Weekly Volunteer Management News

Archive for 2005 June-January (Current News)

26June2005: 120 firefighters, 45 toad patrollers, 24 ghost hunters, 15 pilots, 14 chaplains, 10 sound archivists, two beekeepers, one shepherd and a hot air balloon operator may not, on first impression, seem to have much in common. But all are roles filled by volunteers for the National Trust, the UK’s guardian in the acquisition and protection of threatened coastline, countryside and buildings. The Trust has just published Vital Volunteers: Celebrating the Benefits of Volunteering, revealing a snapshot of the National Trust’s volunteers. 2,000 volunteers were surveyed and staff at 280 National Trust properties interviewed to better understand the diversity of people who volunteer for the National Trust, the roles they perform and their levels of satisfaction with their volunteering experience.

The survey highlights how volunteering support is fundamental to the success of the National Trust. Over 43,000 volunteers give 2.6 million hours of their time to the National Trust each year. Their enthusiasm, skills and time make it possible for the public to enjoy the country’s most inspiring places – from castles to cliff-tops, mansions to moorland.

But the survey also points to the real dangers of a shortfall in volunteering in years to come. Already 59% of Trust sites are in need of more volunteers and there is evidence that the next generation of volunteers is not coming through – the survey shows that only 4% of volunteers are under 35.

Speaking at the launch of Vital Volunteers, Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust commented:

Volunteering is increasingly being seen as a key ingredient for community and personal development and its importance is being recognised more and more by society at large.

But the issue of how to bring in younger audiences remains a challenge...For the National Trust – being so reliant on volunteering support - the issue of extending our volunteering base is fundamental. No volunteers means no National Trust and partnerships that can link to the wider community and create more opportunities to work with young people have to be a vital part of our strategy going forward….

The National Trust believes the four key challenges facing those who work with volunteers are:

Making it easier for people to volunteer.
Continually improve the quality of the volunteering experience.
Find new ways to involve a new generation of volunteers.
Understand and promote the benefits of volunteering.

Highlights from the research include such fascinating facts as:

45 volunteer toad patrollers saved over 5,000 toads on the North York Moors
52% of volunteers are aged over 65
11% of volunteers say they have some form of disability
48% also volunteered for other organisations
13% travel more than 21 miles to get to their place of volunteering
170 people experiencing homelessness or unemployment contributed 33,000 hours in 2004
One volunteer shepherd on the Isle of Wight delivered 18 lambs in 2004
Six volunteers uncovered evidence of a Bronze Age shelter on Sandscale Haws, Cumbria

A copy of ‘Vital Volunteers: Celebrating the Benefits of Volunteering can be downloaded from the National Trust’s website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/volunteering/partnerships.html

19June2005: We are passing along the following “Call for Papers” because we respect the quality work that consistently comes out of the Institute for Volunteering Research. Note the deadline for submission is the ~~22nd of July.~~ Extended to 12th of August.

Call for Papers
Volunteering Research: Frontiers and Horizons
Birmingham, England, 29-30 November 2005

To mark the end of the UK Year of the Volunteer 2005, the Institute for Volunteering Research will be hosting a two day seminar to review the latest developments in volunteering research. It will bring together researchers and practitioners from different disciplines to:

Present new research findings
Discuss how new findings impact on the way we conceptualise volunteering
Examine how different approaches to research can maximise impact on policy and practice
Explore how volunteering learns from research across different disciplines and fields of study
Place volunteering research in an historic perspective

The event is open to researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers. We are inviting the submission of paper outlines on the themes set out below:

Volunteering and community cohesion : What role does volunteering play in building strong and cohesive communities? What is the relationship between volunteering and community development?
Volunteering and democracy/citizenship : What evidence exists that volunteering enhances democracy and citizenship? Must this lead us to thinking in terms of good and bad volunteering?
Volunteering and learning : Volunteering is increasingly being linked with learning, through accreditation and its potential to connect with lifelong learning. In this relatively new area, what research exists and what are the most appropriate ways of researching the issue?
Volunteering and the public services : Increasingly volunteers are delivering public services – where are the ‘new volunteers’? And does this make us reconsider the principles of volunteering? For example, what is the impact of expert patient forums on both the NHS and how we think about typologies of volunteering?
Volunteering and giving: In the UK volunteering and giving have traditionally been researched separately. What evidence exists for linking them and how can knowledge of volunteering inform knowledge on giving and vice-versa?

Papers are welcomed from a variety of disciplines and from both academics and practitioners. Paper outlines of no more than 500 words should be submitted by the ~~22nd of July~~ 12th of August [new extended date] by e-mail to Steven Howlett at: instvolres@aol.com or mailed to

The Institute for Volunteering Research
Regent’s Wharf
8 All Saints Street
London N1 9RL
United Kingdom

Post-conference event: Research methods in volunteering research
The seminar will also include a half-day post conference meeting focusing on:

New research methodologies
Participatory methods and issues of user involvement in = volunteering research
Ethical and experiential issues

During the event there will also be a re-launch of the Voluntary Action History Society .

If you would like to submit a paper on these or other methodological issues, please send in an outline to the same contact information as above.

12June2005: Consultant and author Terry Axelrod, CEO and founder of Raising More Money (www.raisingmoremoney.com), has been circulating a new free excerpt from her 2000 book, Raising More Money – A Step-By-Step Guide to Building Lifelong Donors. It’s a 7-page PDF titled “The New Volunteer.” This provocative essay is worthwhile reading in its perspective of volunteers who increasingly want to design their own forms of engagement and who are part of a continuum of community resources that blend donors of money with givers of skills.

Here’s an example of Axelrod’s ideas:

In the old reality, the organization called the shots. They said: “We need tutors three days a week; we need volunteers to deliver meals at 11 a.m.” The organization’s needs drove the program. That worked pretty well when the primary sources of volunteers were affluent women and retired senior citizens.

In the new reality, “volunteer” takes on a whole new meaning. The edges of “volunteer” blur with the edges of “donor.” In the new reality, the organizations that thrive will be those that treat volunteers as lifelong major donors. And they will treat donors as volunteers.

Much of her presentation is right on target, but be prepared to seethe a bit too, when she combines this refreshing look at the “new” volunteer with a decidedly out-of-date take on what volunteer program managers are all about:

First, I spoke to the executive director—someone who was highly entrepreneurial, with natural street-smarts, and with whom I had enough of a past relationship that she knew I was serious.

If instead, I had talked to the volunteer coordinator, assuming she was an old-reality volunteer coordinator, I most likely would have been met with the familiar response, “I’m sorry, we can’t let volunteers host parties. It violates the confidentiality of our residents. The jobs we have for volunteers are: playground attendant, dinner server, tutor, etc.” There is nothing wrong with any of those jobs. They just weren’t what we had in mind.

Of course, where there’s smoke there’s fire and some of her criticism also rings true. Read this and decide for yourself what you think.

5June2005: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is calling on American Muslims nationwide to take part in a summer-long initiative called “Muslims Care.” With the tagline “promoting volunteerism for a better America,” the project’s Web site, www.muslimscare.org, provides information on volunteering opportunities for Muslims by state – and a way to post additional activities. There is also a free 22-page PDF how-to guide outlining the basics of volunteer program development, with many references to Muslim religious beliefs about charity and service.

As the Executive Director of CAIR says on the homepage:

Let us keep in mind that as Muslims, we are encouraged to assume a broad role in society by working to improve the communities in which we live. It is by translating our love of Allah into good actions that we strengthen our faith. Islam is a religion of deeds, and we need to put our faith into action by working to make the world a better place by making a life for ourselves by what we give.

The themes for 2005 are “Health Awareness Month” (June), “Helping the Needy” (July) and “For our Youth” (August).

29May2005: “Reflect. Decide. Do.” With this tagline, MTV: Music Television has announced the launch of its new pro-social initiative, think MTV (http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/), which will inform and empower young people to take action on issues including education, discrimination, the environment, sexual health, and global concerns. think MTV will reside on-air and online, with a special think icon appearing during programming that reflects those issues of concern, as well as a section of MTV.com devoted solely to providing resources on the issues young people care about most, including steps on how to take.

The Web site proclaims: “…young people have the power to make a difference and think MTV is the place to go to find out how to make it happen.” From every think MTV Web page, users will be able to register to vote; find their local elected officials through Project Vote Smart; and find local volunteer opportunities through VolunteerMatch. Additional online partners include a range of non-profit organizations that aim to inform and motivate young people to get involved in issues of concern.

To encourage its audience to become more proactive in their communities, MTV has also teamed up with Youth Venture to offer think Venture Grants. The Ventures will support young people who are making a difference by creating and leading their own organizations or clubs that address a need in their communities. think Venture Grants – up to $1,000 each – will be offered each week to a group of young people with the most compelling and sustainable community service project concept in one of the five primary think issue areas.

So stay tuned and see what happens!

22 May 2005: David Eisner, CEO of the US Corporation for National and Community Service, addressed the Policy Committee for the 2005 White House Conference on Aging on May 18, 2005. In his speech, “Engaging Baby Boomers in Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century,” Eisner said:

This morning I would like to do three things: 1) to explain why it is so important to view seniors and the aging baby boomer population as assets rather than as costs; 2) to describe in general terms what we need to do to engage more and more older Americans in their communities; and 3) to give specific recommendations on how the various sectors of our society can work together to ensure that the baby boom generation finds meaningful and fulfilling ways to engage in their communities.

The full text of the speech can be found at

http://www.nationalservice.gov/news/davideisner/05_0518.html. It articulates a vision of volunteering by the soon-to-retire Baby Boomers and outlines possible ways that the government might support greater civic involvement by this population bubble. Eisner spoke eloquently, as this excerpt shows:

Our Nation doesn’t think twice about encouraging people to make financial plans for their later years, and helping them to do so through tax incentives and other policies. Similarly, we must encourage our older Americans to plan their time and give their energies and experience for causes they care about in their communities. Making fullest use of those resources, and especially of the unique qualities of the 77 million members of the baby boom generations, will help to meet a variety of local needs and strengthen our communities and ensure that America’s seniors are happier and healthier, defraying the costs of programs Medicare and Medicaid. What’s more, making full use of our older citizens will help ensure that seniors are viewed – and that they view themselves – as valuable community assets who can contribute to society throughout their lives.

Accompanying the text of the speech is a PDF (http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/WHCOA_05_0517.pdf) of the specific policy recommendations made.

16 May 2005: A Council on Foundations-led working group of more than 40 U.S. charitable sector organizations has finalized eight fundamental "Principles of International Charity" as an alternative to the U.S. Treasury Department’s "Anti-terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best-Practices for U.S.-based Charities" issued in 2002. The 14-page PDF, dated March 2005, is available for free download at http://www.cof.org/Content/General/Display.cfm?CONTENTID=2555

The Web site includes this fascinating explanation of why the document was necessary:

While acknowledging the importance of protecting charitable assets against diversion to terrorists or other non-charitable uses, the Council and other organizations have been highly critical of the Treasury Guidelines as unrealistic, inappropriate, administratively costly and likely to discourage international charitable activities. Moreover, although nominally voluntary, the Guidelines are being referenced as standards and expectations by other government agencies.

In April 2004, U.S. Treasury Secretary John W. Snow told the Council and other nonprofit representatives that Treasury was willing to consider changes to the Guidelines. The Treasury Guidelines Working Group was formed shortly thereafter and has been developing alternative language over the past year, soliciting Treasury's views along the way. The Treasury Department has indicated that it intends to revise the Guidelines to incorporate the Working Group’s "Principles."

While the Principles are focused on financial transactions, it includes volunteers in its framework, with such lines as: “… a board should require that staff, contractors and volunteers all understand the organization’s mission, what it means, how that mission should be implemented, what constitutes success, and how to protect the organization’s good reputation.”

8 May 2005: Volunteering England has launched its “Volunteer Point” project with the first of a planned 160 electronic kiosks designed to make it easier for people in rural communities to access information about volunteering in their local area. Funded by the British Home Office for £1,000,000, the plan is also an effort to increase the quantity and quality of volunteering. Volunteer Points will be run by Volunteering England in partnership with Volunteer Centres, do-it.org.uk and local venues.

The Volunteer Point kiosks make the most of the recent developments in information technology to bring current information about volunteering and opportunities to get involved into the heart of rural communities. Each Volunteer Point will be located in a publicly accessible space in a local community.

The first Volunteer Points are in West Kent and Dorset; by March 2006 160 Volunteer Points will be made available across England. For the full press release and a photo of a kiosk, go to: http://www.volunteering.org.uk/missions.php?id=1066.

1 May 2005: For the past several years, Lowe’s home improvement stores has found a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day. Next weekend it will sponsor volunteering for Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=womenbuild/index.html&rn=none), in the belief that having a real home is the best Mother’s Day present possible. By recruiting women as volunteers, the project offers an alternative way to celebrate Mother’s Day.

PNN Online explains (http://www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=5917):

The program works to make homeownership a reality for families in need by recruiting, nurturing and training women volunteers to construct and maintain simple, decent and affordable homes, allowing women…to help families build better futures for children.

Habitat’s Web site (http://www.habitat.org/wb/wb_lowes.html) notes that “ women from all walks of life are committing themselves to doing something extraordinary this Mother’s Day.”

24 April 2005: The International Volunteer Webathon is a Global Youth Service Day project aimed at increasing the awareness of youth volunteerism (though the term “youth” is actually not defined). It is hoped that making pledges to volunteer during this annual Webathon will inspire and motivate more young people to get involved in their community. The 2005 pledge period started on April 15 and continues through May 15 (the count, as of April 23rd, stands at 29,422 hours pledged so far). For more information or to make a pledge, go to www.youthone.com/webathon.

The goal is to represent the collective desire youth have to become active citizens in their community as volunteers. The site allows youth to pledge volunteer hours online, publish articles about young volunteers from around the world, connect to other sites with resources and information about volunteerism, and report on volunteer hours pledged by youth.

The total number of hours pledged during last year’s Webathon was 43,641. The pledges were sent in from 26 different countries including Algeria, Benin, Canada, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Scotland, and Zimbabwe, with participants ranging from 11 to 44 years of age. To reach and motivate a larger group of youth worldwide this year, there are links to translated versions of the Volunteer Web-A-Thon Web page in Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish, and German, Russian.

17 April 2005: It’s National Volunteer Week in the United States and Canada (April 17-23) – happy celebrations to all! For more information on 2005 activities, go to:

www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/nvw/

www.volunteer.ca/nvw/english/index.html

Many countries around the world hold a National Volunteer Week of their own at another time. See our Special Days pages for dates and links (and please notify us of missing information from yet more countries). Remember, too, that December 5 th is commemorated at International Volunteer Day (www.worldvolunteerweb.org/ivd/) in different ways around the world, under United Nations leadership.

It is also the 35th annual Earth Day on April 22 (www.earthday.net/) – a good time to remember the efforts of the exceptional volunteers (past and present) who pay attention to the state of our natural resources and put the term “environmentalism” into general use.

4 March - 12 April 2005: While traveling through parts of Asia and Australia, Susan shared her reflections on volunteer work in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Susan's Pacific Adventure

27 February 2005: Last week, Kintera ® Inc., a leading provider of software to nonprofit organizations, announced the launch of its Communities of Giving^TM website at www.kintera.org (though on the site it is called “Giving Communities”) – designed as an interactive community that connects individuals with each other, and with their favorite causes and charities.

The site is very new and still says “beta version” on it. As on other similar sites, users can learn about charitable causes from a directory of organizations, and contribute easily and securely online to a charity. But it does offer a number of unique and creative aspects that allow consumers to build communities around causes. For example:

Individuals can promote a favorite cause with a personal online "causzine" – something like a message board with public information. Right now there are few working examples, but the concept is innovative and has potential.

There’s a Tribute page where people can make a donation on behalf of a loved one or encourage others to donate in their name.

There is an area with e-Cards, saying: “Get the word out about your favorite cause with one of our socially conscious e-Cards. These greetings are a great way to raise awareness for your favorite cause while reaching out to your friends and family.” Apparently you can submit cards of your own design, too.

Then there is an entire section on volunteering, where any organization is encouraged to submit volunteer opportunities. It seems that there are no geographic limitations to the use of the site, so it can be tried by anyone, anywhere.

The press release explained: "All nonprofit organizations will find Kintera's communities of Giving website helpful in:

Publishing content to the directories
Educating more people about their cause
Improving their relationship with existing supporters
Increasing the size and frequency of donations
Driving more traffic to their website
Recruiting new donors and volunteers
Identifying the most impassioned champions of their cause."

The Kintera Media Network, featuring city and regional magazine partnerships throughout the U.S., will play a key role in promoting the www.kintera.org site. To help generate traffic to the Communities of Giving website, Kintera recently introduced the Kintera Charitygift card, which allows gift recipients to select online the charity to receive their donation. In addition, the Communities of Giving site serves as a directory of charities for workplace giving campaigns, which is also expected to drive consumer traffic.

Nonprofits that wish to participate in the Communities of Giving website should visit www.kintera.org/CommunitiesOfGiving.

20 February 2005: Monster ® – the American Web site for job seekers – announced its support for volunteerism through the launch of a new “online volunteer center,” http://volunteer.monster.com, developed in collaboration with Idealist.org and boardnetUSA.org, two of the leading sites dedicated to providing volunteer opportunities. The Monster ® volunteer channel is designed to help connect the millions of users who are interested in volunteer opportunities by allowing them to search by interest and location.

In its February 9 press release, Monster noted that, in a recent poll on their site, “66 percent of Monster users said they planned to seek volunteer opportunities in 2005, … represent[ing] a significant increase over the 54 percent of Monster users who stated they completed volunteer work in 2004.” They further comment:

"The recent events in Asia have drawn significant attention to the need for, and importance of, volunteering; and recent Monster polls suggest that a majority of our users will be looking for volunteer opportunities in the New Year," said Marcel Legrand, SVP, Strategy and Planning, Monster. "The Monster Volunteer Center provides a way to connect the millions of people who want to give their time to help others with the agencies that most need their talents and skills. Through corporate-sponsored programs and individual interest, volunteering has become an important part of the fabric of today's workforce, and we look forward to helping spotlight this important need."

The Volunteer Center, accessible from the main job search page of Monster.com, contains customized content as well as a specialized job search area. The volunteer opportunities listed within the Monster Volunteer Center cannot be viewed from the general Monster job search area. The Volunteer Center will also have continuously updated articles (currently written by various Monster staff members), helping to guide users about U.S.-based opportunities that are available to them. Through the search section, interested Monster users will be able to target opportunities in local communities and cities across the nation.

To post volunteer opportunities (at no charge), nonprofit agencies must register with either Idealist.org or BoardnetUSA.org. It is those two databases that provide the information found by a search on Monster.com. If you have already posted opportunities to either site, your vacancies will automatically appear through Monster.com as well.

13 February 2005: The USA Freedom Corps continues its mish mash of programs and projects loosely connected under the umbrella of service by creating USA Freedom Corps for Kids, a Web site that wants to show “elementary and middle school students how they can start making a difference by volunteering”: www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov. The weekly update sent out by the Corps this week announced this site and so I checked it out.

The site is colorful and interactive, with resources, ideas, and information to help parents and teachers as well as “kids” and “youth” (defining the site’s split between 2 nd-5 th graders and 6 th graders and up). Unfortunately, when you click through the two areas, the links seem to go to exactly the same activities, games, etc. for both ages, almost none of which are connected to volunteering. For example, one puzzle shows an American eagle and no words.

Some of the pages offer helpful material, or at least a starter set of items, as nothing is more than a few paragraphs in length. The section for youth called “ideas” (http://www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov/youth/youth_ideas.htm) is a rather strange set of suggested activities that goes on for several pages without any explanation, rhyme or reason. It seems to be an attempt to mix activities kids usually do with possible volunteering, but it doesn’t succeed in making any point.

There’s a page to print and color to send “a message of peace to a child in the area affected by the tsunami.” It’s a nice thought, though hardly an activity with much connection either to service or to helping. The finished product is sent to the White House and there’s no further information about when or how the pages will be sent on.

There are constant references to George and Laura Bush. For example, the section called “Service Stories” (http://www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov/youth/youth_stories.htm) simply shows photographs of the First Couple and links to a “message” from each. Nothing else.

The links area shows other Federal government Web sites for children, but no mention of any genuine way to learn about actual volunteering, such as local volunteer centers or VolunteerMatch.

USA Freedom Corps for Kids might be considered a preliminary effort except for the fact that they seem to think it’s ready for public use. Others have done this so much better already that it becomes a silly exercise in wasting American tax dollars. Maybe they should have asked children what they want to know about serving their country….

If you want to see some really good sites on the same subject, try the following:

Disney Adventures All-Stars
http://disney.go.com/allstars/

Do Something – young people changing their world
http://www.dosomething.org/

Kids for Community
http://www.kidsforcommunity.org/

Network for Good/Youth Noise: Youth Volunteer Network
http://www.networkforgood.youthnoise.com/

World Wide Volunteering for Young People
http://www.worldwidevolunteering.org.uk/

Youth Venture – Dream it. Do it.
http://www.youthventure.org/

6 February 2005: February is Black History Month in the USA and provides great a chance to acknowledge how much of volunteering is about activism and social change. Think this is a new celebration of African-American accomplishment? You’d be wrong. Dr. Carter Goodwin Woodson, a son of former slaves who became a famous educator, began what he first called Negro History Week on February 1, 1926. “He chose February for the observance because February twelfth was Abraham Lincoln's birthday and February fourteenth was the accepted birthday of Frederick Douglass.” (http://www.cwo.com/%7Elucumi/woodson.html). It became a month-long celebration in 1976.

The Civil Rights movement was (is), by definition, the effect of countless citizens getting engaged in protests, lobbying, and endless individual actions – including civil disobedience – to “keep their eye on the prize” of accomplishing social change. Whenever we get bogged down in thinking that volunteerism is mainly unpaid workers assisting paid staff in agencies, it’s important to be reminded that most of the agencies in which we work were founded by volunteers years ago, often in protest against established services or in recognition of an unmet need. This has been going on forever and continues to be how societies evolve around the world. No one is paid to rebel!

If you want to incorporate discussion about Black History Month or about volunteerism political action in general into a DOVIA meeting or a volunteer in-service training, check out the Web site, CivilRightsTeaching.org at http://www.civilrightsteaching.org/. Their purpose is:

As one of the most commonly taught stories of people’s struggles for social justice, the Civil Rights Movement has the capacity to help students develop a critical analysis of United States history and strategies for change. However, the empowering potential is often lost in a trivial pursuit of names and dates. Putting the Movement Back into Civil Rights Teaching provides lessons and articles for K-12 educators on how to go beyond a heroes approach to the Civil Rights Movement.

Don’t be misled by the age range addressed and use the site to lead you to other key resources on this subject.

30 January 2005: The Points of Light Foundation has announced plans to make the theme of National Volunteer Week (April 12-23 this year) permanent for the USA :

We are proud to announce that the 2005 theme and logo will remain, "Inspire By Example" because it truly reflects the power volunteers have to inspire the people they help, as well as, to inspire others to serve!

Historically, National Volunteer Week has changed themes every year. The Foundation now believes that keeping the theme and logo consistent will result in greater visibility and branding. More information about the decision can be found at http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/nvw/themelogo.cfm

Logos are available for download on the site now at http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/nvw/tools.cfm and a full promotional toolkit will be released this week on the same page.

For information about the way that National Volunteer Week is celebrated in other countries (and when) go to orr “Awards/Events” section.

23 January 2005: At the start of the British Year of the Volunteer (2005), the Institute of Fundraising has launched the first best practice code for volunteer fundraising. The Volunteer Fundraising Code establishes guidelines for organizations working with volunteer fundraisers, differentiating between volunteers who are acting “on behalf of” an organization (where the responsibility lies with the charity) and “in aid of” an organization (where the responsibility remains with the volunteer). The Code incorporates tailored guidance for managing both types of volunteers and also covers specific issues that arise when celebrities engage in volunteer fundraising activity.

Rob Jackson, Volunteering Development Manager at RNIB and Chair of the Working Party, says:

This code establishes, for the first time, the standards charities should follow when working with volunteer fundraisers. With millions of people volunteering to fundraise for good causes every year, the code is a critical step towards improving their experience and making them want to come back for more.

Chris Penberthy, Director of Capacity Building & Infrastructure Development, Volunteering England, adds:

Volunteers are vital to the successful work of charities, and over 16 million volunteers are involved in fundraising. All volunteers need to be properly managed, and this code builds on existing good practice. With 2005 being the Year of the Volunteer it is important that we all work to ensure that we not only recruit more volunteers but also that we retain those that we have; I believe that this code is an important tool to assist organisations to be successful in these activities and in so doing build their own capacity and more importantly ensure that they have happy and effective volunteer fundraisers.

The Code is relevant not only to the managers of volunteer fundraisers, but also to trustees and senior management who will need to establish a volunteer policy and to define how their range of volunteer fundraising activities fit within the definitions laid out within the Code.

Developed by a working party of volunteers, following a period of consultation with the sector, the new Volunteer Fundraising Code is available for free download as a PDF online at www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk. It will be printed within the new fundraiser’s handbook for Institute members and Codes of Fundraising Practice (to be published in Spring 2005).

9 January 2005: Monday, January 17 is the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday in the United States and is growing in popularity as a Day of Service, “a day on, not a day off.” The MLK Day of Service Web site at www.mlkday.org provides a wide range of resources for prospective volunteers and for event organizers. Included are a list of cities and contact information for MLK service projects, detailed examples of projects done by various cities on days in previous years, a free 570K PDF MLK Day of Service Toolkit, media tips and templates, and more. This is one Day of Service with a solid philosophic foundation, in that it attempts to honor the civil rights leader in a way he would have approved:

During his lifetime, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked tirelessly toward a dream of equality. He believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America by uniting and taking action to make this country a better place to live.

The King Day of Service is a way to transform Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community service that helps solve social problems.

Even non-American site visitors should find much of the material useful for all special event planning and for running community-wide service projects. For everyone participating in a service project this weekend, best wishes.

2 January 2005: The horrifying disaster caused by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean is hard to comprehend. Aid is pouring in from all parts of the world and volunteers are deeply involved in everything from hands-on rebuilding efforts to collecting and distributing food, clothing, and medicine. CharityChannel (www.charitychannel.com), which describes itself as "a place where nonprofit professionals can connect, learn from each other, share information and work together to advance the cause of philanthropy," just sent the following notice and asked that it be shared publicly:

As we have done in prior disasters, CharityChannel is making its email list systems available for intra- and inter-agency disaster relief coordination for any agency that is working to bring disaster aid and relief to the victims of the tsunami. If your agency can use an email- and web-based discussion list to assist in its efforts to coordinate within your agency, or between your agency and other government and/or nonprofit/NGO agencies, please contact us via our contact page at http://charitychannel.com/rapid-reply. CharityChannel will donate the list and list support for as long as needed.

Also, the Google Blog site at http://www.google.com/googleblog/2004/12/tsunami-relief.html has just posted the following:

Like so many others around the world, we're following the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami that has hit many parts of Asia and India. The only positive outcome of this sort of disaster is that people quickly swing into action. The Internet enables us all to get timely information from blogs like this as well as news sites, and by linking people to donation centers… Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.

The page then offers links to major relief organizations and to the latest news on the disaster aid response.

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