The Center for Creative Community

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM MYTHOLOGY @

 @ -- permission for use-with-acknowledgment

BY Ivan Scheier
FOR USE BY THE VOLUNTAS CONSULTANTS AND TRAINERS INSTITUTE
APRIL 12-16, 1992
GHOST RANCH, NEW MEXICO

The following alleged myths about agency volunteer programs were collected from discussion with people with daily hands-on management responsibilities for such programs. Their general feeling was that these myths were particularly damaging when held, consciously or unconsciously by upper levels of management and/or significant power figures in a community. What do you think? Please mark each statement via this key:

This is a fairly widespread myth we should be concerned about.
    Somewhat widely held, perhaps, but not terribly damaging.
_____(blank) I think this isn't a myth at all. It's largely true.

********************

_____Because they work free, volunteers are free, a gift from the community rather than a careful agency investment.

_____A good volunteer coordinator virtually assures program success.

_____The volunteer coordinator's salary is (virtually) the only expense for the volunteer program.

_____There is a definite volunteer type, tending to the naive and saintly, female and flower-hatted.

_____Mainly (or largely), people volunteer because they don't have much else to do.

_____Volunteers, especially youth volunteers, can't reliably deal with confidentiality.

_____The motivation of volunteers is by far the most important consideration in achieving a successful agency volunteer program.

_____The volunteer program is a distinct and separate function of the agency rather than integrated as one form of community resource to be considered for contribution in achieving any agency purpose.

_____The main (only) role of volunteers is to enhance services to the people we serve (clients, patients, consumers, audience, etc).

_____If we had enough money, we wouldn't need volunteers. They are mainly a way of buffering the impact of budget slashes.

_____Because they are unpaid, volunteers cannot be held accountable to the agency.

_____Volunteer = unskilled (non-professional)

_____ (Your favorite volunteer program myth here)

_____ (Your next most favorite volunteer program myth here)

 

_______________ TOTAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM MYTHOLOGY SCORE (28 is perfect)

 

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Ivan Scheier
Stillpoint
607 Marr
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, 87901
Tel (505) 894-1340
Email: ivan@zianet.com

For comments and editing suggestions please contact Mary Lou McNatt mlmcnatt@indra.com