About Energize and Our Website
What Is Energize?
Energize, Inc. is an international training, consulting and publishing
firm specializing in volunteerism. If these words are in your vocabulary--community
service, membership development, auxiliary, community organizing,
service-learning, lay ministry, pro bono work, supporter, friends
group, political activist, service club-- we can help!! Founded
in 1977, Energize has assisted organizations of all types with their
volunteer efforts--whether they are health and human service organizations,
cultural arts groups, professional associations, or schools.
How this Website Connects You to the World of Volunteerism
Energize has been on the Web since 1997. At that time, we saw
a strong need to connect leaders of volunteers with resources, information
and ideas generated from around the world. We want this to be a place
where leaders of volunteers come:
- to exchange views on critical issues in the field,
- browse pertinent articles and purchase quality books on volunteer
management,
- gather information on how to broaden their professional skills
and networks,
- advance their careers and
- link to other sites useful to volunteer managers.
We want your feedback!
We want this site to provide the most current and vital information
in the field. Throughout the site, we have forms you can complete
to provide us information on a range of topics including conferences,
classes, DOVIAs, your volunteer recognition ideas, etc. We also
want to hear your opinions on Susan's hot topic of the month, our
books, and even the website itself. Complete the forms and submit
them to us. We do want
to hear from you! Contact us now
Who is the Website Manager and How Do I Contact Her?
Kristin Floyd is the Website Manager
and is always interested in hearing your opinions (good or bad!)
about the site. She's particularly interested in knowing if you're
having any trouble viewing parts of the site or if you have ideas
to improve the design or content of the site. All suggestions will
be considered!
Contact us
Why We Are a For-Profit Company
This question arises periodically, so here is what Susan Ellis has
to say:
I could have opted to
make Energize a nonprofit organization, recruit a volunteer board
of directors, raise funds, and put myself on salary. Instead, I
had a conscious, philosophical reason for taking the for-profit
route. I have watched too many nonprofits convince third-party funders
of the value of their services, while those who actually receive
the services are dubious of their worth. Since funders rarely ask
the end users what they think, grants continue to be awarded mainly
on the skills of the organization's proposal writers. The only way
that I could be certain that my clients valued Energize's services
was to establish a direct, customer relationship with them. Many
of our customers pay for our training, books, and other help with
money they, in turn, get from donors. But the customer decides how
to spend that money. If they choose Energize, I feel that is a true
endorsement. And that's why I'm proud to have lasted in business
for over 30 years.
Recognition
Energize has received praise for its services from many sources and maintains a file of testimonial comments from clients and colleagues. Occasionally we are honored in a special way. Two examples are this letter from Project Linus NJ and
the BetterWorldHeroes Web site, which has included Susan on their calendar of "heroes" for December 5 (International Volunteer Day).
Stay in Touch!
3/11/08
