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	~ February 2004 ~ Topics Dictionaries Are Trend Trackers 63.8 Million Volunteers New Resource On Managing Volunteers
Dictionaries Are Trend Trackers What do Blog, Botox, Identify theft, and Amber Alert have in common? They are likely to make it into the 2004 version of a dictionary. According to Mike Agnes, Editor-in-Chief of the Webster’s New World Dictionary, words need to be in widespread use over a three year period to become a candidate for a dictionary listing. Other words he says are likely to make it this year: nanotube, transparency (with a new definition), and supersize. Can you define these words? If you can’t, how “hip” is your recruiting effort? (For definitions visit the VT page “Recruiting and Retention.” The Answer Key is there.) Return to the Menu 63.8 Million Volunteers The Bureau of Labor Statistics started tracking the level of volunteering among Americans in 2002. The Bureau uses the Current Population Survey, which is a monthly poll of 60,000 US households concerning employment and related matters. Here are some of the results of the most recent survey. Be sure to share the results with paid staff and those who plan recruiting activities. The numbers provide a glimpse into where the volunteers of tomorrow might be found. In addition to the statistics below, you can see the numbers by education and employment. Copies of the report are available at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/volun.toc.htm. Who is Volunteering and For How Long? 2002 2003 Number % of Population Median Annual Hours Number % of Population Median Annual Hours TOTAL 59,783,000 27.4 52 63,791,000 28.8 52 Category - Gender Men 24,706,000 23.6 52 26,805,000 25.1 52 Women 35,076,000 31 50 36,987,000 32.2 52 Category - Race White 52,591,000 29.2 52 55,572,000 30.6 52 Black 4,896,000 19.1 52 5,145,000 20 52 Asian n/a n/a n/a 1,735,000 18.7 40 Hispanic 4,059,000 15.5 40 4,364,000 15.7 40 Category - Age 16 - 19 4,276.000 26.9 40 4,758,000 29.5 40 20 - 24 3,467,000 17.8 36 3,912,000 19.7 45 25 - 34 9,574,000 24.8 33 10,337,000 26.5 36 35 - 44 14,971,000 34.1 52 15,165,000 34.7 50 45 - 54 12,477,000 31.3 52 13,302,000 32.7 52 55 – 64 7,331,000 27.5 60 8,170,000 29.2 60 65 + 7,687,000 22.7 96 8,146,000 23.7 88 Return to the Menu New Resource On Managing Volunteers To Lead is to Serve: How to Attract Volunteers and Keep Them, by Shar McBee is now available at the Volunteer Today Bookstore. The book provides practical information on holding effective meetings, inspiring volunteers, strategies to be welcoming, practicing listening skills, developing effective teams, and setting goals. There are exercises to integrate the principles of the book into the operation of a volunteer program. There are nine tips on overcoming obstacles. Check out this new publication. Return to Top A Service of MBA Publishing-A subsidiary of Macduff/Bunt Associates All materials copyright protected ©2007 925 "E" Street Walla Walla, WA 99362 (509) 529-0244 FAX: (509) 529-8865 EMAIL: editor@volunteertoday.com The content of all linked sites are beyond the control Volunteer Today and the newsletter assumes no responsibility for their content.