Guest Post: Murphy’s Law — sometimes simpler is better in technology for volunteer management
When low(er) tech is the answer to our scheduling needs Back in the late aughts I had my first brush with volunteer management, when I volunteered for a second year with a film festival in New York City. In my first year, I just stood at the entrance to a 25-screen...
Guest Post: How to Build Capacity with Roles that Volunteers Enjoy: a process in 4 easy steps
When the pandemic hit, this volunteer manager created volunteer roles that were a win-win for staff and volunteers When the calendar turned to 2021, we all knew COVID-19 was not going to disappear. We are still living in the midst of a pandemic while trying to...
Guest Post: Why it’s worth allowing volunteers to lead (even when it’s uncomfortable)
For CVA Krista Gilmore, the point of volunteer management is to cultivate volunteer leaders Give away the good stuff. That was the advice I received 25 years ago from an experienced volunteer director. I was new to a children’s ministry position and had little...
Guest Post: Maintaining a connection with pandemic-inactive volunteers
A first-hand account from a CVA who succeeded in sustaining the connection to volunteers sidelined by the pandemic Covid-19 has been a game changer for all of us: it challenged my program at the Smithsonian in ways large and small. Smithsonian Associates (SA), which...
You’re already practicing something that will improve your management skills
While we’re waiting for the pandemic to end, you may see parallels to your own program goals One of the wisest pieces of advice I ever received came from a supervisor of volunteers at my former workplace, a CASA program. CASA, or Court Appointed Special...
How to ramp up staff engagement with volunteers (and have fun in the process)
Are buy-in and inclusion two haves of the same whole? Right now I have a great project – I’m working with a museum client to create a Volunteer Engagement Strategic Plan. It’s a year long undertaking rather than the typical short-term one. That’s because the actual...
#LOVols, do this and be happier with your online meetings
If you want a fully engaged audience, spend time planning this part, too Have you experienced this? You’re leading an online orientation for prospective volunteers – or perhaps it’s a volunteer training – or even a staff meeting – and the energy in the room never...