Submitted by Cathy Kort, Volunteer Coordinator, Hollygrove,
California
I used the results of this study to "energize" my own volunteer force
at our annual banquet. Our volunteers each give on average 200 hours
a year (2-4 hours a week) and support our agency with 15,000 to 20,000
hours total per year- it made them feel very good in comparison. They
serve abused children at a residential treatment center in Los Angeles.
I do not see the downward trend in hours as negative at all, especially
if volunteer coordinators have found a way to make it work for their
agencies. I believe these statistics primarily reflect a large increase
in corporate involvement and all of our agencies benefit by the exposure
we get from these events and our opportunity to recruit for longer
term volunteers. Make it an integral part of your recruitment strategy!
Submitted by Andy Fryar, Executive Officer, Lyell McEwin Health
Service Volunteers Inc., Adelaide, Australia
Someone once said that there were three categories of lies - 'lies,
damn lies and bloody statistics' (or something like that!) The issue
of statistical analysis of volunteer contribution is a fascinating
topic and one which is so heavily laden by the boundaries set by those
conducting the survey, that it becomes increasing difficult (and frustrating)
to try and compare one survey from the next.
The other issue is that statistics can be twisted to make whatever
point the distributor of those statistics is wanting to make. For
me (as for other respondents), the opportunity for community development
and personal growth as part of the volunteer experience will always
far outweigh the number of hours contributed. The advantage which
larger organisations like ours have over smaller projects, is that
we have a variety of tasks and available hours which readily allows
us to meet the needs of the individuals wishing to contribute time.
Increasingly I am finding a larger proportion of people who are wanting
to contribute a smaller amount of time than in the past - and my experience
is that for many of these people volunteering is now about a lifestyle
choice - rather than being undertaken out of a sense of moral obligation.
Keep us thinking Susan.
Submitted by Lesley Dunn, Executive Director, Volunteer Resource
Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
As an organization that recruits volunteers for over 110 organizations,
the positions that are posted with us are for those individuals that
are highly skilled. And they are filled quickly. Routine positions
are few and far between, and definitely harder to match. Why? When
we ask, we find out that the more routine positions require a significant
amount of supervision, something our agencies in Nova Scotia are finding
increasingly difficult to do. Those with high skill sets are seeking
opportunities which they can parachute in and parachute out of. We
all lead busy lives, work, home, family and faith commitments all
pay a vital role in our time allocation. No matter which way you look
at it, you hit the nail on the head - the clock only has 24 hours,
and short term commitments mean I get a variety of experiences, while
at the same time providing support to a group or agency in need.
Submitted by Bonnie Jennings Steele, The Stamford Hospital,
CT
Right on Susan! Your comments show that you are aware of what is happening
in the "trenches". Indeed, we ARE attracting people who wouldn't have
volunteered were it not for the convenience of a short-term assignment,
or for one that allows them to spend that time with their family while
volunteering or for one that fits with their variable work/life schedules.
Hours don't express value added or dollars saved. We, as professional
in volunteer management, must find new and better ways of expressing
these gifts of time and talent.
Submitted by Susan Lebovitz, Community Resource Coordinator,
Mental Health Assoc. of the Heartland, Kansas
Your analysis of the survey interested me! Our volunteer hours are
up, but then again the MHAH didn't have a dedicated volunteer manager
before, and my job description basically calls for 50% of my time
to be devoted to volunteer management. However, I find flexibility
the name of the game. All the volunteers give a minimum of 2 hours
when they volunteer, as opposed to volunteering in just 4 hour shifts,
and trainings take place whenever I can train at least 2 volunteers--again
as opposed to offering trainings only on specific days. This makes
for some hectic weeks for me, but I sincerely feel I would loose good
volunteers if they had to give 4 hours at one time, or only train
on a Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, etc. Everyone's schedule
is already so incredibly full, I discovered if I allow people to volunteer
for a shorter time frame, they stay with the organization longer.
After all, volunteering should be stress free, while still helping
the organization!
Submitted by Kate Munro, Mater Community Integration Manager
Mater Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Ah,at last - a voice of reason in the long ongoing debate about meaningful
statistics! Hours - well considering that the measurement of time
is something "man" invented, how much meaning can we give it?
I keep statistics of the hours my volunteers contribute - purely for
the benefit of my "professional management colleagues"- not for my
volunteers. I'm not saying that this is all a bad thing but it is
certainly not what I am interested in - things like -are the volunteers
having a good time and growing and developing as human beings will
always take a front seat in my world. I invite my volunteers to complete
a satisfaction survey each year and this year I asked them to identify
at least 3 benefits of their volunteering and let me tell you the
joy involved in reading their replies has much more meaning to the
whole organisation than their 20,000 hours!! Please continue to keep
on challenging all of us Susan -you are a gem.
Submitted by Joseph Cruice, Coordinator - Compeer of Suburban
Phildelphia, PA - USA
I feel that it is true that people seem to be busier than ever and
feel like they have less time to donate. This presents a challenge
to a volunteer organization! It is imperative that the volunteer organization
presents the opportunity to volunteer with them as something fun,
exciting and meaningful. I also think that it is important to constantly
strive to find new ways to recognize and acknowledge volunteer service!
