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VolunteerSpot Blog | Best of 2011

Blog Series, Guest Regulars and Wonderful Readers Made 2011 our Best Year Yet!

We want to celebrate and thank our guest contributors for a great year of all things service and giving back.  From insightful perspectives on school parent involvement,  non-profit success and benefit auction how-to's, to volunteer management and social media tips, teacher appreciation and fun class party ideas, employee volunteering and corporate responsibility news, faith group and community-building concepts and so much more - our blog proved to be an ever-evolving foundation for sharing timely and desired content.  

 
A favorite summer blog series, Teacher Tuesdays, was a thrilling opportunity to feature guest posts focusing on parent engagement in education from a teacher's perspective.  

 

Our Summer of Service feature gave us the privilege of featuring leading guest bloggers who shared their unique and personal perspectives on service, volunteering and citizen philanthropy.  Topics ranged from volunteering for kids and volunteer management, to the power of story-telling, employee service, supporting military families and so much more! 

 

The My School My Way campaign brought together over 30 bloggers sharing the highs and lows of parent volunteering, and how they did it their way in their school.  From humourous anecdotes to heart-warming insights, our My School My Way blog campaign had something for everyone, and we were honored to share these wonderful parents and writers with our readers.  Wrap-up and roll call.

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April Welch, our resident Mental Clutter Coach, joined us week after week for Tidy Thursday - bringing fresh ideas and bright new ways to approach organizing our lives!

Worship Wednesday guest posts from Sue Brage were a true blessing.  From a faith-based perspective, her thoughts and words shed light on growing one's faith group and the interpretation of service in doing so.

 

 

Sherry Truhlar of Red Apple Auctions LLC brought us countless helpful tips, ideas and strategies when it came to running a successful auction.  From publicitiy, to gathering volunteers, legal refreshers, and best practices, expert advice made auction fundraisers less of a dream and more of a reality for many readers.

 

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VolunteerSpotlights gave us a chance to shine a light on the amazing individuals and organizations who use VolunteerSpot to make a difference in their community.  From school parent leaders to festival organizers, conference coordinators to humane societies, congregational volunteer leaders to regional homeless shelter organizers - the willingness to do good was colorful and widespread and we were honored to share each and every story.

Additional Guest Regulars included:

Chris Jarvis of Realized Worth brought us insights into workplace volunteering, corporate social responsibility, and employee volunteer programs.

Andrea Patten of What Kids Need to Succeed illumined top tips, best practices, fun stories and helpful hints when it comes to running a successful nonprofit.

Myrdin Thompson of RootsandWings Library and MomCongress provided a keen and astute perspective from everything grant-writing, to literacy promotion, and advocating for more school involvement.

Susan Wells of SteveSpanglerScience joined us to share super creative and much-needed ideas incorporating science into the classroom, whether for a class party, school science fair, or the "dreaded science project."

A variety of incredibly talented and knowledgable contributors made our array of free e-books available as a highly sought-after resource for countless volunteers, organizers, teachers, team moms, and room parents!  From healthy snack ideas, to parent-teacher conference, class party, volunteer recognition, bake sale, school carnival, fundraising, talent show, and family volunteering ideas and tips, our e-books continue to be a fun and helpful resource for our readers and we are thrilled to be able to share them on our blog.

Family Friendly Volunteering: Service Project Ideas from A-Z

View more presentations from VolunteerSpot

There are so many more favorite posts and contributors in addition to these listed and we hope you take the time to look around.  Of course, our blog would be nowhere without our amazing readers and those who help promote and share our posts.  2011 was an incredible year and we are sure 2012 will prove to be even better - many thanks and here's to a New Year!

Resolve to Volunteer in 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR from VOLUNTEERSPOT!

From health and fitness, to family, finances, and travel, top New Year's resolutions are never without the desire to VOLUNTEER and give back in the New Year.  We hope you resolve to volunteer in 2012 - please tell us how you plan to give back in 2012 over on our facebook wall, and click below to grab your badge!

 

The Power of Story In Service

Storytelling & the Power of Shared Experienced | Worship Wednesday

Our post today comes from Rabbi Will Berkovitz of RepairTheWorld.  We found it exceptionally beautiful and relevant for the holiday and New Year season - we hope you do as well.

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"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where others see nothing."
– Pissarro

The priest walked past the prostitutes every day. He had no choice. They were stationed along the narrow road across from his seminary in Italy. But it was the older woman who caused him the most agitation. “These young guys went to ‘see’ her and it really troubled me,” he said. “She could have been their mother.”

The priest confessed he never spoke with the women, studiously avoided eye contact and did his best to never acknowledge their existence. But as is often the case, willed blindness only works for so long when proximity is coupled with repetition. And one day, while following his usual protocol of denial the older prostitute dropped something as he was walking past. It bounced to a stop at his foot.

Without thinking, the priest’s instinct toward kindness compelled him to pick up the thin wooden object, forcing the encounter he had so dutifully avoided for the past several months. “It was a knitting needle,” he said, still sounding surprised. “And out of curiosity, I asked her what she was making.” The woman responded, “I’m knitting a tapestry for the alter at my church. It is a gift for God.”

Tears welled up in the priest’s eyes as he recalled her response. “In my desire to avoid her, I had never noticed the cloth in her hands. I never bothered to look. Never thought to ask her story. And here this woman was knitting a gift for God.” From that chance encounter he said, he began to learn her history. Her background. Her story. And yet the priest was reluctant to share his experience with his community despite its almost biblical power and impact.

Many of the holiest moments in life are not found in churches or synagogues or in the cloistered study of sacred literature. No, the sacred moments that sustain and bind us together are the sharing of our common humanity through simple encounter -- the telling and hearing of our stories, the passing along of our experiences – both epic and passing. I imagine our souls being woven out of our memories and stories – the threads of our lives.

Everyone has a story to tell and deserves to tell it. And the simple acts of inquiry and listening are among the greatest gifts we can offer during this Holiday season or any other season. Telling and hearing our stories is a rare instance of a gift given and received in two directions – at once an act of solidarity and reciprocity. It knits together the fabric of our separate lives into a common tapestry. We are taught at an early age not to talk to strangers, but often we keep people as strangers when we could be building relationships. We build bunkers instead of communities.

By stopping on the sidewalk and asking what the woman was knitting, the priest stepped off the path of indifference and onto the path of encounter. He stopped seeing a prostitute to be ignored and saw the face of person to engage. He awoke from a life of service to rituals and the comfort in his known world to the truth that all life is sacred.  And life is made holy when service to God means service to others. And then choosing to live that truth in everyday actions – small acts of kindness and humanity – like engaging in a conversation.

Listening to someone’s story is a way of showing respect, a way of conveying dignity. At a time of year when many of us will be rushing around doing last minute shopping and some of us will volunteering in shelters, food banks and serving meals, we should step further along the path – strive toward a deeper connection and ask to hear a bit, or a bit more, of someone’s story.

In truth, it doesn’t matter if we are hearing a story for the first time shared by a complete stranger or for the thousandth time told by a close relative. Just as some people expect to be heard, listened to -- even obeyed, others are just as accustomed to being ignored, stepped over, forgotten – even used. And it is not always easy to distinguish one from the other. But the humble shrub and the trembling mountain both hold the voice of God.

This time every year we retell stories of our people – we call them miracles – a baby being born in a manger, or a small group of believers overcoming the odds to survive – the miracle of light in the darkness. When we tell and ask to hear our stories we knit together the fabrics of our separate journeys onto the tapestry of humanity. And in that way we not only offer a gift to each other, we offer a gift to God who the tradition says created people because of a love of stories. 

 

Rabbi Will Berkovitz is the Vice President of Partnerships and Rabbi in Residence for Repair the World (WeRepair.org), a national organization that seeks to make service a defining element of American Jewish life. He can be reached at will@weRepair.org and you can follow him on Twitter at @CitizenRabbi.

VolunteerSpotlight: Lynda Bernays, Christ Episcopal Church, Shaker Hts, Ohio

Family Promise of Greater Cleveland is an organization formed from the merger of Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cleveland and New Life Community. Our mission is 
to inspire and empower homeless families to transform their lives, become self-sufficient, and fulfill their promise.

Today, our Volunteer Spotlight shines on Lynda Bernays, who uses VolunteerSpot to sign up volunteers for a week of hosting homeless families in her church.

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Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs.

The church I attend (Christ Episcopal Church in Shaker Hts Ohio) is one of 20-30 faith communities in the Cleveland area who serve as host churches through Family Promise, the local branch of a national agency by the same name.  Being a host church means that for three separate weeks during the year we provide dinner and overnight accommodations for a maximum of 14 people in 4 families.  Every evening we need volunteers to prepare, bring and serve dinner;  help with dinner and clean up; spend the evening interacting (or just being present) with the families and children;  and spend the night. During the day the families return to the agency's Family Center.  On a given week I work with 40 or 50 volunteers filling 80+ slots.

How did you get started as a volunteer leader?
As the head of the church's outreach committee I was sort of the default leader when we started hosting.

What’s one piece of advice you have for volunteers or their leaders out there?
Communicate, communicate, communicate!  Use email to its fullest advantage to keep volunteers informed about expectations, routines, changes.

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?
I had experimented with other on-line sign-ups and found they couldn't accommodate the multi-day, multi-task schedule I needed.  I then used Google docs to offer access to a sign-up chart that I created, but not everyone could access it and sometimes even I couldn't.  I went back on line in September to see if the on-line sites had improved, and found VolunteerSpot.

Anything else you’d like our readers to know about your organization or volunteering?
Anyone who is involved in volunteering will tell you that the person who benefits the most is the person doing the volunteering.  They will also tell you that recruiting volunteers is the most wearing part of running any volunteer-dependent program.

The program I work with is Family Promise of Greater Cleveland (www.familypromisecle.org).  Local agencies work independently but are under the umbrella of the national organization Family Promise.  Interfaith Hospitality Network is a commonly used name and was in fact the name of the agency in Cleveland until it merged with another agency that provides services that compliment their work with homeless families.  The level that I work with is the emergency housing level -- families in need of shelter can contact the office directly and are offered space, if available, as soon as possible.  The children are transported to the school they are currently enrolled in, and the parents receive counseling and services as appropriate -- job training, GED classes, job-search assistance, access to benefits.  In the early evening they are driven to that week's host church, and are picked up in the morning to return to the family center and offices, or be taken to school.

As I said earlier, many churches/synagogues in any given area are needed to support the evening program.  In Cleveland, Family Promise has 2 host churches every week so in effect needs 104 weeks covered during the year.   Each site will host up to 14 people in 4 families.  Families stay in the  emergency shelter part of the program for up to (I think) 60 days.  Family Promise also has a transitional housing program in which families can stay for 16 weeks;  this is the partnership I mentioned earlier.

To learn more about Family Promise, visit their website, www.familypromisecle.org
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We salute Lynda  and all the other volunteer leaders out there making a difference. If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at VS@volunteerspot.com.

The Volunteer Vampire Diaries

Volunteer Vampires | How To Avoid Burnout & Leave the Life in Your Group

Halloween is less than a week away. I hate this time of year when all the scary movies come out and even show up on TV. 

The faces of creepy monsters, ax murderers, ghosts and goblins invade my home through the screen, and may very well show up at my door soon. It's all sort of frightening, really.

But there is another frightening phenomenon I want to talk about today...and it may be happening in your church! I'm talking about a volunteer program or culture that drains the lifeblood out of good-hearted, well-meaning people. We don't mean for it to happen,  but sometimes, when the fall festival is looming large or it's time to plan the Christmas play, the volunteer vampires come out of hiding.

I'm sure most of  us have experienced this. I know of one church that unfortunately had this reputation. For whatever reason, talented and willing people were called upon, utilized, and used up until they literally had nothing left to give. We saw it happen time and time again. Someone new came in, they began to serve enthusiastically in many areas, and with time, more and more requests were made of them. Soon, their eyes glazed over. Their souls became dry. Eventually, they either left the church or continued serving with no heart. The vampires had struck again!

Now, before you throw a head of garlic at me, I really think there is something to be learned from this! In fact, I am going to bare my soul and tell you how I felt as a volunteer vampire victim... 

I felt like a target. 

When recruiting time came around, people I didn't even recognize suddenly became chummy and interested in me (similar to the negligent waiter at tip time). Their questions all seemed to lead me to one answer, serving in their ministry area. Discussions focused more on their needs than my possible match.

I felt like a donor.

My ideas were not accepted or welcomed. Those in leadership simply wanted bodies to delegate tasks to. There was no emotional engagement with the vision or even the people we were serving. 

I felt drained.

Expectations were often unrealistic and did not take into account that I had other obligations (such as a full time job and a family).

I felt used.

I was asked to "fill in" at the last minute, but not given the same opportunity to lead when regular leaders were present.

I'm sure by now you are thinking, how do we make sure this doesn't happen in our church?  Here are some ways to keep the volunteer vampires at bay, with or without the garlic.

• Get rid of guilt-based recruiting techniques. Instead, build authentic relationships and genuinely love people whether they are ready to serve or not. Allow people to discover their own passion for serving and help them connect based on their own gifts.
• Have an open mind and open door when it comes to new volunteers. Allow them to serve on committees, be part of planning meetings, and contribute ideas. The more ownership they feel, the more engaged and excited they will be.
• Create flexible serving opportunities. In other words, make room for each person to serve in their own capacity. If they can serve once a month, try to accommodate. Perhaps two people could "job-share" a position normally filled by one person. Be creative and flexible whenever possible. 
• Give them a break. Allow time off on a regular basis. You may need to make this happen by providing a substitute or filling in yourself. (Just be sure you take time off for yourself, too.) Some churches put term-limits on positions to ensure that people are not burned out (or drained dry!) 
• Recognize and nurture God's gifts in each person. Often people serve out of obligation. It's up to the leaders in the church to reinforce the belief that every member is a minister. The Bible tells us every person has a part in the Body of Christ. As each team member grows in this awareness, their attitude and perspective will change toward serving.

These steps will help your church ward off volunteer vampires and become a safe, welcoming place for people to serve, grow, and delight in the gifts God has given them.  And you can save the garlic for the next spaghetti dinner...

 

Sue Brage worked in nonprofit marketing and communications for more than nine years before joining Group Publishing as Online Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com. Her experience as a writer, editor, and volunteer coordinator (not to mention wife and mother) gives her a unique perspective and ability to encourage and help leaders. She has a big heart for people and great passion for helping others serve their churches and communities better. Follow Sue on Twitter at @SueB rage and @CVCDaily

photo courtesy of cascott362 at photobucket

 

Online Potluck Sign Up Sheet with Reminders

Organize Online Potluck Sign Ups | Sign Up Saturday

Have you ever been to a pot luck and there were 4 cheese and cracker trays and no entrees? Or several casseroles and no forks?  Planning a gathering for a lot of people requires just that, planning! Whether you're organizing a teacher appreciation luncheon, Thanksgiving dinner, family reunion, church social or company picnic -- VolunteerSpot is here to help make the process a breeze. With free and easy online sign up sheets and reminders, everyone can sign up to contribute a dish, say what they're bringing, and prepare for a fun and fabulous gathering!

Potluck Sign Up (Organizer View):  Organizers plan a Single Day activity  and click the gold Add a TO BRING button to enter the needs for the potluck -- the number of main dishes, drinks, and flatware, etc. Once planned, invite guests to particiapte with an email invitation or a link in a newsletter, listserve or Facebook.

Online Potluck Sign Up Sheet (Participant View):  Guests choose their items, signing up from a computer or smartphone. Interactive comments let guests share what they're bringing, ask questions of organizers, and plan with each other.  Automated reminders go out two days prior to the potluck, helping everyone remember their commitment!

click image to view in large format

Tips for setting up your Potluck:

• Leave space on either side of the food serving table(s) allowing for two flows of traffic - it will keep the line moving and feed hungry mouths faster!

• Provide napkins and flatware first!  If you do not have tables set, simply place napkins and flatware at the beginning of a food serving table ensuring folks won't forget them!

• Place drinks and desserts on a separate table as most eaters will have to set down their meal plate where they sit before grabbing drinks or more food  - it leaves space at the main entree table as well.

• Plan a fun activity during the meal wrap up that will engage folks over coffee and dessert; something as simple as asking folks to share their first jobs, share their most embarrassing moment, and so forth.  Makes for a fun and memorable meal!

• Double check your sign up sheet. Did you include these items:

    Appetizer

    Main dish (with meat)

    Main dish (vegetarian)

    Green salad

    Fruit Salad

    Pasta Salad

    Vegetable side dish

    Breads and rolls

    Dessert

    Plates, cups and napkins

    Utensils and serving pieces

    Table cloths

    Table decorations

    Pitchers for water

    Soda or juice beverages

    Adult beverages (beer and wine)

    Extra folding tables and chairs

Now that you're all setup, get cooking! Check out these top rated Potluck recipies from allrecipies.com.

Happy Potluck!

 

photo courtesy of Photobucket by learner2010

Volunteer Lessons Learned at a Garage Sale

I Hate Garage Sales…but I Love People!

By Sue Brage, Editor of Church Volunteer Daily.com

Not everyone loves a garage sale. In fact, I was dreading mine last week. But, as it turns out, I loved every minute.  During the sale, I joked with my kids, "I don't have customers, I make friends." Overall it was a blast.  People were chatting with each other, humming to the music, and finding just the right treasure they were searching for.

It made me realize that there are some basic things about working with people that apply in any situation; even a neighborhood yard sale! There are things that put people in a relaxed and positive mood; and ways to connect with them that will enhance every relationship on your team.

Here are the five things you need to know about working with people (you probably already know them, so consider this a reminder...)

    1. A positive attitude always makes a difference.

    2. People respond better to grace than criticism.

    3. Everyone has something to offer and a story to share.

    4. A positive atmosphere brings out the best in people.

    5. People want to have fun.

How could these statements affect your current approach to volunteering? Have you seen them proven in your own life?

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Sue Brage worked in nonprofit marketing and communications for more than nine years before joining Group Publishing as Online Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com. Her experience as a writer, editor, and volunteer coordinator (not to mention wife and mother) gives her a unique perspective and ability to encourage and help leaders. She has a big heart for people and great passion for helping others serve their churches and communities better. Follow Sue on Twitter at @SueB rage and @CVCDaily

 

photo courtesy of sw2020 at photobucket

The Simplest Step to Building your Volunteer Community | Worship Wednesday

Names Matter!

By Sue Brage, Editor of  Church Volunteer Daily.com.

It’s funny, now that I am moving I have met so many of my neighbors! At my garage sale I had people come over to “finally” introduce themselves (after three years of living in this neighborhood). I learned the names of people I had seen walking or working in the yard, yet had not taken the time to get to know. I also worked on the sale with a neighbor I vaguely knew, but now we’ve had coffee twice and are making plans to get together in my new town. Funny.

 

It’s not funny however, that many of us serve with people we know about as well as I obviously know my neighbors. I was in a meeting recently when the leader made the statement that we can’t assume that people know each other’s names. In some cases, children may be uncertain what their Sunday school teacher’s name is, especially if there is a lot of rotation in a classroom. Her point was that knowing and using people’s names creates the personal connections so vital to a healthy church (and, I would add, volunteer program).

This is a personal challenge for me. I love people and I make friends easily. I just don’t have a great memory for names. Unlike my husband who remembers the names and faces of the people on his paper route when he was 12! Oh well, this just means I need to work harder to remember, create clues to help me remember, and not be afraid to ask if I forget someone’s name. Truly, taking the time to learn someone’s name is a way of honoring that person. It communicates that you see them and value them as part of your community.

This week, make it a point to learn the names of three new people in your church, neighborhood, and even volunteer team. Watch how they respond when you take an interest in them personally…and then come back and tell us what you learned…

About the Author

 

 

Sue Brage  worked in nonprofit marketing and communications for more than nine years before joining Group Publishing as Online Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com.  Her experience as a writer, editor, and volunteer coordinator (not to mention wife and mother) gives her a unique perspective and ability to encourage and help leaders. She has a big heart for people and great passion for helping others serve their churches and communities better.  Follow Sue on Twitter and @SueB rage and @CVCDaily 

 

~photo courtesy of Kristothae at Photobucket

The True Meaning of Service | Worship Wednesdays

Service Comes from the Heart—Not a Building.

By Sue Brage, Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com

Tuesday morning I got a call. There had been a fire in my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska overnight. The public school system administration building had burned to the ground; and my brother-in-law was the one who found and reported the fire.You see, he is the technology director for the schools system, and my sister has been a teacher for more than 20 years! As a result I’ve been watching video news stories and reading the Lincoln paper online to keep up.

I share this seemingly random event with you to set the stage for a compelling comment I read in one of the articles.Chris Webster, an LPS employee who works with homeless and low-income students, predicted the fire wouldn’t slow down school workers. “It's only a building,” he said. “Our job is working with the kids and we will find a way to work with them.”*  

I read his quote a couple of times and thought, this guy gets it! He gets what we often forget; that what we do as volunteer leaders is not ultimately about the trappings of our positions. It’s not about the environment we work in, the support or lack of support we receive; it’s not even about the next great event we are planning. It’s always about the people we serve. Always.

The flip side of Chris’ statement addresses our tendency to complain about what we do have or compare our facilities to someone else’s. Think for a moment about what you would do if you lost your church building or community center. Would the people you serve still need you? Would you find a way to meet their needs? Certainly you wouldn’t sit at home saying, “There is nothing we can do without our building.”

Consider Ground Zero on 9/11. With no shelter of any kind, no organized office or classrooms, volunteers were mobilized in churches, houses, and from the middle of that huge rubble pile.

Or more recently, consider Joplin, Missouri. The massive tornado left their main community buildings in shambles; the hospital, schools, churches, even police and fire stations. And we are seeing a tremendous outpouring of support and volunteer-power without coordination from these important organizations.

Take a moment and consider how you would serve people if you didn’t have a facility…or any supplies…or an adequate budget. (Some of you may not even have to imagine!) Now think about doing what you do without people. That’s impossible, isn’t it?  Service is never about a building. It’s always about people.

Take your leadership to the next level with the free report, 12 Steps to Success: A simple plan for church volunteer leaders, from Church Volunteer Daily.

*Taken from the Omaha World Herald, Leslie Reed, reporter.

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About the Author

 

 

Sue Brage  worked in nonprofit marketing and communications for more than nine years before joining Group Publishing as Online Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com.  Her experience as a writer, editor, and volunteer coordinator (not to mention wife and mother) gives her a unique perspective and ability to encourage and help leaders. She has a big heart for people and great passion for helping others serve their churches and communities better.  Follow Sue on Twitter and @SueB rage and @CVCDaily 

Volunteer Spotlight: Letty Gali of LOT318, Placentia, CA

Lot318…“Loving Others in Truth” from 1 John 3:18…ministers at risk youth and their community by empowering them to see their worth and purpose in this world. LOT318 holds various events and service opportunities throughout the year. They use VolunteerSpot's free online signup sheets to organize their volunteers while they help at the homework center, feed the hungry, and help out at their summer camps. The goal is to give at-risk youth opportunities they may never have had, and to become a positive influence and force in our world.

Today, our spotlight shines on Letty Gali, Co-founder of LOT318. Letty challenges students to focus on their studies and encourages them to improve their attitudes in their homes and community. Having grown up in Brooklyn, NY, Letty can relate to the students, which in turn allows the students to be vulnerable, honest, and teachable. Letty's goal is for students to believe in themselves and to reach for the stars. She challenges them to dream big, give back to the community, and reach their goals.
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Tell us about the volunteer needs of your organization.
LOT318, which stands for Loving Others in Truth, comes from the scriptures 1 John 318 which states "Dear Children, let us not love in words or speech but with actions and in truth." Our organization is not just about telling people we love them, but showing them. Our volunteer needs range from feeding the homeless in the summertime, to working with kids in our summer program on math, reading, and science. Our current needs are for volunteers to help with our afterschool homework club. During this time, the kids have 20 minutes of required reading time, either to themselves or out loud, and we need volunteers to listen to them read, and then discuss with the kids what they read, to help them recall and understand the material. We also have monthly community events, which help to empower the community.

How did you get started with this organization?
After serving in the community for about three years, I co-founded LOT 318, which is a non-profit organization. In 2004, I was introduced into the community by a middle school principal who asked me to help one child who was having problems with gangs and drugs, because he didn’t think he had any alternatives. I met with him and eventually we helped transform his life so he could move in a more positive direction. We then challenged him to work with other troubled teens, which grew into working with the parents and other adults in the community. We then realized there was a strong need for something larger, so we launched a community wide effort.

It’s all about relationships. We showed one child that he could be loved and accepted for who he is, and that he does have worth and a positive purpose in life. We helped him find his true voice, so he could then make decisions in positive ways.

Are you involved in other volunteering activities?
I have been a full time missionary for 19 years. My local church was looking for community service projects, so as a missionary I was able to bring these students from the church into the community to help develop the LOT 318 program, so I have been primarily focused on that. Previously, I was  Chaplain for a Div 1 Softball Team (ULL) where I lead Bible studies. Before that, I was involved with Athletes in Action, which is a Christian Sports Ministry, part of Campus Crusade for Christ. I work with these groups and whoever else God puts in front of me to share the hope of Jesus.

How did you find out about VolunteerSpot?
We were doing volunteer signups through the church’s website, and we wanted to bring in people from the community who might not belong to the church, so we searched for a way to do that. Our web designer did some research and found VolunteerSpot . We don’t have a budget, so since VolunteerSpot was free, and could provide the support we needed, it was a perfect fit. When we started using it, we loved it! Although our volunteers did go through a transition period, especially the older ones...once everyone got on board, we had very positive feedback regarding how easy it was. The reminder emails that are sent out a couple of days prior to the event really helped us so we could stop worrying about the administrative part, and really focus on the event. As a result, 1,500 meals were served on Thanksgiving! 

Aything else you'd like to share?
The biggest thing I want to share is that we are all human beings, and we all have a purpose in life. No matter where we go, or where we are, there will always be people in need, and there is always a chance to serve someone, and to bring a smile to someone’s face. Something as simple as a pat on the back or a smile or just saying hi can make someone’s day. My challenge to everyone out there is to look around you, find a need, and help meet that need. Try to focus a little bit more on needs of others. Love others in truth...it’s that simple. If you can go outside of your comfort zone, you will be able to see that you are blessed, and you have the capacity to bless somebody else.

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For learn more about LOT 318 and how you can help, visit  http://lot318.com.

We salute Letty Gali and all the other volunteer community leaders out there making a difference in our world. If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at VS@volunteerspot.com.

What Makes a Great Volunteer? | Worship Wednesdays

By Sue Brage, Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com

 

Church Volunteer Daily recently asked its readers:

"What is most important when it comes to volunteers? Quality or quantity?"

Most of the respondents agreed that quality is more important than quantity. (Although there are circumstances that warrant just the opposite approach.) I wonder if we should take a minute and define what that looks like. I mean, do we know a quality volunteer when we meet one?

I know we’ve probably all met people we thought were quality, only to have experience prove us wrong! I think it’s helpful to define what it is you are looking for in a volunteer. Having a clear idea of your expectations will guide you through the recruiting and screening process.

I was watching Simon Cowell on Entertainment Tonight promote his new show, The X Factor. As he shared what they are looking for in a winner, I jotted them down: charisma, hard-worker, talent, and attitude. (I think he actually mentioned five things, but seeing as I can’t find the note I jotted them down on, you are getting the four I can remember.)

As he described it, this is the “it” they look for in a star. The same is true for us! We have a certain combination of characteristics we look for in a star volunteer. Our volunteers need a good personality, talent or skill for the position, a willingness to work, and the right attitude. I have a pastor who says, “Attitude is almost everything. It’s not everything, but it’s almost.” This is true in any setting!

*So, what would you add? What traits are you looking for and which do you avoid?

If you haven’t thought about it, I challenge you to give it some consideration. It can help focus your recruiting efforts, and help you find the quality volunteers you are looking for!

****

About the Author

 

 

Sue Brage  worked in nonprofit marketing and communications for more than nine years before joining Group Publishing as Online Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com.  Her experience as a writer, editor, and volunteer coordinator (not to mention wife and mother) gives her a unique perspective and ability to encourage and help leaders. She has a big heart for people and great passion for helping others serve their churches and communities better.  Follow Sue on Twitter and @SueB rage and @CVCDaily 

Volunteer Coordination Tips | Worship Wednesdays

By Sue Brage, Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com

Answer the Questions that Matter!

 
Kids ask a lot of questions. In fact, their natural curiosity can be overwhelming at times. Ask any mother or preschool teacher! Answering a million questions can be challenging—and even draining.

As a volunteer coordinator or team leader, your volunteers look to you for answers, too. They need your encouragement, motivation, wisdom, and direction. While it’s impossible to have all the answers (I hope you agree with that statement!), there are some questions you should have answers for. If you don’t, I encourage you to spend some time with your core team, asking and answering them. In the long run, it will keep you from trying to answer them on the fly or at less convenient times.

The most important question to answer is WHY.

Knowing the mission and purpose of each activity and event you lead will provide clarity, vision, and energy. Having (and sharing) your vision for what you do will engage people’s hearts and emotions. It’s one of the keys to sustaining your team.

The question Why is central to every endeavor. If you can’t answer with confidence, you may need to reevaluate the activity or event or talk with leaders to understand their vision. Often, people’s passion dies only because the vision has died. If you can reignite the Why behind the What, your team will be re-energized!

First Mission Church is called to support and strengthen families. Poverty and unemployment are on the rise; and Pastor Leonard believes First Mission Church is uniquely positioned to minister to families in their neighborhood. He calls Josie, his children’s coordinator to talk about this.

The second most important question to ask is WHO.

Identify the personalities, spiritual gifts, strengths, weaknesses, and passions you have on your team. Are there gifts or personalities missing? What type of person would take your team to the next level? Once you have defined who you are looking for, recruiting becomes a much less daunting task. 

Let’s go back to Pastor Leonard’s office. He has called Josie in because he knows she shares his heart for families in need, and she has a great reputation for doing things with excellence. She also has creative ideas for innovative ministry.

Next, you need to answer the question, WHAT.

What activity, position, project or event will help you accomplish the mission? This may already be defined for you, but now you are responsible to make it happen. If this is the case, be certain you can answer the first two questions before you go any further!

Make sure you know the scope, budget, and schedule of your project or position. Initiate discussions with other leaders until this is well-defined. This knowledge will become the foundation for every decision and plan going forward.

Rosie and Pastor Leonard come to the decision that a VBS would be a great way to reach families in their neighborhood. They feel it is within their reach based on resources and scheduling. They plan a follow-up meeting to assemble a core team (whom Josie will recruit) and hammer out the scope of the event, the budget, and outline a schedule going forward.

Lastly, you need to know HOW.

You know what you are supposed to do, now you have to figure out HOW to do it! Easy, huh? In reality, if you have answered the other three questions, answering this will be relatively easy. Often, leaders are tempted to stop after answering What and forget to establish How. Or, all of their time and energy is spent on figuring out How without ever answering the other three questions!

 First Mission Church’s first Vacation Bible School is two months away. The core volunteer team is meeting to lay out the plans to see it come to fruition. One team is in charge of volunteers (recruiting, scheduling, and training). Another is in charge of resources (curriculum and supplies). And another is planning snacks and logistics. Together they are laying out an organized plan to make the vision a reality.

Remember, it all starts with Why—the purpose behind what you do. Who speaks to the people alongside you—and those you are serving. What position or program will best accomplish your why? How defines your plan for carrying it out. When you can answer these questions with clarity and confidence, you are 90% of the way to success!

***

For ideas on how to keep more volunteers for longer, download Church Volunteer Daily’s free report filled with volunteer appreciation ideas.

 

About the Author

 

 

Sue Brage worked in nonprofit marketing and communications for more than nine years before joining Group Publishing as Online Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com.  Her experience as a writer, editor, and volunteer coordinator (not to mention wife and mother) gives her a unique perspective and ability to encourage and help leaders. She has a big heart for people and great passion for helping others serve their churches and communities better.  Follow Sue on Twitter and @SueBrage and @CVCDaily 

5 Tips to Get More Out of Your VBS

Everything has officially thawed and kids are getting restless as the school year comes to an end. Summer vacation will be upon us before you know it, and this can only mean one thing, it’s time to plan for Vacation Bible School (VBS)! Whether your VBS is a huge production run by professionals or a small local effort with talented parents behind the scenes, these tips will help you maximize the fun and learning potential of your VBS.   

 

1. Recruit Volunteers Early, and Recruit a LOT! Volunteers can make or break a VBS experience. These are the people that will ensure that everything goes according to plan and that the kids have plenty of snacks, crayons and fun! Here’s a few things to keep in mind:

• Pre-training before your VBS begins. Get volunteers up to speed on VBS formal and informal requirements. Go over a typical day, and what volunteers are expected to do and what they can expect from the kids. Cover things like background checks and safety considerations, what to do if kids get out of hand, Gospel messages, songs and activities.  Gain commitments from volutneers about their availablity, and try to match them with their interests as much as possible.

• Give every parent the opportunity to volunteer. Involvement builds commitment - it's not about getting it done the fastest, it's about creating a community with your VBS. Offer volunteer jobs that span the week, take-home jobs like shopping for supplies or preparing craft kits, and one-time spots like leading the morning prayer, a song, or an art activity. Ask parents to donate supplies, provide healthy snacks, etc. 

• Schedule and sign up volunteers online and save a tremendous amount time (and stress). Our online sign up sheets eliminate the need for passing clipboards, spreadsheets and reply-all email when coordinating volunteers to help with activities or to bring snacks and supplies. VolunteerSpot makes it easy to ask for help, and easy for parents to choose when and how they will contribute (with a few clicks). Not only do volunteers get plenty of time to organize their calendars, automated reminder messages give VBS leaders peace of mind knowing they will have the help they need when they need it.

2. Be Welcoming to All:  VBS gives your church the opportunity to extend the reach of your church into the broader community. Think about everything a new family will need to feel welcome and inspired to learn more about your congregation. Some things to consider:

• Post extra signs during VBS weeks. The signs will show parents and kids where to park and gather. (Put colorful signs down low too so it's easy for kids to see 'em too.)

• Everyone loves food! Welcome everyone with coffee, orange juice and muffins on the first morning (or every morning). If holding an evening VBS, consider providing a simple dinner (pizza, fruit) for both the kids and volunteers arriving after work.

• Provide colorful t-shirts name badges. This way everyone can be easily recognized, and give the kids a chance to make their own for a fun craft project.

3. Follow Up with Families: VBS enhances bonds with your current congregation and builds new relationships within your community. Make sure to take advantage of this outreach opportunity by following up with VBS families. Here are some ways to make a lasting impression.

• Send a letter home with kids on their last day. Summarize the week's events. Include information on future church events and let parents know how happy you are to have been a part of their children’s summer and religious education.

• Enroll children in Sunday School.

• Add VBS families to the church contacts database. Keep them posted of session openings throughout the summer and activites into the school year.

• Be useful with your recruiting. Provide a list of qualified VBS teen volunteers who babysit. (Red Cross-certified, background checked).

4. Always Remember to Say “Thank You!”: Letting your volunteers know that they’re appreciated is a big part of retaining your staff for next year’s VBS.  Send personal letters from ministers and kids, give public recognition during Sunday services and in church newsletters, and post photos and thank you messages on a bulletin board and the church website.  Our free Volunteer Recognition eBook is filled with other low cost/no-cost tips and ideas for thanking volunteers.

5. Gather Feedback: Ask your volunteers and particiapting families what's working and what they would like to see changed. For example, mixing up the schedule can boost your volunteer ranks. Shifting a start time or end time can boost enrollment, and many churches have had success with a week of evening VBS so more families and volunteers can particiapte after work.  Ask in person one-on-one, and consider using a survey.  If most volutneers and parents are online, try Survey Monkey, a free online survey tool that makes it easy to gather feedback.

***

For more great tips and resources for VBS 11, check out our friends at About the Children's Department.  Have any of your own tips for VBS? Let us know in the comments below, or over at VolunteerSpot's Facebook page.

Photo couresty of PhotoBucket by child 123 

How to Attract Volunteers | Worship Wednesdays

Become a Volunteer Magnet

By Sue Brage, Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com.

 

Here are 6 Ways to Become a Volunteer Magnet—and get your volunteers to stick around!

1. Watch your language

 A healthy environment for volunteers is saturated with verbal honor—regular, specific praise for what they’re doing. In his book The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make, Hans Finzel says, “Organizational researchers have been telling us for years that affirmation motivates people much more than financial incentives, but we still don’t get it.”

2. Listen more intensely

Author Stephen Covey borrowed this from St. Francis of Assisi: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Next to physical survival, says Covey, “the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival—to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated.” He adds that when you listen carefully to another person, you give that person “psychological air.” Once you’ve met that need, the door is open for you to influence and problem-solve. If you don’t meet that need, the door will remain closed.

3. Lead from the big picture

Your job isn’t to serve your volunteers—it’s to serve God! In the soon-to-be-classic book On Being a Servant of God, author Warren Wiersbe says, “Ministry isn’t easy, but you make it more difficult for yourself if you serve people instead of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can’t please everybody, so don’t even try. Just live and work in such a way that your Master will be able to say, ‘You are my beloved servant in whom I am well pleased.’ “ I think this is great advice! And when you practice it, you’ll draw your volunteers away from niggling concerns and into a much bigger mission.

4. Love by your actions

Communicate love to your volunteers by respecting their time. How often have we asked them to show up early only to have them sit around? Doug Fields has a great insight into this: “Could you use 10 hands-on volunteers immediately? How about 20? If you answered yes, what would these leaders do in your ministry? Unless you can assign leaders specific responsibilities with meaning and purpose, they will lose interest and be ineffective. Good leaders don’t want to waste their time standing around.”

Another way to demonstrate your love is to stay committed to difficult volunteers. When you face problem people with respect and courage, you greatly improve the environment for all your volunteers.

5. Laugh a lot

Years ago when Kathy, my wife, and I (and most of our volunteers) were childless, we went out with our ministry team for dessert on most Friday nights for a little post-event fellowship. We had only one rule: no shop talk. Kathy had to regularly remind me of the rule to keep me from turning fun time into an extension of training time. Over the years, I’ve realized how right she was. In fact, once kids came along, we kept the tradition going by getting together with volunteers for date nights. The new tradition was to put names of restaurants into a hat, then pick one for appetizers, one for dinner, and one for dessert. Those nights were highlights for our team, mainly because we laughed hard.

6. Let go of some of your real responsibilities

Nothing frustrates volunteers more than shoddy delegation or excessive supervision. When you delegate, give specific guidelines and expectations. But don’t equate “specific” with claustrophobic oversight. You show confidence in their ability and character when you show them what to do, answer their questions, then step back and let them do it.

 

About the Author

 

 

Sue Brage   worked in nonprofit marketing and communications for more than nine years before joining Group Publishing as Online Publisher and Editor for Church Volunteer Daily.com.  Her experience as a writer, editor, and volunteer coordinator (not to mention wife and mother) gives her a unique perspective and ability to encourage and help leaders. She has a big heart for people and great passion for helping others serve their churches and communities better.  Follow Sue on Twitter and @SueB rage and @CVCDaily  

 

Graphic by Elulu, courtesy of PhotoBucket.com

How to Customize VolunteerSpot Sign Up Sheet Buttons on your Website

We love our volunteer leaders and volunteers and are always impressed with the new and creative ways they use VolunteerSpot's time-saving coordiantion tool.  Here's a best practice Volunteer Sign Up Orientation video from the good folks at Glendora United Methodist Church in California.

Wow! What terrific time and attention went into creating this video!  Please notice how they:

• Created custom sign-up buttons for their website.  (We give you standard buttons that look like this:

• Show how a link-invitation signup works {The process is the same if you're inviting people via a URL link, or a HTML button.  Our current process lets volunteer enter the signup sheet immediately after entering an email address.}

• Asked their volunteers to register {This is never required by VolunteerSpot, just a preference of this particular group.}

Thank you UMC Glendora!