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| VAT: Jul - Aug | Volunteerism's Newsletter | Vintage: 1995 |
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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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A Day Celebrating Associations Of Volunteer Managers
Wednesday, October 25th in Boston"Some are called "DOVIAs", other "Associations", "Councils", or "Clusters". Nearly all exist to enhance the profession and to network with others. At the 1995 International Conference on Volunteer Administration, this pre-conference day will celebrate their being and offer an opportunity for all to share thoughts and ideas in guided roundtable discussions, as well as be part of shaping the future of this group. Ivan Scheier and facilitator pas excellence Gary Stern will be featured resource persons as they guide the group. A luncheon keynote will help us understand the implications of the proposed welfare reform legislation for volunteer managers. Do register to be part of this day for volunteer managers."
Betty Swift, AVA Coordinator for the Day
A Productive Partnership
We’ve been asking you questions pertinent to making any partnership between AVA and DOVIAs a happy win-win one. The basic idea is to identify the things DOVIAs do best for themselves and leave them alone (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it) unless these things can be of help to AVA. From the DOVIA viewpoint, however, a productive partnership will be built largely on receiving help with things the typical DOVIA cannot do for itself.
Hence the two questions below from the recent National DOVIA Network survey. Our categorizing of responses is necessarily somewhat subjective, and the sample is not large. However, collectively the respondents have approximately 200 years experience in volunteer administration! Almost always this includes extensive leadership experience in one or more DOVIA-type professional associations. Finally, almost half the respondents are resource people at national or regional levels.
Now, the questions and responses:
1. Please list up to 4 or 5 things a local DOVIA-type association can do best or well enough by itself, without outside assistance.
The responses showed little change from a survey of a decade ago. Overwhelmingly, respondents felt the things DOVIA could do well enough without outside assistance were:
- networking, support systems, intercommunication locally; and
- local training: workshops, conferences, some emphasis on affordability. Mentoring, also mentioned quite frequently, could be considered a blend of networking and training.
Response themes at a more moderate but still substantial level were:
- recognition and promotion of the public image of both volunteers and volunteer administrators;
- helping encourage local volunteer events;
- establishing and encouraging "best practice" standards in volunteer administration; and
- facilitating access to needed resources.
Thus far, the responses are far more a confirmation of past trends than any surprising new ones. But a few less frequently mentioned things were scarcely visible in the last survey ten years ago. Included here are "letting members know about job opportunities in the field", "organizing retreats", and "studying local developments in volunteerism with a view to anticipating trends".
2. What are the main things a local DOVIA-type association is least able to do by itself and could use outside help with?
Again, the results are mainly confirmation of past trends. Overwhelmingly, respondents felt DOVIAs could use outside help on:
- information, awareness, advocacy/lobbying on broader national issues and/or legislation; and
- consistent access to resources at the national/international level.
Examples of the latter included satellite broadcasts, guest speakers, technical assistance, major conferences, access to literature/publications, and the latest cutting-edge information, including national trends. Less marked, but still significant was outside assistance in connecting with other DOVIAs.
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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