The Training page for Volunteer Today has historically focused on tips for trainers. Occasionally there were articles about training for the manager of volunteers. With this issue the focus is shifting. Each issue will have information on some aspect of professional development for managers of volunteers and some articles on how to be a better trainer of volunteers. The author of this page, Nancy Macduff, is open to ideas and suggestions from readers on what might be useful information in the area of professional development. You can email her at: editor@volunteertoday.com.
~ June 2007 ~ Topics
Volunteer Management Institute
in Spokane, WA
PowerPoint No, No!
Nonverbal Cues
Washington State University offers its Volunteer Management Institute for managers of volunteers in Spokane, WA, November 6-9, 2007. This certificate program is the face-to-face version of the online Volunteer Management Certificate Program (http://www.capps.wsu.edu/vmcp/). Designed to accommodate beginning managers, as well as those with more experience it is an in-depth look at the new forms of volunteering and how to manage the episodic and traditional volunteer. For more information visit the Web site (address to come soon).
We now have downloadable books available in PDF format. Check out our online bookstore for Handling Problem Volunteers by Steve McCurley and Sue Vineyard now available electronically.
PowerPoint
is likely the most abused training device in recent memory. Presenters
put up information that is confusing, their lecture notes in tiny fonts,
unreadable across a large room. A funny video to illustrate the abuses
can be found at http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2007/04.
It might be a way to see if what you are doing is violating some of the
rules of good PowerPoint usage!
Trainers need to be mind and body readers. Volunteers
in training send messages through their body language. Here is a short
quiz to test your knowledge of standard body language messages.
Directions: Match the meaning with the nonverbal cue. Put the letter in
the space provided. Answer key below.
| Nonverbal Cue | Meaning | |
| 1.___ | Glancing sideways | a. evaluation |
| 2.___ | Rubbing neck | b. confidence |
| 3.___ | Hands in pocket | c. cooperation |
| 4.___ | Clenched fist | d. frustration |
| 5.___ | Covering mouth with hands | e. Suspicion |
| 6.___ | Open hands | f. insecurity |
| 7.___ | Smiling | g. defensiveness |
| 8.___ | Upper body learning forward | h. openness |
| 9.___ | Stoking chin | i. nervousness |
Answer Key: 1. e; 2. d; 3. f; 4. g; 5. i; 6. h; 7. b; 8. c; 9. a.
Close to 200 colleges and universities offer academic programs on nonprofit and volunteer sector management. They are usually master's degree programs, but not always. American Humanics sponsors undergraduate programs, as well. If you are looking to push out the professional development window, consider taking a course at one of these colleges. A full list resides at http://tltc.shu.edu/npo/. Thank Roseanne Mirabella, of Seton Hall University for keeping up with this list.
| Interested in assessing Recruiting in your program?
Looking for help from an expert? Get help with one of the Volunteer Program Evaluation Series. |
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