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| VAT: Jul - Aug | Volunteerism's Newsletter | Vintage: 1994 |
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This article is being re-printed for non-commercial use as approved by GRAPEVINE,
A Volunteerism Newsletter. |
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The DOVIA Exchange By Ivan Scheier |
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Creative Concepts for DOVIA: A Free Association
Here's an idea or three you might wish to add to DOVIA membership offerings and incentives. They're listed in no particular order of importance, with only a phrase or two on each, enough either for action or creative misinterpretation. We'll gladly provide more on any of these in future editions of The DOVIA Exchange. Let us know if you're interested.* Discounts for members (for workshops, of course, and maybe other things, too)
* Lending Library
* Information searches for members
* Alumnae Day for ex-members who've moved on to another career, probably a more empowered one, or maybe an entire Alumnae Section
* Naming Major Events and Programs after distinguished members or former members
* Designing DOVIA's own Logo, or Pin or Notepads or Paste-Its
* Serving as a Publications Outlet on commission, for major publishers in the field
* Scholarship Fund, named after a distinguished member
* Careerist (coordinator, manager, administrator) of the Year Award
* New Careerist of the Year Award
* Bosses Lunch or Breakfast
* Member-drawn cartoon feature in your newsletter
* Voluntary Mentor Program, linking neophytes in the field and experienced members
* Skilled Meeting facilitators, usually not the President or Vice President
* A Diversity Committee
* Membership Directory which includes willingly shared competencies and resources for each individual.
* Sliding Scale Membership Fees (especially for retired careerists and students)
* Annual Survey of Member Needs
* Paying Attention to the Annual Survey of Member Needs
* All-DOVIA Service Project in the community
* Think Tanks, Support Circles, or other programs designed especially to change more advance members.
* Job Bank
* Development of promising New Career Pathway for members, especially consultant/producer for entirely volunteer community groups.Emerging Now: A New Helping Team
Last issue of The DOVIA Exchange we asked you to think about all the different things you do - not only managing, in the strict sense, but also, perhaps, coaching, coordinating, facilitating etc. Of course, what you do, depends on Who You Work With. The day is long, long past when volunteer coordinators work only with volunteers as defined in any narrowly traditional sense - unpaid and serving of their own free will. DOVIA has to be deeply concerned with this "New Helping Team" because the profession is defined in large part by who the professional works with. Today this may well include, along with in-house volunteers: 1) independent volunteer groups in the community, 2) mandated service workers, such as alternative service offenders and students working off community service requirements, and 3) stipend workers, such as Green Thumb, VISTA, and in some cases, interns, who receive money, almost always sub-minimum wage, over and above their work-related expenses.Virtually every Volunteer Manager I talk to works with at least one of the above, in addition to 'classical' volunteers. Indeed, in many volunteer programs today there are as many people who have to be there as choose to be there. "Volunteer Manager" thus becomes a problematical title for someone who often doesn't work with volunteers and does a lot of other things beside manage...
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Ivan Scheier
Stillpoint
607 Marr
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, 87901
Tel (505) 894-1340
Email: ivan@zianet.comFor comments and editing suggestions please contact Mary Lou McNatt mlmcnatt@indra.com