Posted 7/24/01
Submitted by Lynda Leicester, Manchester England
As manager of the largest volunteer department in Manchester, England
and a long-term member of the National Association of Volunteer Managers,
I am disappointed at the lack of interest here in this country. Locally
my hospital hasn't a clue about IYV, even the other Volunteer agencies/charities
to whom I am a host. My staff (5) all wear the IYV ribbon and as yet
I have not been asked once what it represents!! We held a Special
Volunteer Party during our National Volunteer Week and IYV was a big
part of the Agenda. Otherwise not much interest anywhere I'm afraid
to say. Thanks for the regular info. Its great!
Posted 2/21/01
Submitted by Hillary Roberts, Director/Project Linus NJ, Inc., NJ/USA
Think Big, Be Creative, Go Global.
With those words I began my active partnership with IYV2001. Since last November,
my organization has been planning a project in New Jersey. We have not run into
any roadblocks, nor did we sit and wait for direction. We are self-motivated
by the thought that global volunteerism exists in our world. I am saddened to
hear that your readership has not found the same solidarity that we have. If
you visit www.iyv2001.org and hit the United
States link you will see hundreds of participants in the USA registered. If you
visit the main site, www.ivy2001.org and visit Partners & Events...you may be
surprised by the number and more importantly excitement that has been created
in praise of IYV2001. Further, most states have some form of volunteerism headquarters.
Perhaps a Volunteer Center, Historical Society, Community Leader or Government-based
agency that would be more than happy to share their time and energy in forming
a committee that on the local level, can come together to create a one day event.
I hope each of you finds a way to embrace IYV2001.
Posted 1/18/01
Submitted by Frank Pomata, Outreach Coordinator, IYV2001-NYC, New
York, NY USA
Here in New York City, we're utilizing IYV2001 to address the very
divisions you mention, Susan. Our IYV-NYC group has worked very hard
(for over 2 years now) to bring together various groups/streams in
our metro region to collaborate on a variety of projects related to
IYV2001. We hope to use IYV2001 as a springboard for future projects,
collaborations and coalition-building. Best of all, we've been working
in a grassroots fashion with ideas and involvement from people throughout
the City and Long Island. It has not always been easy, and not everyone
has accepted the invitation, but we're still plugging along. Along
the way, we've crashed through some existing barriers and built some
new relationships with much promise for the future. I hope that more
cities do the same before this special year is over and the moment
is lost.
Posted 1/10/01
Submitted by Shawn McCann, Coordinator of IYV, MACA, Coordinator of
Volunteers, Stanton Health Board, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories,
Canada
Board volunteers are our most important volunteers in our tiny, isolated
Northern communities, where the President of the Soccer association
is also the head coach, and chief fundraiser (More than likely the
Girl Guide leader, Winter Carnival coordinator, and a volunteer firefighter
as well). The issue of whether a board member is recognized as being
a volunteer is an issue of great importance up here. What is an issue
is who is supposed to plan the celebration of this year? The volunteers
that are already over-extending themselves to ensure that, though
their community is small, the level of activities available competes
with Southern cities? When a few people form the backbone of the community
through their volunteering, how do we mobilize those in the community
that have not been past volunteers to plan the celebration for those
who do? I cannot get over the number of times I have been forwarded
the name of certain busy volunteers, as the ideal candidates for helping
to coordinate and plan the International Year of Volunteers events.
Posted 1/10/01
Submitted by Sarah Jane Rehnborg, Consultant in Volunteerism and Community
Service to the RGK Center on Philanthropy and Community Service at
the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, Texas, USA
Just a word on words.... If I recall correctly, the first time that
I heard the expression "streams of service" was from Harris Wofford,
director of the Corporation for National Service. He had coined this
expression in an attempt to capture the worlds of AmeriCorps/Vista
AmeriCorps and the other CNS programs with the world of volunteerism
and other service endeavors. He also spoke of flying the plane --
the twin engines of service and other expressions that served to carry
his analogy a step further. I would be interested in knowing if anyone
has a different memory for the origin of this expression. If this
is the point of origin, it also suggests that he was grappling with
this dilemna of how does one bring together all those who serve for
the good of others, regardless of the variation in the pay status.
Here in Austin, Texas our DOVIA is introducing the year's program
with an IYV event where the Mayor will be speaking.
Posted 1/9/01
Submitted by Debbie Thompson, Assistant Director of Outreach and Director
of Adult Ed. Faith Lutheran Church , IL/USA
Susan has hit it on the head again. I work in stream 2 in the area
of religious volunteering. Although we all know we are volunteers,
whenever I try to use professional volunteerism materials for training
or development, I get told we don't fit the need for that. After advocating
for more professional attitudes and connections, I was elected assistant
outreach chairman and the first thing I asked myself is, "Now what
do I do?" Thanks for giving me an idea for how to begin the year and
a way to publicize it to our congregation. This will be the opening
topic for our newsletter column and can help put into place the planning
for the rest of the year's activities.
Posted 1/8/01
Submitted by Cindy Fairs, Okanagan Volunteer Management Services,
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Coincidentally, I recently attended a workshop where this very topic
came up at our table. "Who do you consider to be volunteers? Are they
only people from the community who willingly give of their time and
talents or should we include those who are required to do community
service as well? What about the students that are required to fulfill
a minimum requirement of 30 hours before graduation?" and so
on and so on... This made for some interesting and somewhat controversial
conversation. Having worked in this field as a Coordinator of Volunteers
(and Consultant) for several years now, I've had the opportunity to
experiment with many groups of volunteers and I am of the opinion
that "yes" they are all volunteers no matter how you look at them.
What we expect and how we recognize them however, may look a little
different from one to the next. In developing our policies, the absolutes
are defined more clearly. For example if a "Community Youth Action"
volunteer is required to work a certain number of hours in exchange
for monies that are applied towards university or college, do we acknowledge
this volunteer in the same way that we acknowledge all of the others
who may not be acquiring these type of benefits? Not likely. We may
still recognize this volunteer for their dedication, commitment and
hardwork but we may do it in a different way. It's important to recognize
that even if they are being (subsidized)directly or non-directly it
somehow means they are benefiting in other ways that volunteers traditionally
have not. In the end, is it going to make a difference in how they
view the world? Have they made a positive change or difference by
the work they have contributed? Has our society also benefited? Let's
hope so! Thanks Susan for providing a forum for people to exchange
their opinions and information openly!
Posted 1/8/01
Submitted by Sister M. Peter Bernard, SCMC, Director Public
Relations/Volunteers, Connecticut
Although I was somewhat aware of IYV it did not have the full impact
on my mind until I read this month's e-mail update (how
to subscribe) of which I am always glad to receive.
The dilemma you put forth on who is a volunteer has been tossed around
here at Holy Family as we have all of the above helping out at various
times. Now that I have been put to rights about IYV, I plan on doing
something about it. I have a work study student who will be returning
in middle January and she will be the pivotal person in pulling this
off. Thank you for keeping all of us in this field of uncertainity
and need abreast of what is happening.
Posted 1/5/01
Submitted by Bonnie Esposito, Director, Minnesota Office of Citizenship
and Volunteer Services, Minnesota, USA
Good analysis, Susan, of the "Streams". I think we worry too much
about the "words". All persons mentioned do valuable service and need
to be honored and recognized, no matter what they call themselves
or their service. I believe this year is a golden opportunity for
those of us in the "First Stream" to do a better job collaborating
with, recognizing and honoring ALL streams. We certainly are striving
toward that goal in Minnesota and would welcome examples and successes
from other places.
Posted 1/5/01
Submitted by Cathleen Coward, , Arvada, Colorado
The potential of IYV is to break down the dams and build bridges between
these streams! After reading this paragraph, I thought that the CNS
programs should be included in this celebration. As a former director
of a FGP program, I feel a stipend of $2.55 does help to start them
volunteering. However, other reasons take over after that, and the
Grandparents are truly volunteers who need some financial assistance
to allow them to volunteer. The Americorps programs also should quality.
These programs often mean that the participants become lifelong volunteers.
Recognizing all of them promotes volunteerism.
Posted 1/5/01
Submitted by Lynn Harshman, Director,Community Life Center,
Fort Gordon, Georgia, USA
I think Ms. Ellis has hit the nail on the head! Not only do I echo
her words but add that until we in the business behave as professionals
and demand to be treated as managers, program developers,marketing
experts, etc. we will continue to be an "after-thought". Sadly, until
there are more males in this field we will continue to be "patted
on the head" and thanked for all of our work once a year during National
Volunteer Week.
