Visionary Leadership in Volunteer Programs: Insight and Inspiration from the Speeches of Marlene Wilson

Marlene Wilson

Untitled Document This book will help you:

Move from managing to leading volunteer programs with soul and vision.

Motivate volunteers and staff with purpose and clarity.

Re-ignite or discover the passion for your career (whether you actively chose or fell into it).

Energize, Inc., 2008, 184 pp., Electronic version: ISBN 978-0-940576-58-2, $12.00, Paperback version: ISBN 978-0-940576-57-5, $16.95

Electronic version:


Price: US$12.00

Print version:

Price: US$16.95

Susan Says:

Building on her best-selling book, The Effective Management of Volunteer Programs, Marlene Wilson moves from the hows to the whys of leading volunteer programs. She urges all who lead volunteers to move beyond thinking of themselves as managers to thinking of themselves as leaders—those who develop vision for volunteer programs and impart that vision throughout an organization.

She has compiled 16 of her most popular presentations from 1974 to 1999 into one book, including:

  • Musings of a Chronologically Gifted Crone
  • The Case for Effective Management of Volunteer Programs
  • Motivation: Placing Right People in Right Jobs
  • Influencing Outcomes You Care About
  • Polishing the Potential of Volunteer/Staff Teams
  • What Are You Marketing? VISION Is the Job of Leadership
  • Leading with Soul and Vision
 
Readers' Reviews

As one who has heard many of these speeches in person, I reveled in the retelling, in the rereading. Marlene’s body of work challenges us in the profession of volunteer administration: we are prodded to excellence, to improvement, to soul-deepening, to servant-leadership. For those who have not connected with Wilson's speeches before, what a wonderful gift of wisdom she has given you! Your way of looking at your vocation will never be the same!  This book restores hope, prompts to excellence, invites reflection and rouses energy.

—Suzanne Lawson, Principal of Suzanne Lawson and Associates and
former Executive Director, ALS Canada

We're always interested in receiving readers' reviews.

(When you've completed the book, remember to e-mail us at and share your review!)
 
Brief Excerpt

One thing that replenishes the “fire in the belly” for me is to revisit the vision and the purpose of what I believe volunteerism and volunteer leadership is all about. When I am clear about the why and infuse my work with heart and soul, I find people frequently commenting on how obvious it is that I love what I do. I am always somewhat taken aback when that happens and am tempted to respond “of course I love it, otherwise why would I be doing it?” There are many other things each of us could be doing and we also know we pay a price to work in this field (especially regarding salaries). So, are we crazy, or just not too bright?

Kathryn Graham once said, “To love what you do and feel that it matters—how could anything be more fun?” That is a gift beyond price. You are embarking on one of the most challenging and fulfilling jobs anyone could ever undertake—please don’t ever forget that!

My goal is that you leave here not just equipped with the vital tools needed to ensure your competency but also with a clear, personal statement of vision and a commitment to invest your soul and spirit in the tremendously important work that you do. Wow! Is the world really ready for you?

 

Table of Contents

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