The Independent Sector annually reports the value of one volunteer hour. That value can be used to calculate the monetary value of hours donated. For the year 2001 that number is $15.39 per hour. For more information on this visit the Independent Sector Web site.

The online discussion group for volunteer managers, CYBERVPM, (To subscribe, send the message SUBSCRIBE CYBERVPM followed by your full name or organization. Send this message, making capitalization exactly, with no further message in the body of the e-mail.) has a question every month from someone wanting the perfect quote or poem or song to use at a volunteer event. Here are some places to find the perfect quote. Most of them can be searched by keywords, author, or topic.

Annabelle's Quotation Guide - http://www.annabelle.net

Cliche Finder - http://www.westegg.com/cliche/

High turnover, high stress, high demands. Sound like the job description for a stockbroker? It is also the description of job-managing volunteers. A Volunteer Today reader asked for some tips on coping with stress and burnout at work. Here are some ideas.

• Plan, plan, plan. An annual plan can keep you and your supervisor focused on the task at hand. It is easy to drop a "new duty" on the desk of someone without a plan. Update the supervisor every quarter on the progress of the plan. This is a preventive action to keep them from thinking of the volunteer manager when any new task comes along. It also helps build the foundation for asking for more help or resources.
• Delegate, delegate, delegate. Yes, make the time to train volunteers to do tasks currently done by the volunteer manager. A recruiting team can be the life saver of all time, but they need to do everything, from planning recruiting campaigns to designing posters and flyers, and the volunteer manager has to let them do it their way.
• Practice in the mirror saying NO.
• Be realistic in scheduling. How long does it really take to drive to work? Finish the newsletter? Attend the staff meeting?
• Go to bed 15 minutes early. Then go to work 15 minutes early.
• Once per week have coffee, tea, soda, or lunch with the most positive person you know.
• Make an appointment with yourself twice per month for 90 minutes in a location outside the office. Libraries have quiet corners where you can read or just think!
• Take a break in the morning, afternoon, and at lunch. Those breaks, actually, make you a more efficient worker.
• Get a new hairstyle or suit.
• Take a hot bath to relieve stress.
• In bed, before you get up, think of 10 reasons why you are living a blessed life.
• Do not live on Snickers or Almond Joy.
• Take up a hobby that involves a beginning, middle and end. Woodworking, quilting, stained glass, painting, basket making, and fly-tying, fishing, and hiking. Your job is never ending and completion of a task gives great satisfaction.
• Get a pet. Pets lower blood pressure and help us focus on someone other than ourselves.
• Take a course or classes about managing volunteers to help you get re-energized about your job.
• Stay professionally active with other volunteer managers. Join a local volunteer managers association.
• Attend the Association for Volunteer Administration conference. Meet colleagues who share your frustrations and have found solutions. Meet lifelong friends.

Washington State University offers a Volunteer Management Certification Program through the Internet. Individuals around the world can earn a certificate in managing or coordinating volunteers, without leaving home.

For more information, visit Volunteer Today's Portal site, Internet Resources. Look for the Washington State University listing. There is a hot link to their Web site.

The National Association of Volunteer Programs in Local Government (NAVPLG) is an association of administrators, coordinators and directors of volunteer programs in local government. Its purpose is to strengthen volunteer programs in local government through leadership, advocacy, networking and information exchange. NAAVPLG is an affiliate of the National Association of Counties and is seeking affiliate status with the National League of Cities.

Cost is $20 for individuals and $75 for group local government membership. An affiliate membership is $25 and is intended for those who are not local government members but may have an interest in the group. There is a quarterly newsletter, national network, and access to NACo's Volunteerism Project.

For more information contact Glenis Chapin, who is a member of the Executive Committee. She can be reached by phone at 503-588-7990. Be sure to mention you read about this in Volunteer Today.

Copyright 2001 by Nancy Macduff.