Keeping the Plural in Points of View

Points of View is moving into new territory. For the past 12 years, I have written this quarterly essay with Steve McCurley, who recently retired. But I have no desire to change the title of this feature to “Point” of View. The plural "Points" has always mattered. So we will do some experimenting with this corner of e-Volunteerism, evolving over the next few issues with the help of you, our readers.

In this issue, the plural in Points of View will come from all subscribers who are willing to collaborate. By answering a series of questions, our subscribers will help build the essay.  (23 Aug- 9 submissions) 

• Subscribers:  Join this Points of View by completing our series of questions now. Then come back to this page regularly to read what others have contributed.
• Non-subscribers:  Although we are only asking for subscriber input, you are welcome to read all the responses below and also comment on the entire discussion at the end of the article.  

Moving forward, Points of View will continue to be a first-person feature, representing the points of view from many. We welcome submissions from any source (non-subscribers can use the comments form below to add their input), with the main requirement that the essay continue to explore ideas that are challenging or challenge others’ perspectives. 

Here are the key issues subscribers have shared with us so far:

What is the #1 problem or challenge you face in working with volunteers?

Submitted by a 3-5 years subscriber with 10-20 years in the field working with volunteers as one of multiple functions in the UK
Getting the right climate for service-users to be volunteers.

Submitted by a  3-5 year subscriber with 5-10 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
The #1 problem or challenge I face in our field is influencing other volunteer managers to see themselves as organizational leaders.  Even for those who want to lead, some are marginalized within their organizations, some are too busy with "volunteer requests" and some are lacking the skill to influence others in the first place.  Volunteers are only a strategic resource if we make them so.

Submitted by a "1-2 year" subscriber with more than 20 years directing volunteer involvement in Canada
Staff buy in to the great human resource that they have at hand - volunteers - and that they will not impact union work only enhance it.

Submitted by a new subscriber with 3-5 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
Retaining volunteers for the long-haul. 

Submitted by a "more than 5 years" subscriber with more than 20 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
Getting staff buy-in; getting the staff to treat volunteers well when the staff don't report to me. How can I get staff to buy into a new program when I can't guarantee that volunteers won't show up? How can I help them build a program when they won't take the first step? (Can you sense the frustration?)

Submitted by a "more than 5 years" subscriber with more than 20 years in the field working with volunteers as one of multiple functions
Recruitment and sustaining volunteers in an area where there are so many volunteering opportunities. Something new is always coming up as the flavor of the week.

Submitted by a "1-2 year" subscriber with more than 10 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
I agree with the previous response - staff buy-in, but will add to it.  The problem I experience everyday is changing a mindset of all in the organization about the possibilities for volunteer positions that would assist them in meeting or exceding their goals.  This begins at the top with System Management unwilling and unable to see volunteers in a different way than they have in the past.  It is evident to me that one cannot change unless willing. 

Submitted by a "more than 5 years" subscriber with more than 20 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
The volunteers are the easy part of the job.  The biggest challenge is having the leadership value the administrator of unpaid staff as highly as they value the director of Human Resources.  Lack of this respect leads to lack of resources, lack of opportunity to influence paid staff in thinking creatively about volunteer engagement, and more time selling the program internally than externally.

Submitted by a "more than 5 years" subscriber with more than 20 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
Staff buy-in for creating impromptu opportunities; we rarely have positions we need to advertise for, but interest is high and applications from truly interesting folk come in every day 

Subscribers:  Share your point of view

What trends – social, economic, political – would you like to see explored in terms of how these trends impact volunteers and the organizations engaging them?

Submitted by a 3-5 years subscriber with 10-20 years in the field working with volunteers as one of multiple functions in the UK
The move from volunteering towards social action, where the desired community engagement is perceived by government to need less direction by managers of volunteers.

Submitted by a  3-5 year subscriber with 5-10 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
Social entrepreneurship - what is happening, what will happen and how can "traditional" volunteer programs capitalize on the trend and remain relevant?  If "volunteers" are doing it all on their own, why should an organization support a volunteer program?

Submitted by a new subscriber with 3-5 years directing volunteer involvement in Canada
Involvment of the working generation.  Family volunteering - how it is engaged, some setting that it occurs in and risk managment.

Submitted by a new subscriber with 3-5 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
Placing diversity at the forefront of volunteer recruitment and program outreach.

Submitted by a "more than 5 years" subscriber with more than 20 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
How to take our volunteer program to the next level. What are cutting edge practices that have been successful? --Oh, and thanks for the recent article on library volunteers.

Submitted by a "1-2 year" subscriber with more than 10 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
Being in a healthcare setting, I am constantly interested in the impact of healthcare reform and the changing environment of healthcare on volunteer roles.  It is clear that the cost of healthcare must be contained, so how can volunteers and volunteer programs contribute to the overall goals:  providing better care at a lower cost while building healthier communities?

Submitted by a "more than 5 years" subscriber with more than 20 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
Creating buzz around volunteer management as a career goal - fostering human development where the systems and bureaucracy are not what makes it a 'profession' but the results in terms of synergies and creative engagement of the community

Subscribers:  Share your point of view

What specific issues in the field of volunteerism do you feel deserve scrutiny/investigation/debate?

Submitted by a 3-5 years subscriber with 10-20 years in the field working with volunteers as one of multiple functions in the UK
'Reciprocal' volunteering initiatives, where people receive a reward or service for their volunteering. How these 

Submitted by a  3-5 year subscriber with 5-10 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
Retention of talent in the volunteer management field.

Submitted by a new subscriber with 3-5 years directing volunteer involvement in Canada
Including the volunteer in Strategic planning for the Health Care system.

Submitted by a "more than 5 years" subscriber with more than 20 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
Risk management, working with low-income youth who have no experience in the work world (and if their parents have this knowledge, they aren't sharing it with the kids)

Submitted by a "more than 5 years" subscriber with more than 20 years in the field working with volunteers as one of multiple functions
Engaging volunteers based on demographics 

Submitted by a "1-2 year" subscriber with more than 10 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
The profession of Leader of Volunteers (using whatever terms you want) is in need of elevation by some means.  I know this is an old topic, but one that is never completely resolved.  Other professions have standardized credentials that are recognized universally - why not DVS's? Until this is accomplished, companies will continue to hire the person with the warmest smile who needs to learn on his/her own how to do this.  And, until this happens, those of us in these roles will be viewed as one step below other professionals. I also realize this will probably never happen in my lifetime, but it is an issue that deserves future investigation and debate.

Submitted by a "more than 5 years" subscriber with more than 20 years directing volunteer involvement in the U.S.
Separating out the work of a non-profit organization from business/corporate service; the term internship and its abuses paint the practice with too broad a stroke - maybe terminology is the issue, I don't know

Subscribers:  Share your point of view