Comments for Energize Book Blog http://www.energizeinc.com/blog A blog about volunteer management books Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:53:21 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 Comment on Volunteers as Donors (plus Peek at New “From the Top Down”) by lindsay http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/2009/12/08/volunteers-as-donors/comment-page-1/#comment-489 lindsay Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:53:21 +0000 http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/?p=255#comment-489 Thanks for the comments, Deban and Lynda! We're really excited about the new edition of "From the Top Down" and I'll be posting more "sneak peek" excerpts soon. Thanks for the comments, Deban and Lynda! We’re really excited about the new edition of “From the Top Down” and I’ll be posting more “sneak peek” excerpts soon.

]]> Comment on Volunteers as Donors (plus Peek at New “From the Top Down”) by Lynda Bachelor http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/2009/12/08/volunteers-as-donors/comment-page-1/#comment-488 Lynda Bachelor Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:54:29 +0000 http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/?p=255#comment-488 Have been using the 2nd edition for the past year with Executive Directors and have encouraged them to purchase the book. I'm looking forward to the new edition. Wonderful ED perspective with essential questions to be asked. Have been using the 2nd edition for the past year with Executive Directors and have encouraged them to purchase the book. I’m looking forward to the new edition. Wonderful ED perspective with essential questions to be asked.

]]> Comment on Volunteers as Donors (plus Peek at New “From the Top Down”) by Deban Brunette http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/2009/12/08/volunteers-as-donors/comment-page-1/#comment-486 Deban Brunette Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:33:23 +0000 http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/?p=255#comment-486 Thanks so much for the info on the updated version of "From the Top Down". I recently attended a seminar and Linda Graff recommended the book and advised me to look for this updated copy. Perfect timing! Thanks so much for the info on the updated version of “From the Top Down”. I recently attended a seminar and Linda Graff recommended the book and advised me to look for this updated copy. Perfect timing!

]]> Comment on Author Interview – John L. Lipp by Pamela Hawley http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/2009/11/19/author-interview-john-l-lipp/comment-page-1/#comment-259 Pamela Hawley Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:41:34 +0000 http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/?p=245#comment-259 Thank you for so many wonderful insights into volunteering and volunteer management! I run a nonprofit, UniversalGiving, that deals with volunteers in two ways--we connect people to opportunities to volunteer internationally, and we also have many wonderful volunteers as part of our team. I think there's an important note here that volunteers are free but volunteer programs are not. I too believe volunteers bring many new resources to an organization, but not free ones. Volunteers require management, because people can and should be guided to do their best on behalf of the organization. At the same time, it's so important to ensure the manager is serving not only the organization’s needs, but also the desire for growth within the individual volunteer. Ideally, meet the organization's goals and their goals. We have more than 10 interns at UniversalGiving, and we’ve found it to be a very productive experience. It’s our goal to provide them a great work environment, ownership, management guidance and a positive atmosphere. We also do achieve many of our goals through them. It turns out to be very honest, productive and pleasing to both parties. We've found that often volunteers are soul-searching. Some are not sure what they want to do and would like to try out a new skill. Others are ‘trying out’ the nonprofit realm. Many simply need a kind, structured, productive environment while seeking employment. Some just need a break. Our solution: We give them all great experience and put them right to work! Thank you for sharing these valuable lessons in volunteer management. It's not an easy field, but it can be a very rewarding one! Sincerely, Pamela Pamela Hawley Founder and CEO UniversalGiving www.universalgiving.org phawley@universalgiving.org Living and Giving Blog: www.pamelahawley.wordpress.com Thank you for so many wonderful insights into volunteering and volunteer management! I run a nonprofit, UniversalGiving, that deals with volunteers in two ways–we connect people to opportunities to volunteer internationally, and we also have many wonderful volunteers as part of our team.

I think there’s an important note here that volunteers are free but volunteer programs are not. I too believe volunteers bring many new resources to an organization, but not free ones. Volunteers require management, because people can and should be guided to do their best on behalf of the organization. At the same time, it’s so important to ensure the manager is serving not only the organization’s needs, but also the desire for growth within the individual volunteer. Ideally, meet the organization’s goals and their goals.

We have more than 10 interns at UniversalGiving, and we’ve found it to be a very productive experience. It’s our goal to provide them a great work environment, ownership, management guidance and a positive atmosphere. We also do achieve many of our goals through them. It turns out to be very honest, productive and pleasing to both parties.

We’ve found that often volunteers are soul-searching. Some are not sure what they want to do and would like to try out a new skill. Others are ‘trying out’ the nonprofit realm. Many simply need a kind, structured, productive environment while seeking employment. Some just need a break. Our solution: We give them all great experience and put them right to work!

Thank you for sharing these valuable lessons in volunteer management. It’s not an easy field, but it can be a very rewarding one!

Sincerely,
Pamela

Pamela Hawley
Founder and CEO
UniversalGiving

http://www.universalgiving.org
phawley@universalgiving.org

Living and Giving Blog:
http://www.pamelahawley.wordpress.com

]]> Comment on Book Recommendations: The “Art” of Volunteer Management by lindsay http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/2009/08/19/book-recommendations-the-art-of-volunteer-management/comment-page-1/#comment-53 lindsay Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:48:14 +0000 http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/?p=116#comment-53 Hi Lori, and thanks for your recommendation! I have also read and enjoyed "Now, Discover Your Strengths" and agree that it's a great book for VMs. You make a really important point about a strength being something you love, not just something you do well...the topic of pro-bono, skills-based volunteering is really "hot" right now, but it's also important to remember that volunteers may want to do something completely different from their paid jobs in their volunteer roles. Best, Lindsay Energize Bookstore Manager Hi Lori, and thanks for your recommendation! I have also read and enjoyed “Now, Discover Your Strengths” and agree that it’s a great book for VMs. You make a really important point about a strength being something you love, not just something you do well…the topic of pro-bono, skills-based volunteering is really “hot” right now, but it’s also important to remember that volunteers may want to do something completely different from their paid jobs in their volunteer roles.
Best,
Lindsay
Energize Bookstore Manager

]]> Comment on Book Recommendations: The “Art” of Volunteer Management by Lori Hudson http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/2009/08/19/book-recommendations-the-art-of-volunteer-management/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Lori Hudson Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:29:19 +0000 http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/?p=116#comment-52 Without a doubt, Marcus Buckingham's, "Now, Discover Your Strengths" continues to make a huge impact on my management philosophy. The basic premise; "Instead of focusing on weaknesses and trying to improve them, focus on what makes you special and unique. A strength is something that makes you feel strong. Not simply something you do well." Many times folks are stuck in a 40+ hour a week job simply doing what they do well. They don't love it, but they are good at what they do so they stay and collect a paycheck. They come to me (or any volunteer manager) looking for an opportunity to use their strengths in a volunteer role. They may not articulate it in these words, but the desire to do something that strengthens them is often a driving force to get involved in volunteering. Without a doubt, Marcus Buckingham’s, “Now, Discover Your Strengths” continues to make a huge impact on my management philosophy. The basic premise; “Instead of focusing on weaknesses and trying to improve them, focus on what makes you special and unique. A strength is something that makes you feel strong. Not simply something you do well.”
Many times folks are stuck in a 40+ hour a week job simply doing what they do well. They don’t love it, but they are good at what they do so they stay and collect a paycheck. They come to me (or any volunteer manager) looking for an opportunity to use their strengths in a volunteer role. They may not articulate it in these words, but the desire to do something that strengthens them is often a driving force to get involved in volunteering.

]]> Comment on Author Interview – “A People Lens” by Cameron Compton http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/2009/07/20/author-interview-a-people-lens/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Cameron Compton Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:55:55 +0000 http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/?p=125#comment-19 I would like to hear from you regarding recruiting volunteers for hospice. Alleged volunteers say it is such a noble profession and they would like to be a part of it, but fail to show up for training. This happens over and over. Also, the training needs to be revamped...in my opinion, it is boring, but required, or mandated by the state. I would like to hear from you regarding recruiting volunteers for hospice. Alleged volunteers say it is such a noble profession and they would like to be a part of it, but fail to show up for training. This happens over and over. Also, the training needs to be revamped…in my opinion, it is boring, but required, or mandated by the state.

]]> Comment on About the Book Blog by Elim Chan http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/about/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Elim Chan Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:16:27 +0000 http://www.energizeinc.com/blog/?page_id=2#comment-17 Just to drop in and say, well done! Good jobs, from Eden Foundation in Taiwan, Asia. It is rare in our parts of the world to have sooooooo many information about volunteer and its related issues. Thank God for internet access around the world. Thank you so much for providing such information. Keep in touch from Taiwan! :-) Well done! Just to drop in and say, well done! Good jobs, from Eden Foundation in Taiwan, Asia.
It is rare in our parts of the world to have sooooooo many information about volunteer and its related issues. Thank God for internet access around the world.
Thank you so much for providing such information.
Keep in touch from Taiwan! :-)
Well done!

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