Volunteers often carry out many different tasks in an organization. The Volunteer Program is made up of the various types of tasks and positions volunteers do for the same organization, agency or department. Each of the volunteer tasks/positions should be evaluated regularly to determine their continuing health. Here are some questions to help determine the health of each volunteer position.

• Is the demand for volunteer services declining?
• Is it harder to deliver the services?
• Is there less money to carry out this particular aspect of the volunteer program?
• Has technology replaced the need for volunteers?
• Is morale poor among volunteers? Staff?
• Is communication between staff and volunteers deteriorating?
• Has the focus of the organization changed?
• Does this volunteer position still have the support of upper management?

Creativity is the lifeblood of any organization. Every volunteer program began because someone said, "If we get a group of people together we can . . ." In order to have creativity in an organization, creative people need to be recruited-volunteer and staff. They need to operate in an environment that values, prizes, and encourages creativity. Use these benchmarks to ensure you are bringing in some creative people and giving them room to influence the organization.

• Creative people sometimes have curious concepts about dress, hairstyle, hygiene, and work habits.
• Creativity cuts across all lines of gender, race, age, and class. Organize meetings with people expected to be there and add some people who might bring new ideas. Support staff are rarely included in meetings, for example. Start including them.
• Seek out staff and volunteers who are human spark plugs. They inspire others, or make them uncomfortable enough to think outside the box.
• The creative process is time consuming (99% perspiration and 1% inspiration). Be patient with the process.
• Assess the environment of the organization to ensure it promotes creativity. Volunteers and staff need to toss out ideas, without fear of ridicule or derision.
• The physical environment aids creative thinking. If volunteers and staff are tackling a new initiative or project, get away from the usual surroundings and into something that inspires creative thinking.
• Set the bar high! Don't accept an average volunteer program. Let everyone know that being the best is the standard. This might mean pressuring people into new types of thinking.
• Never be afraid to fail.
• Fear stops all future creativity!

Use these steps to determine if the meeting is a must.

1. You have a problem that needs more brains than yours to solve.
2. You are delivering information that must be presented face-to-face
3. You are collecting information where everyone needs to be in the room at the same time. (Be sure to carefully evaluate if there is not a better way to gather the facts.)
4. A decision needs to be made and you do not have the power to make it.

Government Volunteer Programs Can Earn Awards

Many awards exist for individual volunteers or nonprofit organizations, but government based volunteer programs are eligible, too. The Points of Light, "Daily Point of Light" awards are an example. For more information on this award you can go to the Points of Light web site at http://www.pointsoflight.org. The Orange County Volunteer Program recently took an award for its innovative approaches to involving citizens in a wide array of county activities. The Grand Traverse County Probate Court was also singled out for a Daily Point of Light Award. They use volunteers to work with first time juvenile felony offenders, who need help successfully completing probation.

Volunteer Today is looking for other places government programs can go to be nominated for awards. If you know national or regional awards--world wide for government based program, please send an e-mail to Volunteer Today.

DAILY POINTS OF LIGHT AWARD FORMS AVAILABLE

The Points of Light Foundation has forms available to nominate volunteers and volunteer organizations for the Daily Points of Light Award. It is designed recognize individuals and groups that demonstrate unique and innovative approaches to community volunteering and citizen action, with a strong emphasis on service focused on the goals for children and young people set by the Presidents Summit for American's Future.

The award is given five days a week, excluding holidays. If you would like nomination forms, contact Toyja R. Somerville at 202-729-8000.

1-800-VOLUNTEER

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Copyright by Nancy Macduff.

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