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VolunteerToday.com ~~ The Electronic Gazette for Volunteerism
Did You Give Up on Newspaper Ads
To Recruit Volunteers? Big Mistake.
Countless stories in the media, TV, radio, and Internet have predicted the demise of the newspaper. Circulation numbers have stayed the same since the 1960s, despite increases in the population. A new study finds that fully 85% of Americans read a newspaper at least once per week. More importantly, the topics that drive readership are right up the alley of those seeking to generate enthusiasm about volunteerism. The topics that drive readership more than others, listed in order of their popularity:
American Demographics, July 2001 Accommodating The Volunteer
American business is moving to organizing the workplace to be more employee friendly. This includes such things as designated benefits, sick leave, and vacation leave. There is also more flexibility in such things as spending accounts and scheduling. Workers have come to expect this. Twice as many companies offer telecommuting options, as did so five years ago. It was 20%, now it is 37%. 25% provide job-sharing opportunities, 31% give compressed workweeks, compared with 22% in 1997. 4% of the bravest companies permit pets at work. These changes are being driven by several factors; most notable among them are childcare issues, and the need to care for elderly parents. What does this have to do with volunteers? The willingness of for profit companies to provide flexibility to work is also required by voluntary and nonprofit organizations. Volunteers used to sign up with an organization and stay active throughout their life. Just like people did in their "for-pay" work." In the 21st Century volunteers spend some time with one volunteer program and then move on to do something else. They do not work the way their parents did. This demand for flexibility in volunteering requires continuous assessment of the role volunteers play in an organization.
Are Charities Serving Victims?
A new book of essays, What Makes Charity Work?, maintains that since the 1960s people who receive the services of nonprofit organizations are viewed as "victims who need assistance." The writers of this book suggest that the new century present the opportunity for nonprofit and voluntary programs to return to traditional American values. Those values include stressing the importance of self-reliance and personal responsibility, and not the distribution of cash. It is the antithesis of creating an on-going dependency among the poor. The focus should be on bringing the poor into the full mainstream of life. The authors purport that philanthropic institutions regard poverty as a product of such things as economics and racism. Therefore the role of the charity was to correct social injustice by redistributing income, and they contend creating bloated and ineffective non-profit organizations. Several examples are given where the number of staff grows dramatically, as the charity becomes merely an arm of government welfare programs. The authors raise the issue that a return to vales-oriented philanthropic activity is a way to move people from the "street" to the mainstream. One author highlights a program that moves unskilled workers into the workplace. In five years the organizations has placed 14,000 former drug addicts, offenders, and homeless people in entry-level jobs. After two years 85% of the individuals are still working. This organization's goals are to rid people of self-defeating behavior such as bad attitude, bad body language, and passivity. It stresses building the clients' sense of power to control their own lives. Rigorous, no-nonsense training by staff who were formerly in the same position as the clients, has zero tolerance for such things as racial blaming, the excuse of victimization, and resentment of authority. This controversial look at the future of nonprofit and voluntary organizations is sure to be a cause for self-examination in organizations around the world.
What Makes Charity Work? Editor
Myron Magnet CYBER VPM MOVES ON
CYBERVPM, the best know and groundbreaking online discussion site for volunteer manages is moving on. Beginning in the summer 2002 this award-winning site will be moving into new hands. Its owner, Nan Hawthorne, is refocusing her career and will be passing some of CyberVPM.com's features to other capable hands. Some of the elements of this site have moved already. For more information you can visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cybervpm/. Here is a list of the changes and the links to new locations:
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 Crystal Hill at 202-729-8000. 1-800-VOLUNTEER
By calling 1-800-VOLUNTEER in the U.S., individuals can be connected to their local volunteer center. This is a national interactive call routing system designed to get volunteers connected to people who can help them volunteer. Copyright 2002 by Nancy Macduff.
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