| Volunteerism. You hear the word often on
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| | when I was a kid, I'll volunteer to make
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| broadcast media and see it in print just
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| | phone calls but won't make calls to
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| as often. Why? It comes down to money.
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| | solicit funds.4. Could you make good use
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| According to the "Rural Volunteer
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| | of your talents/skills? Your volunteer
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| Network," an Ontario, Canada Website,
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| | efforts will be satisfying only if your
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| "Volunteers can often make the difference
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| | position makes use of who you are and
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| in whether an agency survives."I've
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| | what you do.5. How many meetings would
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| volunteered for decades and gained much
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| | you have to attend? One committee I
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| from it. But I've noticed that some
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| | serve on meets only once a month, thank
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| volunteers "jump" from one organization
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| | goodness, because my calendar is filled
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| to another. They get tired of the same
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| | with meetings. Too many meetings often
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| old stuff or are looking for new
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| | means too little work gets done.6. Would
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| challenges. Then too, not all volunteer
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| | you get regular communications?
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| experiences are happy ones.Some years ago
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| | Volunteers need to know what's going on.
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| I volunteered for an organization that
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| | All of the organizations I volunteer for
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| had a noble mission. When I went to
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| | send out regular emails and minutes.7.
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| meetings, however, I felt uncomfortable,
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| | Do volunteers receive training? Several
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| so uncomfortable I came to dread
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| | of my friends volunteer in a hospital
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| meetings. After some detail work I
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| | gift shop. Before they started work they
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| realzed the organization was a poor
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| | received cash register, ordering, and
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| steward of the grant funds it received.
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| | merchandise display training.8. Are
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| A few weeks later I resigned.Many
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| | mentors available? You may wish to
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| organizations need to improve their
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| | volunteer for something new and need a
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| volunteer policies, according to a 2004
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| | little help. Once you're "up and
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| study from The Urban Institute. Study
| |
| | running" the mentor can help someone
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| authors Mark A. Hager, PhD and Jeffrey L.
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| | else.9. Would you be able to add to your
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| Brudney, PhD think "charities interested
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| | skills? Volunteerism should be a win-win
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| in increasing retention of volunteers
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| | situation for all concerned. Being able
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| should invest in recognizing volunteers,
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| | to add to your skill set is a real
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| providing training and professional
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| | volunteerism plus. You could volunteer to
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| development for them, and screening
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| | a new career.10. Does the organization
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| volunteers and matching them to
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| | recognize its volunteers? Every
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| organizational tasks."Sounds like good
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| | organization that relies on volunteers
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| advice to me. Preparation is also good
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| | should thank them in some way, whether
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| advice. Answer these questions before
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| | it's listing their names in a newsletter
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| you volunteer for anything. Even if
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| | or hosting a coffee party. Recognition is
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| you're an experienced volunteer you may
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| | your "pay" and makes you feel good
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| wish to answer these questions and
| |
| | inside.I thank all volunteers for sharing
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| reevaluate your position.1. What is the
| |
| | their time and talents with others. You
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| organization's mission? Ask for a
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| | keep the world turning!Copyright 2005 by
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| hardcopy of the mission statement and
| |
| | Harriet Hodgson. To learn more about her
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| read it carefully. Also check with your
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| | work please go to Hodgson has been a
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| state Charity Review Board to see how the
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| | nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a
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| organization spends its money.2. Does
| |
| | member of the Association of Health Care
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| the mission match your goals? I'm a
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| | Journalists. She has volunteered for the
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| health writer and, to make the best use
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| | AMA Alliance, Minnesota Medical
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| of my time, volunteer for medical and
| |
| | Association Alliance, and many community
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| health organizations only. You may come
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| | groups in her hometown of Rochester, MN.
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| to a similar decision.3. What would your
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| | Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your
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| duties be? You and the organization
| |
| | Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with
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| should agree on these duties. Since I
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| | co-author Dr.
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| had trouble selling Girl Scout cookies
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| |
|
