Submitted by Karen Spiess, Coordinator, Resource Centre for
Voluntary Organizations, Alberta, Canada
I've recently been involved in a project in Ukraine "Civil Society
Community Roots". This involves the development of a educational certificate
program in Management of Volunteers. As I view the struggle to establish
a Voluntary Sector where one did not exist I see more clearly the
lack of securing a civil society here in Canada and in the United
States. How do we life up the civic responsibility to the next generation.
Do we still offer good citizenship classes in our educational systems?
Are we working hard enough to include youth and families in our volunteer
programs? And your question, are we at the table in the very important
discussions that take part in both our countries? I believe that we
must advocate for our programs and for our profession as well. Directors
of Volunteers are managing millions of people across both countries
everyday and the political powers that be just don't (or choose not
to) see the importance of our involvement in the debates in the continued
development of the civil society. We hold up both of our countries
as examples for the rest of the world. I believe we have alot of work
to do at home before we blow our horns too loudly.
Submitted by Rob Jackson, Volunteer Development Officer, RNIB,
London, England
An overseas perspective. Here in the UK the government is talking
of creating an Active Community, part of a Giving Age. This is the
spin they give civil society. The volunteer sector seems to be doing
fairly well in engaging with government in this policy agenda. See
this link to the Home Office's Voluntary Sector Compact (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/vcu/compact.pdf)
and its emphasis on volunteering. We also have a strategy group led
by Lord Warner which, it is rumoured, is going to recommend steps
to strengthen the skills of VPMs!
What is interesting given this month's Hot Topic is that, whilst
we in the UK seem to be making a good job of enagaging with government,
that in itself is bringing problems. People are questioning the government's
sincerity in taking such an interest in volunteering. People question
what control the government is seeking to have over volunteering given
that it is putting up such large amounts of money (£6.5 million announced
in September). So whilst you think about how you can get volunteering
on the political agenda also think about how to make sure you stay
firmly in control of the ship without handing the helm over to the
very policy makers who don't understand volunteering.
Submitted by Rick Hyman, V.P. Marketing / C. D. & M., Inc.,
USA
It is even more of "a sin" that the political sector has such a non-awareness
of volunteers since their very election and appointment depends on
the efforts of thousands of volunteers to get them where they are.
Shame!
Submitted by Liz Weaver , Executive Director, Volunteer Centre
of Hamilton & District, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
A number of years ago I came across a resource from the Mellon Bank
- Discover Total Resources - which identified that every organization
has access to four types of resources - money, good, services and
people. In fact, they identified the 'people' resource as the most
critical because it is people that link to money, to goods and to
services. In the volunteer profession - we have access to this most
integral and important human resource. And yet, do we do that things
that acknowledge this power? As we move toward 2001 - this is the
time to acknowledge the important linking of human resources - volunteers
- to the successful achievement of mission within organizations. At
least that's my quest.
Submitted by Marsha B. Riddle, Volunteer Program Director,
Western Carolina Center, North Carolina USA
Things change slowly in all fields including our profession. As usual
the practitioners in the field are seldom offered the opportunity
to come to the table to be a part of the discussion or the creation
of programs and directions which impact the profession and the field.
As usual government looks to the higher education community, the powerful
people,businesses or corporations with money, and the organizations
which are leaders in the sector for direction. This profession is
suffering from lack of recognition at all levels.
A multifaceted approach is needed if we are to ever be at the table
and be recognized as holding one of the keys to making a difference
in a more civil society. We do understand volunteerism and philanthropy
where we are and that is where a more caring and civil society begins.
Believe me, we must begin individually at home in our own organization,
to sit at the decision making tables. We must be proactive in supporting
organizations to reach their goal through the involvement of the volunteer
and the resources that the volunteer has to offer, whether money,
materials or their time. We must support and recognize together all
persons who share in our organizations reaching their goals. Perhaps
we cannot all be at the White House, but we can make a difference
in our own House. Lets all start there........Then on to other levels.
Submitted by Anne Honer, volunteer, North Carolina
I've been on both sides of the question, having had professional positions
in volunteer management and fund raising. Whenever I work in fund
raising, God help the person who belittles the volunteer resources,
including themselves! I think I have helped in the communities where
I have been to increase the respect for volunteers. I also think that
our society's mobility and two income families add to the problem.
Since it is difficult for families to find time for family activities,
it is understandable that it would be difficult for family members
to find time to volunteer. In addition, youngsters are seeing fewer
and fewer models in their families to give them the idea. As families
move around, it's easy to give up the volunteer activities on the
premise that we don't know the agencies in the new communities. We
should promote the idea that volunteering is a wonderful way to get
to know the new communities!!
Submitted by Linda L. Graff, Senior Associate
In a few months I will celebrate my 20th anniversary in this field
of volunteerism and it is with a great deal of regret and wonder that
I observe how little has changed with respect to how this field is
regarded by those "from away." I would add that in the same twenty
year span I have observed and contributed to an enormous amount of
whining about the absence of recognition accorded volunteerism, volunteering,
and managers of volunteers. That we are not acknowledged appropriately
is old news. With all due respect, I think we need to stop the whining
and start strategizing about what we're gonna do.
Look at it as a problem that needs to be solved. Attack it deliberately.
Stop complaining that you're not invited to the table and start being
very explicitly about what you can bring to the table. Make yourself
indispensable. Present yourself as a dispenser of important information
and great wisdom, as a valuable broker of vast connections among those
who really count in this field. After all, you are. I am often reminded
of Lorraine Street's comment which is perfect in its simplicity. We
need to learn to "sharpen our elbows" and get ourselves to the table.
Clearly all the whining in the world won't do it.
Let's try something else. This is the key message I absorbed from
a National Convention in Halifax a few years back. I have, myself,
been personally and publicly lamenting the public policy void in Canada
with respect to voluntary action. I recognized that instead of waiting
for politicians and bureaucrats to write some policy (which would
undoubtedly be bad policy) we who know volunteering should do it ourselves.
I invited some friends and colleagues to join me, we voluntarily,
and at our own expense (which for some involved plane fares) met several
times and collectively created a draft. It wasn't perfect and it wasn't
complete, but it was a start. We found an opportunity to send it to
some politicians who were starting to pursue policy development, and
two years later the kernels of our work are beginning to pay off.
Submitted by Sarah H. Elliston, Professional Development Associate,
Cincinnati, Ohio
Rick Lynch was recently here in Cincinnati and he suggested that we
start calling "volunteering" by a new name, "Pro Bono Work" And that
Volunteer Resource Centers start calling themselves, "Centers for
Pro Bono Resources" in order to get away from the word "volunteer."
This is alot closer to Susan's comment that what we are about as managers
of volunteer efforts, is to develop peer relationships, not the "haves"
giving to the "have nots," right? Maybe if we approached
the government and others with the concept that we organize and facilitate
people who are doing pro-bono work, maybe they'd hear us differently.
Pro Bono is MUCH more respectable that "volunteer" with politicians.
A Pro Bono donor has the skill to do something without charging for
it - we know all volunteers fit that category but politicians don't.
I think it's a brilliant idea - what do you think? As to the second
point, that large, traditional organizations have to keep up with
the times, I suggest using the Red Cross as an example of a forward-looking
organization. They still have traditional jobs but they are always
looking for new ideas and new methods of involving people.
Submitted by Lesley Dunn, Executive Director, Volunteer Resource
Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia
It is always interesting to hear that discussions regarding the voluntary
sector continue to take place without the sector actually being invited
to the table. In Nova Scotia, our government both Provincial and Municipal
are seeking ways to best support the Voluntary Sector. Are we as administrators,
coordinators or volunteers invited to share our views. No. Why? They
are not ready to talk to us yet. I continually feel frustrated when
I hear the talk to us part. One would think that after all these years
government officials would recognize that you no longer talk to, but
talk with. It's far more productive. Some of our greatest challenges
here in Nova Scotia relate simply to the definition of the word volunteer.
We have found that for those of working in the sector, and for many
in government it means two different things. At best the key person,
the citizen engaging in voluntary action gets left out of the discussion.
Despite the challenges we do have some key champions in government
(those that have extensive volunteer backgrounds themselves), that
are seeking to afford us an opportunity to share our thoughts at the
bureaucratic table. Change will happen, but as one government friend
said to me today, its unfortunate that change is always slow, as we
made headway on an issue that the Volunteer Centre raised 11 years
ago. Resources (financial, and human) are always welcome, but it is
a good thing that we are committed to the causes we support and not
the dollars we receive, or the quality of life for many citizens of
this world would be negatively impacted. If I had to do it all again,
knowing what I do now about the lack of support and respect I receive
as a volunteer, would I? You bet! The end result of a cause is far
more important than the nonsense that often inhibits me from achieving
my goals. Perhaps in 2001 things will change, perhaps the road tomorrow
will be easier than today.
Submitted by Judi Reed, Director, Volunteer Resources,
I too am very discouraged when I find that "philanthropy" usually
means giving dollars, not time. It seems that giving time - whether
or not its connected to fund raising - is not nearly as valuable as
giving dollars. Our society is so economically focused! I manage a
volunteer program in a large health organization. I'm always struggling
to obtain visibility for the volunteer program. Fund raising is easily
elevated in our promotional activity, but not 'just volunteering'.
Let's
Hear What You Think
