Expanding the Network! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No, an ad from a cell phone company didn't get mixed into our newsletter somehow...we're just proud to introduce a new feature of the Vesper Service Network! We've added some social networking tools, linked to the original VSN site, that you can use to promote your organization, share your cause, or exchange ideas about getting involved in your community. And it's free so you can get your feet wet before joining, if you haven't already. Then, when you want to deepen your commitment, take part in projects, or use all of VSN's resources, you can become a member of the full-service site. Click here to check out this new feature of VSN, powered by Ning: http://vesperservice.ning.com/ |
Is your organization prepared for the "brain drain"? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ According to a Bridgespan Group study of not-for-profit sector's senior labor market, there will be a "brain drain" among senior leadership roles in the not-so-distant future as baby boomers begin to retire. Is your organzation ready for this looming deficit? If not, they have some ideas for you to do something about it now: http://www.bridgespangroup.org/kno_articles_leadershipdeficit.html |
Mandatory Volunteering?? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of the many benefits of volunteering is knowing that you are helping because you choose to, not because you are obligated to do so. So, what about the oxymoron, 'mandatory volunteering', those instances where someone is required to do a number of hours of community service? Many high schools and colleges now require community service hours before students can graduate. And there are even some schools that require *parents* of students to sign a contract to fulfill 10 volunteer hours for every student they have enrolled in the school. The idea for getting the parents involved is research that shows, "in general, involved parents have successful children" ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39880-2004Sep21.html) What are your thoughts on the issue? Does obligatory community service go against the very nature of volunteering? Or, do some people need an extra push to get involved in hopes that they'll do more of their own accord? What do you think? Feel free to post your thoughts to our new forum: http://vesperservice.ning.com/ |
Tip of the Month: What do you do if you think someone is taking advantage of your time? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We have all experienced this, in our volunteer service, as board members, and I have heard many executive directors express this frustration as well, as constituents and funders demand more of organizations. As a consultant who works with not-for-profit organizations, I frequently find myself doing extra for my clients. Most of the time this is a labor of love that I do willingly. But not-for-profit executives do a great job of squeezing every dollar they have, and sometimes I'm the one who feels squeezed beyond what I am willing to give. Here are five things I've learned over the years that can help prevent this from happening, or improve a situation that's going badly. They are simple, but powerful. Before the Project Over communicate - Take more time than you think is necessary at the start of any project to define the desired outcomes, the tasks it will take to achieve the outcomes, who will do each task, and how much time each task will take. It seems like extra work, but it saves time and frustration in the long-run. Be honest and realistic at the start of the project, with yourself and those you are working with, about the time it will take to get the task done. At the beginning of a project everyone is enthusiastic about the work, and eager to please. I fall into this trap myself. It's easier to deal with a bit of disappointment early in the process than it is to fix these issues later.
During the Project Keep good records of what you are doing and the time you spend doing it. Again, this might seem like unnecessary extra work, but it makes it easier to discuss any issues that might come up. Pay attention to any changes in the outcomes or action plan mid-project. Circumstances change often, which means the approach should change. When this happens, take the time to stop and think about the effect on everyone's time, and communicate this with everyone on the team. If it's taking longer than you expected to do the project, or if someone is asking you for more than you agreed to do, let the team know about it. Use the time records you've kept to explain the situation, why you think it is taking more time, and how you would like to resolve the situation. Try to learn from the experience and propose a resolution that everyone can live with.
After the Project This discussion gives everyone on the project an opportunity to learn from working together. The Vesper Service Network uses a simple project creation tool that guides organizations through the process of naming project goals, defining tasks, and setting project time requirements. It makes it easier to remember the simple steps to putting together a project where everyone can be successful. E-mail us for more information at info@vesperservice.net. |
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