Volunteer Management Hot Topics with Susan J. Ellis

Susan makes the case that the key to increased impact – and to resolving the ever-present tension between employees and volunteers – is intentionally recruiting volunteers who are as unlike the paid work force as possible.

Susan makes the case that the key to increased impact – and to resolving the ever-present tension between employees and volunteers – is intentionally recruiting volunteers who are as unlike the paid work force as possible.

Susan makes the case that the key to increased impact – and to resolving the ever-present tension between employees and volunteers – is intentionally recruiting volunteers who are as unlike the paid work force as possible.

What can the television show Numb3rs teach volunteer program managers? That the key to increased impact and less employee/volunteer tension is intentionally recruiting volunteers who are as unlike the paid staff as possible. How have you put unusual volunteer talents to work in your organization?

How do we feel (honestly) when we answer "I'm in volunteer management" when asked what we do?  Do we dread watching people’s eyes glaze over? Here are some unexpected and powerful ways to explain our profession. 

How do we feel (honestly) when we answer "I'm in volunteer management" when asked what we do?  Do we dread watching people’s eyes glaze over? Here are some unexpected and powerful ways to explain our profession. 

How do we feel (honestly) when we answer "I'm in volunteer management" when asked what we do?  Do we dread watching people’s eyes glaze over? Here are some unexpected and powerful ways to explain our profession. 

Did anyone at a holiday party last month ask the question, "So, what do YOU do?" How did you answer? When we state our profession of volunteer manageent to strangers, do we expect our identity to be valued or treated as interesting, or do we dread watching people's eyes glaze over? In this podcast, Susan plays with different ways to express our work – to find ways to startle, surprise, and educate those who don't really understand. The process is fun and revealing – and you can join in!

The San Fransisco Bay oil tanker spill shows that we need to teach civil emergency response organizers that turning every potential volunteer away without assessing what s/he is offering to do is a mistake on many levels.

The San Fransisco Bay oil tanker spill shows that we need to teach civil emergency response organizers that turning every potential volunteer away without assessing what s/he is offering to do is a mistake on many levels.

The San Fransisco Bay oil tanker spill shows that we need to teach civil emergency response organizers that turning every potential volunteer away without assessing what s/he is offering to do is a mistake on many levels.

The recent oil spill in San Francisco Bay once again revealed the inexplicable lack of planning for spontaneous volunteers by government authorities. Offers of help from local community citizens were turned away, causing enough anger to warrant media coverage. In this podcast, Susan Ellis proposes that the medical concept of emergency triage offers a great model for volunteer management in a crisis. She describes tips on how a wide range of competent volunteers can be deployed effectively, if only someone is designated to do the coordination.

Not-for-profit boards of directors are taught to separate their main role in “governance” from the paid staff’s role in “management.”  Is this still a viable delineation or is it time to re-think the status quo?

Not-for-profit boards of directors are taught to separate their main role in “governance” from the paid staff’s role in “management.”  Is this still a viable delineation or is it time to re-think the status quo?

Not-for-profit boards of directors are taught to separate their main role in “governance” from the paid staff’s role in “management.”  Is this still a viable delineation or is it time to re-think the status quo?