A Guide to Success
Melody Prevatte, Ed.D.
QENO ED Roundtable
Wilmington, NC ~ March 31, 2011

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Introduce you to general content regarding volunteer management.
Suggest adding volunteer resources in program planning.

Why Do Individuals Give of Their
Time and Talents?!

“The key motivating factors for volunteers today have not changed: knowing they are needed and valued, personal commitment to serve the interest of community through responsible citizenship, and self satisfaction in meeting needs that will affect the future.”
NC Commission on Volunteerism & Community Service, p. 2

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Other reasons for volunteering may not be so altruistic.
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Community service to avoid jail time
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Enhance one’s resume
Satisfy a school project
“Get a foot in the door for a real job”
These experiences may lead individuals into sharing a lifetime of talents with their communities.

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Marketing tool for recruitment
Guide for screening volunteers
Basis for supervision & evaluation
Clarify responsibilities
Assist staff and volunteers to understand how the position relates to the mission of the organization

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Follow up with the volunteer on a frequent basis after placement. This will ensure the position is meeting the needs of the volunteer. If there is a problem, remove the volunteer discretely.

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The reason volunteers give most often for leaving an organization is that they receive no supervision.
No one told them what to do or if they were doing the job correctly.
~ NC Commission on Volunteerism & Community Service

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It is easier to
KEEP a volunteer than to FIND one!

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Not all volunteers like or need public recognition.
Before publicizing a volunteer’s name and accomplishment, be sure to get permission!

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It’s much easier to collect data along the way as compared to trying to retrieve data.

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As with all programs and activities, there are risks involved. The volunteer and the organization need to be protected.

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Basics in Volunteer Management
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What is it?
Trends & Forecasts
Motivation
Recruitment
Retention
Recognition
Risk Management

Professional development
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North Carolina Association for Volunteer Administration http://www.ncava.net/
Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration http://www.cvacert.org/
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Legal issues and risk management
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A Legal Handbook for Nonprofit Corporation Volunteers: http://www.iciclesoftware.com/VLH7/
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Volunteer Protection Act: http://www.rowlettcitizencorps.org/Forms/Liability%20Laws.pdf
Immunity From Civil Liability (North Carolina) http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2005/Bills/House/HTML/H1297v6.html
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P ROFESSIONAL RESEARCH & LITERATURE
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T
HE
I
NTERNATIONAL
J
OURNAL OF
V
OLUNTEER
A
DMINISTRATION http://www.ijova.org/
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Trends and Issues Shaping Volunteerism
 http://www.energizeinc.com/
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 http://www.volunteertoday.com/internetresources.html
http://www.volunteerpower.com/

State and national resources
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North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service http://www.volunteernc.org/
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Cooperation for National & Community Service http://www.cns.gov/
USA Freedom Corps http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/content/for_orgs/overview/index.asp
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United We Serve http://www.serve.gov/
North Carolina Association for Volunteer Administration http://www.ncava.net/
NC State recognition opportunities http://www.governor.state.nc.us/PublicService/certificates.aspx
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Tools and resources on a variety of management issues
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NC Center for Nonprofits http://www.ncnonprofits.org/
Independent Sector http://www.independentsector.org/
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Points of Light Institute http://www.pointsoflight.org
Hands On Network http://www.handsonnetwork.org/
Service Leader http://www.serviceleader.org
Staff Screening Toolkit http://nationalserviceresources.org/filemanager/download/ProgramMgmt/Staff_Screen_tool.pdf
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Tools for training for volunteer and service programs http://nationalserviceresources.org/
Tools for Board Development http://www.managementhelp.org/boards/boards.htm
Template for job description http://www.envision.ca/voljobdesc/example_form.asp
Volunteer insurance http://www.cimaworld.com/htdocs/volunteers.cfm
Internet Resources http://www.VolunteerToday.com
Free Shared Resources http://www.oursharedresources.com/

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“ Handbook of volunteer management ”
(n.d.). Office of the Governor: NC
Commission on Volunteerism and
Community Service. Raleigh, NC.
Independent Sector available at http://www.independentsector.org/
Vineyard, S. (1991). Secrets of motivation. Heritage Arts/VMSystems.

Melody Prevatte, Ed.D.
Southeastern Community College
910-642-7141 x 294 mprevatte@sccnc.edu