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The three great economic eras of the past were agricultural (crop production and animal husbandry (up to 1888); industrial (textiles, machinery, cars, chemicals) (up to 1920's), and service (retails, specialty, menial) (up to 1956). We are currently in the information era (since 1976). What will be the coming eras? Graham T.T. Molitor, a noted futurist, predicts five new eras, one with the potential for significant influence on volunteer programs.
| Leisure Era |
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| Life Sciences Era |
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| Megamaterials Era |
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| New Atomic Age Era |
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| New Space Age Era |
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The age of interest in those in the "volunteer" business
is the first one, Leisure. The amount of leisure time is steadily
increasing. Between 6000 BCE (Before Common Era) and 1500 CE (Common
Era) the average person had about 17% of leisure time during their
lifetime. By the 1770s it had increased to 23%. In the 1990s leisure
time accounted for 41% of the time available to an individual.
Molitor predicts that will increase to over 50% in the next fifteen
years. Workweeks continue to decline, the number of holidays has
increased, vacations grow longer, and people are retiring at an
early age.
Ask yourself if your organization is reaching out to those
with leisure time to volunteer when it is convenient? Are you
preparing for the baby boom retirees? No time to waste!
| Throughout the developed country being single is on the rise. Women make up 60% of the single population in the US, although the number of men living alone is growing at a faster rate. In Japan, singles make up about 20% of all households; in Australia it is 25%. Forty percent of British women live without a partner. |
The 1999 Independent Sector Spring Research Forum focused on collaboration. The following are some findings from scores of papers and panels at that conference.
There is competition and collaboration among nonprofits, business,
and government as never before. The lines between the sectors
are blurring. New research shows that some partnerships and contracts
have pushed nonprofits into areas of work not necessarily relevant
to their mission. In some cases this is done to obtain regular
income.
Nonprofits are facing changes in their financial and operating
environments. This is due to competition between nonprofit organizations
and business to win contracts to deliver services.
Success among collaborators requires the following:
For more detailed information contact Independent Sector, in Washington, D.C, at 202-467-6100 or http://www.independentsector.org.
The Ericsson Internet Community Awards are presented to organizations for innovative nonprofit Internet ideas. Five awards of $100,000 for Web development will be presented. This award is open to any NGO in the world. For more information go to http://www.ericsson.com/erica
Volunteer Today is interested in your input. Are there Web sites you find indispensable? Are there sites you would like us to review for you and others? Do you have volunteer opportunities available on line that we could list on our "Volunteer Opportunities" page? Send your ideas and recommendations to Nancy Macduff at mba@bmi.net. Be sure to give us your name and e-mail address so we can give you credit.
The Foundation Center (You can link to their site through the Volunteer Today portal page, Internet Sites You'll Love) has added a new page to their Web site. On it you can find abridged versions of some of their books on nonprofit management and foundations. There are also quizzes to test your understanding.