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DOVIA.
Does that mean anything to you? It stands for Directors of Volunteers
in Agencies 
(DOVIA). If you
are familiar with this term it is likely you know that training
and networking are available through a membership in such a group
and maybe even are a member of your local DOVIA. If not, you
need to find out if such a group exists in your community and
join.
A professional association of managers or coordinators of volunteers is the same as the local association for attorneys, CPAs, or doctors. It is a place where you can meet professional colleagues, share experiences, get answers to questions, get training, find out what is new in the management of volunteers, and relax among friends and colleagues. The organization is not always called DOVIA, but is usually has a “professional association” as part of its title. The best way to find out whether such an organization exists in your area is to check with experienced managers of volunteers or call United Way. These folks are likely to know who to contact for more information. There is a listing of DOVIA organizations at http://www.energizeinc.com. It is arranged by state and province.
Managing volunteers is a lonely job, usually done by one person in an organization, so the only people who really understand the day-to-day challenges are other managers of volunteers. Belonging to a DOVIA is the best way to get connected, and you are worth the time you spend in professional development!
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Volunteer
Contributions In Hospitals The Chief
Executive Officers (CEOs) of hospitals in Ontario, Canada have
positive perceptions of volunteers. This fact is the result of
a study by Femida Handy, York University and Narasimhan Srinivasan,
University of Connecticut for the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy’s
Canada Volunteerism Initiative. Here are some of the results
of the study.
- 27 hospitals
around the metropolitan area of Toronto were the target of this
study.
- The respondents
were asked about their perceptions of volunteer resources at
their hospital.
- The contribution
of volunteers to the quality of patient care (spending time with
patients, reducing anxiety for families, establishing trust)
was rated on a scale of 1 – 10, with one being not at all
and 10 being indispensable. The average rating was 8.3 by CEOs,
9.0 by managers, 8.4 by staff, and 8.7 by volunteers.
- CEOs were
asked to identify volunteer activities that most enhanced patient
care.
- 72%, the most often cited, was providing patients with human contact.
- The next
most frequently mentioned, 17%, was contact with families by
providing information.
- All hospitals
said they believe the volunteer program was cost effective.
- Most CEOs
saw volunteers as providing valuable services at little cost,
but playing an important public relations role by their interaction
with patients and family members.
- The biggest
challenges facing hospitals was expanding the volunteer program.
72% of CEOs identified a lack of resources to recruit, train,
and supervise additional volunteers.
- Many CEOs
viewed short-term volunteers as a drain on resources.
- Some solutions suggested to make the hospital a more attractive place for volunteers included, more interesting assignments, volunteering from home, and more flexible hours.
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Looking for Recognition Items
Pins, t-shirts, tote bags, plaques and more are available at Volunteer Gifts. Generic items are available through this online site, or more personalized items for volunteer recognition. The Web site is easy to maneuver and has good pictures in a couple of sizes, so you can see what you are buying. Take a look for yourself at http://www.VolunteerGifts.com.
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| Interested in assessing volunteer and
staff relations in your program?
Looking for help from an expert? Get help with one of the Volunteer Program Evaluation Series. |
WSU ONLINE CERTIFICATE IN VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT
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.
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