New Look, New Capabilities for the SWIDOVS Blog

It seemed like additional space was needed, so we changed the theme to include sidebars on both the left and right sides, and….(*drum roll*) enabled COMMENTS!!!

NOW…we get to have more fun and interaction with one another. Blogs get dull when there’s nothing new, but none of us has time to sit here and make things up every day. Plus it might be fun to hear what you all are up to. So, this is the place! What do you think?

A Letter from Neva Geisler to all of us

Greetings!

The signing of the Kennedy Serve America Act this Spring ushered in the United We Serve summer initiative (81 days of service from June 22 to September 11th). United We Serve will culminate with a National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11th. The act has also established a national website for registering and finding local service projects (serve.gov). In addition to this campaign, during the week of October 19th, the entertainment industry will be promoting volunteerism in their network program concurrent with PSA’s encouraging volunteerism and service.

You will most likely begin to see more phone calls from volunteers, particularly last minute calls surrounding the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11th. With this push for volunteerism, our community needs to prepare to harness all of the new volunteer power.

Brainstorming some ways for your agency to utilize about 2 hours (or less) of unskilled manual labor will be of great help when volunteers start calling. Also, please make sure your contact info is current in the VC website, (www.unitedwaytv.org/volunteer) and that you have your most current needs for volunteers posted as opportunities. Also, I have enabled a patch on the United Way Volunteer Website (www.unitedwaytv.org/volunteer) that links the website to the national service website (serve.gov). The patch allows the opportunity you post on the United Way website to automatically post on serve.gov, so you won’t have to maintain your listing in two different places.

Get excited (and prepared!) for the volunteer wave that is coming!

Thanks for all you do!

Neva Geisler,

Director, Volunteer Engagement

United Way of Treasure Valley

It’s the best way to help the most people.

208.336.1070 ext. 122

www.helpthemostpeople.com

Spring Volunteer Fair – Idaho Department of Labor

The Idaho Department of Labor along with its partner organizations would like to invite you to participate in our Spring Volunteer Fair at the Meridian School District Service Center, 1303 E. Central Drive, Meridian, Idaho on May 16th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. This is a new event for the Idaho Department of Labor but based on participation in similar events, we expect several hundred people seeking volunteer opportunities to attend. With so many unemployed in the Treasure Valley, the Spring Volunteer Fair is being organized to provide people, including those who have recently become unemployed, an opportunity to explore the potential of volunteering as a way to use their skills for the benefit of others and keep them actively connected and productive in the communities in which they live. This is an excellent opportunity for you to promote your nonprofit or government agency and recruit capable volunteers into a wide variety of positions. We will provide a table and chairs for your displays and materials, and you are invited to set up starting at 7:30 am. From 8:30-9:30 am, The Idaho Nonprofit Center will present an optional workshop on managing volunteers. Workshops for volunteer-seekers will also be conducted throughout the day by Serve Idaho and the SWIDOVS (Southwest Idaho Directors of Volunteer Services). With your help and participation, this will be a very successful event for the employed and unemployed interested in volunteer service, and volunteer agencies alike. Booth space is limited, so please respond by May 1st by filling out and returning the attached application to Grant Gibson at the address below. We look forward to your participation.   http://swidovs.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/2009_volunteer_fair_application.doc

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of us.

Regards,

Grant Gibson

Workforce Consultant

 (208) 332-3575 Grant.gibson@labor.idaho.gov

SERVE IDAHO Conference April 15-17

The 2009 Title 1/Serve Idaho conference is this week! There are some very tempting offerings this year, including sessions by volunteer guru/wunderkind Martin Cowling (don’t miss this!), a whole day of Service Learning, and some up-to-the-minute information on Social Networking by our own Stephanie Almeida. Hope to see you there!

Come see for yourself : http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/title_one/conference09/info.htm

It’s late enough that registration is at the door only! Don’t miss out!

Boise Centre on the Grove

Volunteer Motivation – the Key to Transformation – Martin Cowling, part 2

Part 1 discussed the four main motivations for volunteers:

• The Cause, or the reason your organization exists
• The Benefits, whether real or perceived, of volunteering with your organization
• The Job itself, whether driving a truck or counting bags of peanuts
• The People the volunteer associates with, whether paid staff or other volunteers

and also the  five stages of a volunteer’s tenure in your organization:

• The Initial Approach
• The Honeymoon
• Establishment
• Long Term
• Moving on

OK – so, what do they need when?

This is where it gets interesting.

During the Initial Approach stage, a volunteer is most motivated by the CAUSE you serve, followed by the benefits, the job and then the people (whom they probably don’t know yet).

During the Honeymoon stage, a volunteer is most motivated by the BENEFITS of volunteering with you, followed by the cause, the job and then the people.

During the Establishment stage, a volunteer is most motivated by the JOB itself, followed by the benefits, the people and then the cause.

During the Long Term stage, a volunteer is most motivated by the JOB, followed by the cause, the benefits and then the people.

When a volunteer moves on, his or her motivations appear to center around the Benefits and the People, followed by the Cause and the Job. Perhaps that means they still appreciate the importance of the cause and like the job, but perhaps are not enjoying the same benefits and social interaction as before.

How do you connect with your volunteers, to see that they are getting the kind of strokes they need at each stage?

AMAZE your volunteers at each stage:

Ask them at each stage why they want to be involved – they might need a break

Match needs and interests – interview the volunteer – give people jobs that extend them

Answer where you cannot – be honest about the benefits you offer

Zero in on what can be improved – if you cannot do it because you are too busy, find a way to give the job to a volunteer

Excite and appreciate – invite co-workers or the whole family to a recognition event