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Why a New Association Should Serve the USA

Submitted on 25 April 2006 by Gretchen Stringer, CVA, long time member of AVA, past International Conference Chair and Founding Chair of VAWNY (Volunteer Administrators of Western New York), a very active organization celebrating its 25th year of existence.

My comments are on two subjects:  the profession of volunteer administration, and the professional organization of volunteer administration.

First:  on the profession.  Whether we have a professional organization or not,  WE ARE A PROFESSION.  The   competencies, the skills, the knowledge have been not only identified for the CVA, but have been used as requirements for anyone working with volunteers.  Curricula for college and university courses in nonprofit management have also included these specifications. 

People have been working in positions that require the management and administration of volunteers, without having the title, for as long as non-profits have existed.  Our field is the glue that holds the third sector together.  Our profession is alive and well.

Second, on the professional organization of volunteer administration:  Of course, we need one. We have an opportunity to start over.  We can take the best of  our starter and build on it.  Our CVA will survive, as will the Journal.  They have been well designed and well managed.  Our helpful and pertinent Conferences will grow again.  Never would we plan to end our AVA this way, but it creates for us a  real imperative toward change. 

And we need to include the world.  Limiting our membership in any way won't help our profession  First, there are the many people, as I mentioned above,  whose work requires volunteer administration within their  positions, who can use  the resources that we can offer uniquely.  We don't want to exclude them

Second, and equally important,  we don't want to lose the valuable connections that we have built all over the world that enrich  our profession.  A different view often illuminates the answer to a problem that can't be seen from one angle.  We need these different views.

I will not be in Seattle, but I participated in the first telephone discussion with Jackie Norris thanks to  the Points of Light, and will help in any way to build our new organization.

Submitted on 6 April 2006 by Nicolette Ryan, United Way's Volunteer Connection, Community Volunteer Liaison, Dayton, OH USA
An independent national organization is a MUST, and that organization will definitely have to have ties with organizations from other countries. I wholeheartedly agree that there should be chapters of the new organization at both the state and local levels, complete with a set of basic guiding principles for each chapter.

A national conference is very important, but I'd rather see some stronger focus on more cost-effective training opportunities. A trainers' training is one great way of helping reach those who can't afford to attend a conference. Why not also provide a series of webinars, online tool-kits and more as well? This is the stuff I could use year-round and would love to see more of. And let's make these options free to MEMBERS. Why else do we belong to such groups?

Submitted on 6 April 2006 by Adaire Palmer, SA Fire & Emergency Services Commission, Volunteer Management Consultant, South Australia Australia
I couldn't agree more with your statements about being concerned with serving locally-based members. As a Board member (Vice President) of the Australasian Association of Volunteer Administrators (AAVA), I have struggled with the tyranny of distance in Australia alone in reaching out to and providing an appropriate service to AAVA members. All your points are pertinent to AAVA, as we are still in the 'evolutionary' process, and I would like to see branches or chapters which serve our members locally develop eventually. I think the old adage 'think globally, act locally' is very relevant here.

Submitted on 5 April 2006 by Joan E Thompson, Mayflower RSVP, Inc., Executive Director, Plymouth County, MA USA
Recently I have been approached to join two new associations due to the disbanding or discontent among members of "old" ones.
My first response is:   Where are the checks and balances in the design of a new association that prevent the new one from falling prey to the inherent weaknesses of the first?

How do we apply "Outcome Measurement" principles to this situation and prevent the same weaknesses from undermining a new endeavor? We need to embrace the lessons of fair checks-and-balances from our own nation’s participatory democracy. Yes, a specific lesson from our national "memory" that may also suggest the merits of a national organization.

"Where" is not a rhetorical question as to checks and balances. I don’t have the answer – and hope to hear from anyone who thinks they might!

Submitted on 5 April 2006 by Jayne Cravens, Independent Consultant, Bonn Germany
I agree with all of Susan's statements about why this entirely new association/federation (at least I hope it will be entirely new, not just AVA in different "clothes") needs to be focused on the USA. Plus, can you imagine the arrogance of a brand new organization, which is emerging because of the failure of a previous one, trying to claim to be the international leader? (cringe).

On a bit of a different note, is there a way to collaborate somehow with the association(s) of HR professionals? Not sure what that collaboration might look like -- a volunteer management track at their national conferences? Inclusion of volunteer management classes in HR certificates and diplomas?

Submitted on 4 April 2006 by Hillary Roberts, PLNJ Inc.
President, Keyport/NJ USA
Communicating well remains a challenge no matter the proximity.....ironically...the tools available to communicate well abound in today's techno, fast-paced mobile work environment. I agree that baby steps are important in restructuring a VMR association...but I'm also in favor of expanded goalsetting.

Perhaps part of the re-education in developing a solid VMR association should include the ability to harness new communication tools. For VM's I train, any given work week includes text messaging, emailing, faxing, meeting in a private chatroom, blogging, studying online and signing up for Internet-based courses.

Dare I suggest we rethink the dreaded 3 o'clock office meeting?!

Submitted on 4 April 2006 by Marty Martin, M & M Consulting, Trainer/Consultant, White Lake, MI USA
Your points for a national association are well taken. Starting a new professional association is a huge undertaking. Focusing on one country would concentrate our goals and energy. Despite the global village language, many folks want and need training and assistance close to home. The issue of regional, state or metro chapters has been in discussions often.

With creative thinking, relationships with Points of Light, other national associations, including Canada could be a win-win for both organizations.

I strongly urge that this national association concept will be part of the present dialogues about "where do we go from here".

Submitted on  4 April 2006 by Christer Leopold, Voluntarius - Voluntary Strategies, Consultant, Uppsala Sweden
I totally agree with Susan, an international association (or rather Federation) for volunteer management has to be based on strong national ones. There are three main reasons: 1) in associations formed by individual members the first priority is always member benefits and these are local and national, not international. This means that a national association must be based on local groups where members interact. 2) Volunteering and volunteer management is culture specific. This means, that the how to must be developed and promoted in each country. 3) Generally speaking, associations have to be financed bottom up. This is true also for international ones. The first step now, therefore, is to build a strong national association in the US. The next step could be for it to join other existing national associations to form an international umbrella. From there the work can be expanded.

Submitted on 4 April 2006 by Deirdre Araujo, Exploratorium
Manager, Volunteer Services, San Francisco, CA USA
I'm always glad to visit this site and e-Volunteerism! I have to admit that I still cringe about the whole International Volunteer Managers Day (formerly on 12/5), but the concept of "it takes one to know one" strikes a chord with me.  I'd like to see a national organization offer up a practitioner's version of a 'thousand points of light' to highlight best practices or just a good try, if for no other reason than to let people know what's been attempted - even if it wasn't wholly successful. I learn as much if not more from reading about other people's mistakes (and sharing my own) than from the press releases reporting just the accomplishment.

Response from Susan, 4 April:  Hi, Joan.  The idea of a USA/Canada association may be fine, but I'd still hope for at least the option of two divisions -- for when either country needed to focus on its own issues.  Remember the Canadians already have CAVR; what do we have?

Submitted on 3 April 2006 by Joan Brown, County of Marin, Civic Center Volunteers Manager, Volunteer and Employee Programs San Rafael, CA USA
I agree about the difficulties of an international association. However, I'm wondering if it makes sense to consider a USA/Canada Association because of geographical proximity, and other similarities?

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