via email, you can go through the groups' archives and read past threads.
OzVPM is focused on Australia, New Zealand and the surrounding areas, and UKVPMs is focused on the United Kingdom and Ireland. Recent discussions and debates have focused on volunteer rights, the ongoing trend of corporations and governments to support volunteer recruitment campaigns but not volunteer management, developing national volunteering policies, the latest trends in volunteer involvement, and whether an "International Volunteer Manager's Day" would help or be detrimental to recognition of the vital importance of volunteer coordinators and managers to successful nonprofit organizations, schools, etc. Discussions and debates are lively, intelligent, provocative, and always valuable. These groups go well beyond "what kind of table centerpiece should I use at the next volunteer thank you luncheon."
Attention anyone putting together a conference or workshop for coordinators and managers of volunteers: look to these online groups to make your event truly speak to your target audience!
