In the conclusion to part 1, Wes, who began his new job as manager of volunteer services in December 2019 and as the new head of volunteer services, had to almost immediately send volunteers, ones he didn't get to know well, home. In part 2 of this interview, Wes chats about his experiences, including: Difficult conversationsThe hardest thing he's had to do as a volunteer manager. (and it's not what you might expect)Rounding on volunteers, building that relationshipDiversity and...

Wes began his new job as manager of volunteer services in December 2019 and as the new head of volunteer services, had to almost immediately send volunteers, ones he didn't get to know well, home. In part 1 of this interview, Wes chats about his experiences, including: That initial shock.The suspension and not knowing what would ultimately happen.How do you introduce yourself and say, "Hi, BTW, stay home."Nurturing the personalities you've not gotten to know yet.Am I the bad guy?Involve the...

In this second part of my conversation with Laura Rundell, we chat about: Inspirational volunteers who support people knowing they cannot change circumstances.Volunteer appreciation-do we need a luncheon or even a week? Where should our focus be?Evolving volunteer recognition.Team nomination vs. volunteer of the year.No one, including staff gets there on their own.Person of the year? What's the point?Volunteer voice of descent-why we should listen.Grumpy volunteers-just grumpy, or do they...

Laura Rundell and I chatted last year about resilience in episode 15. In this episode, Laura and I get back together and chat about today's volunteering landscape. What has changed? What is the same? Laura discusses: Are volunteers returning?Change means an uptick in needsPaid staff are scarcePre-pandemic models vs. post pandemic modelsWhere does the program go moving forward?Navigating a shifting landscapeGetting volunteer buy-in upfrontMaking volunteer roles definableWhat is...

In part 2, Paul Falkowski, PHD discusses his vision for designating volunteers as essential workers. He touches on: The workloads of nursing home activity directorsHow family members are pushing to be designated essentialThe toll isolation takes on nursing home residents and the surprising statistics Risk vs. gainTraining for essential volunteersVolunteer creativityQuirky interview questions that reveal characterIs reimbursement an answer?How creating individualized volunteer help can...

In part 1, Paul discusses how he began his journey to designate volunteers as essential workers. Paul shares how he became a champion for volunteers in nursing homes through a nonprofit he built from the ground up. Paul discusses the importance of team, volunteer education and training, skin in the game, and navigating volunteer management challenges. In the next episode, he discusses his ambitious plan to designate volunteers as essential workers. Dr. Paul Falkowski is dedicated to serving...

Do we assume that engaging kids 9-12 is too much effort for the return on our investment? Are we missing an untapped volunteer potential? In this episode, Summer Neiss, student coordinator for the K Kids program at Mabel Rush Elementary school shares the passions, motivations, and untapped potential of youth volunteers. Summer discusses the upsides such as attracting the kids' parents or guardians, thinking out of the box and cultivating future volunteers.  Points she shares are: Kids are...

In this episode, Laura Rundell chats about resilience, a timely topic during the Covid pandemic: Laura shares her experiences on these subjects:What exactly is resilience?The filled up cope-o-meterExamples of resilient volunteersWhat resilience is...

In this episode, January 2021, Brittany McGarry shares her thoughts and suggestions for:Where do we go from 2020?How are volunteer managers viewed?How to engage volunteers quickly.How forced opportunities can help us navigate the future.How a simple...

In this episode, Elisa Kosarin, CVA shares her insights on:strategic planning and how fun fits inhow volunteer managers should aspire to move up into senior managementachieving buy-in and the seven kinds of powerthe future of virtual volunteeringhow...

In this episode, Corina Sadler shares her thoughts on volunteer managers' personal and professional development. Listen in as Corina talks about:Looking outside the box for training to skillsetDeveloping a professional storyUsing social media to recruit...

In this episode, Samantha and Sydney talk about starting their own organization and share their insights on:making volunteering social through packing parties innovative ways to procure in-kind donationshow to use meaningful stats verses volunteer...

Listen in as Dr. Corinne Devin, Navy officer, accomplished leader and passionate volunteer speaks about her experience volunteering overseas and gives timely tips for elevating volunteer manager leadership. In this episode, Corinne chats about:·     ...

Jaylen Christie, the Director of Public Relations for Moxē, an integrated marketing agency in Orlando and former volunteer manager, chats about: volunteer contingency plans volunteer impact volunteer ROI showing impact to volunteers who don't work...

Volunteer vigilante? Balderdash? In this episode, Adam Janes, CVA shares his thoughts on volunteer management during the Covid 19 pandemic. Adam discusses care mongerers, changes in policies, virtual volunteer roles, how to help volunteers utilize...

In this special episode of Volunteer Plain Talk Podcast, Rob Jackson of Rob Jackson Consulting Ltd. located in the UK, and Meridian chat about coping, challenges and opportunities in uncertain times. Rob offers his thoughts and advice including:·     ...

Bo Goliber, who heads up philanthropy at Fingerpaint, a health and wellness marketing agency, shares the keys to a successful relationship between nonprofits and corporate partners. Bo assures us that corporate partners do not want to overwhelm...

Helping to create a positive culture of volunteering in many organisations can be tough work for leaders of volunteer engagement.  How do you ensure that volunteers feel valued by everyone, from the CEO and board down to the front-line staff? How do you have an impact on strengthening the value and impact of volunteerism when you, as a leader, already feel invisible or unheard? Tracey O’Neill, Manager of Volunteer Engagement at Austin Health in Melbourne, Australia discusses the strategies...

Positive change requires achieving senior management buy-in, involving volunteers in strategy planning, getting volunteers on board and using technology and volunteer support to make volunteering more accessible and inclusive.

Volunteer motivations and mental health are key to the future of volunteering.

We may lose a volunteer when they want to leave in order to do more, but we gain a partner.

An enlightening interview with Mark W. Smith who discusses his innovative volunteer management ideas.