Posted 10/24/00
Submitted by DeeAnn Paisley, OK-AIM State Coordinator, Chair, Tulsa
IYV 2001 Committee
I would definitely be interested in working on this project but I
am even
having trouble pulling things together in the Tulsa area. We have
a
kickoff event planned and were thrown a curve when the U.S. Committee
decided to change the Launch Date to 11/28/00. I will take this idea
to our local Volunteer Administrators meeting on 10/13 and see what
people think. This is something we could spend 2001 putting together
maybe even with a final presentation to the historical society on
12/5/01. Please keep me posted on the interest and plans. How does
everyone feel about this change of date?
Posted 10/24/00
Submitted by Bonnie L. Clements, Certified Director Volunteer Services,
Grady Memorial Hospital, Ohio, USA
I echo the sentiments from Sparrow Hospital (below). I am approaching
the hospital's volunteer organization at their annual meeting in December
to have a task force take on an update of their history and a look
into the future. This project needs to be done by the volunteers themselves
for it to have any worth to them and the community. Our county Volunteer
Center is already developing a celebration time and event to highlight
and appreciate the wide variety of volunteers in our area. I hope
that I can attach recognition of hospital volunteers both here and
elsewhere in the community to the county celebration. Stay tuned...
Posted 10/16/00
Submitted by Kathy Berning, Director, Volunteer Services, Sparrow
Health System, Michigan, USA
I can speak from experience that researching and honoring the heritage
of volunteerism in your organizations can bring a renewed sense of
importance and respect. In 1996, our health system celebrated its
100th anniversary. Our hospital was founded by a group of remarkable
women in the community, who literally managed the staffing and finances
of the hospital for fifteen years before it became big enough to require
"professionals." Although its functions have evolved over the years,
the basic governing structure of this volunteer board still exists
today.
During the centennial year celebration, there were several activities
that focused on the important contributions of the volunteers in our
organization's history. A centennial history book was researched and
published in 1996, and a copy was given to every volunteer (1200),
every employee (3500), and hundreds of board members and donors. The
volunteers raised $25,000 through their own contributions and commissioned
an exquisite sculpture that graces the entrance of the main hospital,
specifically honoring the importance of the founding volunteers. An
annual event, Founders' Day, was created to commemorate the first
meeting of the founders in 1986. A reception is held every year on
this date, and an award - the Founders' Award - is given to a prominent
community member who has made significant contributions to health
services.
The Sparrow Women's Hospital Association (the legal name of the founders)
is a finalist for installation into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
Outstanding volunteers were recognized during each month of 1996 as
"Centennial Stars." A centennial quilt was created by volunteers,
presented to the hospital and is displayed prominently in one of the
hospital's lobbies. There were several other activities that occurred
and I would be happy to share more details if anyone is interested.
Thanks for the opportunity to share!
Posted 10/13/00
Submitted by Sheila Pastore, Volunteer Coordinator, ,
I wish I had time to let you know what I think. All the Volunteer
Program Administrators I know don't have enough time to recruit, train,
recognize, evaluate, and otherwise develop their programs in the present,
as well as plan for the future. I wish I had a team of volunteers
who had enough free time to do such a historical research project
as you suggest. That would be a miracle in my community.
Posted 10/13/00
Submitted by Helen Rusich, Volunteer Services, Terra Association,
Alberta, Canada
I like the idea of Look Back, Look Ahead. My organization asked me
to propose some recommendations for IYV and it so happens that Terra
is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2001 as well. So the idea fits
nicely. I am not sure how to go about researching former volunteers
as I am recently new, but I am sure with the board's involvement something
manageable can be done. Thanks for the suggestion. I certainly will
pitch it to the board.
Posted 10/12/00
Submitted by Susan Ellis
Thanks for your posting, Fred. Thought I'd give a quick clarification.
The "product" of the Look Back to Look Ahead Project may be anything,
from a "sentimental scrapbook" to a lighthearted play to a serious
research paper to be published. But the PURPOSE of Look Back to Look
Ahead is much more important. Since most organizations do not think
often about their roots, rediscovering the role that early activists
played in founding the organization and then funding and supporting
it, moves away from considering volunteers as mere "helpers." Further,
once the past has been well recorded, it serves as a springboard for
looking ahead: will it be business as usual with volunteers or does
the organization have the vision to find new cutting-edge ways to
involve the community in its work? At least, that's what I'd like
to see as the impact of this project. --Susan
Posted 10/10/00
Submitted by Fred Birdsall, VP, RMPBS Volunteer Board, Denver CO
I am very interested in your proposed 'Look Back to Look Ahead' project,
that of discovering one's organizational history. However I am unclear
to what purpose this end product could be put. Before attempting to
persuade management to accept your 'Look Back to Look Ahead' concept,
must we not know its expected worth, else how do we justify the investment?
Just as families treasure their photo albums on a sentimental basis,
it is reasonable that an organization could want to preserve memories
of its past. Beyond this sentimental argument, is there any practical
advantage to investing organizational resources of time, manpower
and money?
Posted 10/6/00
Submitted by Carolyn Hallin, Director, Worcester Area RSVP,
Worcester, MA
We want to let people know that there IS an international event which
is emanating out from the USA. The project is "Read Around the World
with RSVP" and it is scheduled for May 23, 2001. The goal of this
RSVP initative is to get older people (volunteers) to read to children
and shut-ins on May 23rd. Participants choose how to implement that
in their own community based on their area, staff availability, and
expertise. This could be a small event or a community-wide event.
Participants who e-mail a description of their event to rsvp@ma.ultranet.com
will get a press release they can use locally describing world-wide
participants in this project. Read Around the World with RSVP event
has been endorsed by the National Association of RSVP Directors and
the New England RSVP Director's Assocation; is listed on the UN's
IYV web site; and was received enthusiastically by the Point of Light
Foundation. So far, interest has been shown around the country and
from as far away as Turkey, Singapore, Germany and England. We invite
you all to join in this positive event. Carolyn Hallin, Director,
Worcester Area RSVP (Massachusetts) Email: rsvp@ma.ultranet.com
Telephone: (508) 799-1884
