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Make a Difference on Memorial Day

We hope you're having a Memorial Day filled with family, hotdogs, potato salad and poolside fun!

Memorial Day gives us an excellent reason to spend time with our loved ones and to reflect on how lucky we are to be together. Today pools have officially opened and grills have started up for the summer, but also keep in mind what this day was created for: to remember.

Remember the people who have wilingly given their lives to protect our own.

Remember those who have fought to keep our friends and family safe.

Remember the past generations who dedicated their lives to making better ones for generations to come.

 

If you're looking for ways to remember your loved ones and for small ways to make a difference see this article by John Sammarco.

Family Reunion Planning Tips: Super Helpful, Stress Savers!

Family Reunion Planning Made Easy

Summer is the season for family gatherings and we are delighted that VolunteerSpot was featured on the Today Show as an essential tool for family reunion planning. Check out the show as Amy E. Goodman shares great family reunion planning ideas with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda. Thanks, ladies!

For anyone who has ever attended a family reunion, you know they call for a lot of people, a lot of food, and (most importantly) a lot of fun! There are a few important questions to ask yourself as you begin planning your event:

• How big is this event going to be? There's a huge difference between having ten people over for dinner and organizing an event for 50-100.

• When is it going to be? Working around everyone's schedule can challenging. Find the day that works best for the majority of people, then stick with it. Here's how VolunteerSpot can help in finding the best meeting time for your family reunion.

• Where is it going to be held? Larger parties need more space, and likely a reservation at a public park or recreation center. If you choose to rent a venue, like a dude ranch, a banquet room or a large lake house, will expenses be split evenly or paid by a few?

• What are the family age ranges and activity level? Will anyone require special accomodations such as wheelchair accessible facilities or exta shade/air conditioning?  Will there be interest in team activiites such as softball, soccer, and flag football or individual social activities like fishing, swimming, kayaking and bike riding?  For small children, consider renting inflatbles such as a bounce house or giant slide; even the adults may join in!  

• What's the budget and price sensitivity of the group? Is yours a bring-your-own/pot-luck kind of family or will you be hiring a caterer? Will this be a one-day event or overnight(s) requiring accomodations?  Is everyone expected to chip in, or will a few pay for the rest?

Once you've got the big picture figured out, you're also going to need a lot of manpower to make the day (or weekend) go according to plan. Think of all the things you'll need help with - from supplying and setting up tables and tents, to bringing food and desserts, to watching little kids and organizing games and activities. Crafty family members can help with party favors or t-shirts to commorate the event and tech-savvy teens can pitch in as photographers and videographers capturing the memories for generations to come.

If that seems like a lot - don't stress! Make your planning a little bit simpler with VolunteerSpot's online signup sheets! You can ask people to pick their own spots or designate who's doing what and when and who needs to bring what and how many. It's just as simple as making a to-do list, but one that everyone can see and keep track of in real time. There will be no more forgotten potato salad, and everyone will get a bun with their hotdog. Now if only we could make sure your t-shirt designs turn out right...

Room Mom Letters: Best Practice Examples

Congrats on being a Room Mom or Room Dad!  We've gathered these sample letters as best-practices for kicking off the year, getting organized, and getting more parents involved in helping your class have a great year!

Sample Letters:

          1.  Room Mom Welcome Letter to Class Parents       

          2.  Room Mom Class Party Call for Help (using a URL signup link)

* * *

1. Room Mom Welcome Letter to Class Parents:

Welcome back to school and to Mrs. Rose's Class!  I'm ___________, one of your class room moms, which means I get to help coordinate parents and parties so Mrs. Rose and our kids have the best possible year.  I can't wait to meet you and am happy to answer any questions you have about the class.

Here are some important details and dates:

> Teacher name and contact information

> Your name and contact information (and other room moms)

> Schedule of class parties, events and field trips

> School fundraising and class gift requirements (e.g. Auction baskets, winter holiday teacher gift collections, end of year teacher gits, etc.)

> The kind of help the teacher needs (classroom readers, art station helpers, recess monitors, etc.)

> How to signup to help: (using a URL invitation link)

We’re using VolunteerSpot (an online calendar signup tool) to coordinate parent volunteers for the class. Please click the link(s) below and enter your email address to sign up.   

Sign up to help at class parties and field trips here

http://tinyurl.com/MsRosesClassFun

 

Sign up to read to the class on Fridays here:

                    http://tinyurl.com/MsRosesClassReaders

This process makes it easy for you to choose a spot and sends automated confirmation and reminder messages - which most parents appreciate.  You don't need to register an account on VolunteerSpot -- the site will remember you by your email address.

If you have trouble accessing the site or prefer not to enter your email address – please email me and I can sign you up manually.

Thank you and I look forward to meeting you!  Together, we're going to have a great year!

2. Room Mom Class Party Invitation (using URL signup link)

The class holiday party is coming up on DATE and we could use your help either at the party with the kids, or sending food /party supplies! 

We’re using VolunteerSpot (an online signup sheet tool) to coordinate parent volunteers for the class party. Please click the link below and enter your email address to sign up to help:  

 http://tinyurl.com/MsRoseHolidayParty

This process makes it easy for you to choose a spot and sends automated confirmation and reminder messages - which most parents appreciate.  You don't need to register an account on VolunteerSpot -- the site will remember you by your email address.

 If you have trouble accessing the site or prefer not to enter your email address – please email me and I can sign you up manually.

Thanks for helping throw a memorable and fun celebration!

 

Just Pick Up the Phone and Ask

And 5 questions to help you get closer to your supporters

By Kirsten Bullock

A couple of years ago I was sitting in a committee meeting and we were discussing feedback we wanted from participants. We were coming up with all sorts of options using technology (and avoiding personal contact). But then I asked the question: how many people were we looking at? Was it 5,000? 500? 100? No – it was about 15.

With 5 people on the committee, and 3 phone calls each, we could get some great personal feedback with just a handful of calls. Plus it would help build a closer connection with our supporters.

While technology can support us in our fundraising and volunteer-building efforts, sometimes it can also be a crutch that enables us to put an artificial barrier between us and our supporters (be it parents, community members or other volunteers).

It is so easy to just send off an email – but a conversation with some open-ended questions can glean a lot of information. But, what do you ask? In case you need some thoughts, here are a few to help you get started:

• How did you learn about our group?
• What made you want to get involved?
• What is your favorite thing about our group?
• What is your least favorite thing?
• What is it that you would most like to see us do in the next twelve months? (Don’t ask this unless you plan on doing something with the information you gather.)

And please, if you’re planning on asking for a large gift, whatever you do, ask in person, not by phone.

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how welcomed your call will be!

Those are my thoughts – what are yours?

****

Kirsten Bullock is a consultant, trainer and coach who works with leaders of non-profit organizations and ministries to bring professionalism, excellence and effectiveness to their board and fundraising efforts. She earned her designation as a Certified Fund Raising Executive in 2002. Kirsten is currently serving as president elect of the Association for Fundraising Professionals Greater Louisville Chapter. She is an AFP Master Trainer, compiles Kirsten’s Fundraising Headlines Blog, authors the Growing Your Donors blog and is a contributing blogger for SOFII (The Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration). Follower her on Twitter.

Volunteering Can Benefit Your Career

Are you the one - the one that volunteers to help at school, in your congregation, at the community kitchen, or helping neighbors in need? Although you don’t expect anything in return for your volunteer time and efforts, what if I told you that your past and future volunteer work can actually boost your career? Well, it can. And here’s a few tips for how to work It!

How Volunteering Can Boost Your Career!

By Pamela McBride

 

1. Avoid speaking of your volunteer positions as your doing “whatever needs to be done.” Instead, identify your key role and two or three main functions.

 

2. Know what you bring to the table and bring it on. Volunteer work can be a great place to showcase your skills, especially those you haven’t had the chance to use in paid positions as much as you’d like.

 

3. Learn something new. If your resume is missing a key skill or knowledge you need for your next career move, make it a goal to gain it from your volunteer work.

 

4. Treat your volunteer stint just like a paid job. Always perform to the very highest standards. Take the initiative to set your own performance goals and meet them. Dress, communicate and act like the professional you want to be.

 

5. Document your work. Keep a list of what you do, your accomplishments, and any training you obtain. Use this list to update your resume and to speak about in interviews during your next job search. These experiences just might increase your chances of landing a job or landing one a little sooner.

What volunteer experiences have contributed to your career? Which of these tips will you try?

****

 

Pamela McBride is the co-author of Work It, Girl! The Black Woman’s Guide to Professional Success and The Mocha Manual to Military Life: A Savvy Guide for Wives, Girlfriends and Female Service Members. She helps women become more effective by teaching them how to use their talents, skills, and abilities to get what they want and Work It, Girl! Get in touch with Pamela on Twitter and Facebook.

Early Learning and Parent Participation Pre-School

We talk a lot about parent participation at school, but what about parent participation pre-school? Classroom moms and dads clearly are involved with their child's education, but what can you do to help your child be prepared even before they enter the classroom? Today Dr. Erika Burton shares her tips on how parents can become actively involved in their child's early learning process, particularly when it comes to reading skills. Thanks Erika!

By Dr. Erika Burton

Early childhood education sets the stage for future academic achievement.

Whether you choose a pre-school setting, home school your child, or a combination of both, exposure and parent modeling of literacy skills before, during and after the preschool years is essential. The number one indicator of academic success is parental involvement.

Research

A study conducted last spring in over 27 countries and over 20 years confirmed that having over 500 books in ones’ home is more important to a child’s projected academic success than a parent’s education. There are few studies to date on parent involvement in early literacy skills and development when reading with them. Yet, educators know that the number one predictor of lifelong academic achievement is parental involvement.

Ready for beginning literacy skills?

Where do you start if your child does not know their letters or sounds?

1. Expose your child to literacy in natural occurring situations- Point out stop, speed, and washroom signs.
2. Label your house- Make a project out of writing and taping words for things around your house that your child can see, touch, and repeat every day.
3. Alphabet fun- Play with the alphabet out of order through developing a letter of the day, week, or month and try to incorporate each through meals, toys, searching for pictures in books and on the internet. Have your child help you. Take pictures and/or develop a book for each letter. Develop hands-on opportunities for your child to make each letter cutting them from sponges, forming them using play dough, or making them in the sand!
4. Sound fun- Make up songs, games, or dances using the sounds of each letter in the alphabet. Buy a puzzle or game that repeats letter sounds to allow for independent learning opportunities.

Where do you start if your child is ready to read?

1. Investigate- The first reading steps are always the most nerve wrecking. Make sure your child is ready. Does your child know their letters and sounds?
2. What are the signs of a child ready to read?- Does your child pretend to read books, ask you what words say, attempt to sound out letters in words, know words are devised of letters and that spaces indicate new words? Has your child told you they want to learn to read?
3. Start and stop when your child is eager- Beginning reading is hard. Consistent practice in small chunks of time works best. Your child should enjoy the reading process and be within their frustration threshold.
4. Use repetitive simple beginning reading books - Allow your child to select an easy reader that can be completed in one sitting of 5-10 minutes. Research suggests choice is important in reading motivation.
5. Picture walk- Predict and preview each page in a book. Guide new readers’ understanding of how illustrations provide text clues.
6. Model- Do an initial read through of a beginning reading book pointing to each word with your finger.
7. Guide them- Help your child read the story on their own assisting them with difficult words in context. Provide mini lessons on difficult phonic concepts such as the silent e and long vowel sound.
8. Review and discuss- Ask story questions related to vocabulary, connecting the text to your child’s experiences, and to check for basic reading comprehension.
9. Write- Have your child share as you transcribe or bravely attempt to write their thoughts on characters, problems, situations and their experiences with each story.
10. Review high frequency words- Review words such as; a, the, and, this… however you see fit.

Consistency- Work daily through these steps whenever possible

****

Dr. Erika Burton has been a teacher for over 15 years. She founded Stepping Stones Together to provide parents with an easy-to-use and reasonably priced online reading program to help parents instill a love for reading with children ages 3-7.  In 2005, Burton co-founded Orion’s Mind, an Educational Company with an overarching mission to close the educational achievement gap in Chicago.

VolunteerSpotlight: Shaun Dakin, Room Parent, Mount Daniel Elementary School

Today, our VolunteerSpotlight shines on a dedicated Classroom Dad at Mount Daniel Elementary School in Falls Church, VA. The role of a Classroom Dad (also known as a Room Parent) is to be the teacher's liaison with the classroom parent community and ensure (s)he gets the help (s)he needs for a fun and successful school year.

Please join us in celebrating Shaun Dakin! Shaun uses VolunteerSpot's online signup sheets to coordinate volunteers for his son's first grade class.

****
 

What's involved in your role as a room parent?

I'm the lead room parent so that means I get to tell others what to do!  Seriously, I'm in charge of coordinating weekly volunteer activities such as helping out with the Art Class, Computer Labs and our Outdoor Classroom. We also have several "big" one-time events where a lot of volunteers are needed and I help with that has well. For example "Danny's Birthday Party" where the school celebrates the birthday of the school mascot, Danny the Hippo!

 

Do you also volunteer for other organizations?

Yes. I run a non profit organization in my spare time called Citizens for Civil Discourse where we advocate for voter privacy rights. Please check us out at www.StopPoliticalCalls.org.

How did you get interested in serving at school?

I am a work from home Dad, so I knew I would have the flexibility to help out.  Our town is only 10,000 residents and the school is walking distance from our home.  

Mostly, however, education is probably the key thing that my Wife and I focus on for our son. Getting involved means that he knows that education is important and his school and teachers are a very high priority for our family.

What’s one piece of advice you have for parent volunteers out there?

Use VolunteerSpot.com!

Seriously, do use it. Additionally, have fun and make sure that you provide regular communications via email AND via "snail mail" or paper so all parents have an opportunity to get involved. Provide lots of feedback and opportunities to help out.

Lastly, make sure you ask your homeroom teacher what they need from you!

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

It is easy!

I was looking for a tool to help  me manage a lot of potential volunteers with a tool that was built for school volunteer activities.  VolunteerSpot was perfect for that!

In fact, I've been using VolunteerSpot for the entire year and parents always tell me that it's one of the best things that I implemented for our classroom. They love it because they can sign up for activities at the last minute and see if there are spots available without calling me or anyone else.

Anything else you’d like our readers to know?

Teachers make a school and I'm so proud of our awesome teachers at Mount Daniel Elementary school in Falls Church City, VA!

***

We salute Shaun Dakin and all the other parents out there making a difference in our children's schools. 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 [email protected].

Conference Planning Wrap Up | Tidy Thursday

By April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

This is the third post in our series about Conference and Travel Tips. First we covered preparing and packing for your conference , then how to avoid burnout during coference travel. Welcome home!

Now that your conference and travel adventures are done, you're left looking around at "life as usual" {plus likely a full suticase of dirty clotees and a logo-emblazoned tote bag filled with swag and trinkets!}

Wondering 'what should I do first?', is as common as eating breakfast. You know there are things you left in progress {like the project that is due at the end of the month}, you know there are things you should have accomplished before you left {like getting the volunteer list to the event coordinator, oops} and now there are things you feel inspired to bring into the mix {like connecting with a colleague across the country that is running a program similar to one that you're launching next month}.

Not to worry, I have veteran tips for these things too!

Gentle Re-entry

• You will be met with "catching up".
• You will be met with some version of chaos.
• You will be met with other people's deadlines.

Now that we've got that out of the way, I challenge you to consider what your first day back would look like if you gave yourself a 'buffer' day? If you're due to arrive home on a Sunday, don't open your public door until Tuesday. Allow yourself to get some laundry done, hang out with your family and/or pets, go through your (e)mail. Most importantly, get some much needed sleep or rest by staying off the radar. Consider it a mental health day. I promise, it's alright.

We've built our expectations into a "must be available" lifestyle. When you've communicated your absence for a conference and travel time, it makes sense to allow for a little breathing room before jumping back into it all.

Follow up

If you've followed the tips in Conference Packing, Planning and other Preparation Tips you are faced with a stack of notes, business cards with notes, and a sense of overwhelm.

Not to worry.

Practice the post conference and travel follow up technique:

• find a clear surface {kitchen tables or beds work great for this}
• dump out all your business cards and notes in one corner
• place each of the items in piles/categories according to a task
  • start with what you know:
    • this business card is someone I want to add to my resources list
    • these notes had great ideas about how I'm going to ...
    • this business card is someone I need to email information to
• determine what tasks are ahead of you and schedule the following days with a time to accomplish each of them

Followup tends to be an easily avoidable task after a conference and travel. Fatigue and other responsibilities quickly resume their place while new, conference-inspired  ideas or connections fall to the back burner. By setting aside dedicated time to integrate your new learnings with your previous agenda, you'll look like an effecient pro in no time!

Momentum

Inspiration is born from gathering a group of people in an environment that allows them to mingle, share and build-off each other's ideas. Harnessing this inspiration and channeling it productively is also known as momentum.

For years, after returning from conference and travel adventures, I've felt a sense of hope when I arrive on my doorstep only to realize a few days later that life has returned to normal and my new-found momentum is becoming a distant memory.

So, how do I mantain and fuel momentum?

Preparation.

During that 'extra' day post conference and travel, I spend some quiet time in reflection and ask:

• what was my biggest takeaway?
• what was the most surprising thing I learned / experienced?
• who stands out most from the experience?
• what have I been inspired to do?
• how will this new information effect me moving forward?

Once I've answered these questions for myself, I determine "what's next"? And from there, I insert  actionalble tasks into my schedule, life and expectations moving forward.

***

I've loved sharing my insights about conference and travel tips you can try this year; please let me know if you have additional tips or if you've tried any of the suggestions and found an improvement for yourself! I can't wait to hear your input over on the VolunteerSpot facebook page this week!

Keepin it Tidy,

April

***

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.

 

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 

Employee Giving & Volunteering - What Matters Most | Realized Worth

This article was originally posted on Realizing Your Worth, the Realized Worth blog.

*****

By Chris Jarvis

Corporate Volunteering promises an array of benefits, but there is one single benefit that overshadows the rest - one single benefit that is the sole measurement of success for your program.

For me, the question is never, “How much did you do?”

The question is, “Why does what you do matter?”

This perspective colors every headline I see and article I read, which is why one title particularly piqued my interest. “The Best and Worst of Corporate Giving in 2010” by Caroline Preston. Immediately, I wanted to know the criteria for measuring the “best” and “worst” when it comes to corporate giving - and naturally, I assumed I might have a disagreement or two. (Which is all the more fun for me.)

Admittedly, I clicked on the article and before a minute passed, found myself distracted by one company that seems intent on surprising (and delighting) CSR enthusiasts across the globe: the Microsoft Corporation.

First, a good idea:

As one of the best examples of corporate giving listed in Ms. Preston’s article, she describes “Microsoft’s move to train more out-of-work people in technology skills, in part to compensate for its declining cash contributions amid the recession.” Combining the skills of current employees with the needs of the people is a good idea. 

Next, tools to make it work:

I took a second to poke around on Microsoft’s website where I found an impressive array of support tools for nonprofits and individuals. The site “aims to help you get the Microsoft tools you need, whether you're a student, entrepreneur, nonprofit worker, technology professional, parent, or you just want to brush up on your IT skills.” (A lot of the resources here are free - I highly recommend checking them out.) 

And finally, belief in your employees:

Microsoft made realistic changes based on the recession by providing cost-effective, hands-on training. At the same time, they empowered their employees to make their own choices and give as much or as little as they wanted. As you may have read in our previous article, Microsoft and their Smooth Kung-Fu Moves, the opportunities for employees to contribute at this company are endless.

Maintaining these opportunities for employees may have been the most genius choice of all. This past year, Microsoft employees gave more of their time and money through the company’s annual employee giving campaign than ever before. Despite concerns around the recession, 2010 turned out to be Microsoft’s most successful year of giving. They raised more than $96 million (that’s a 9.2% increase over 2009) for more than 16,000 community organizations of all sizes.

Impressive. ...And distracting.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There is no doubt that $96 million is a number worth broadcasting. That caliber of giving has the potential to quite literally change the world. But let’s get back to the original issue:

    For me, the question is never, “How much did you do?”

    The question is, “Why does what you do matter?”

It’s not the number $96 million that’s most important - it’s what happened because of that number. Let’s take a second to examine Microsoft’s reported numbers, and see if they really matter to both the community and the company.

The Community Benefit

For Seattle Children’s Hospital, Microsoft employees are their largest, active source of ongoing donors. That means that no one who comes to Seattle Children’s is turned away for insurance or financial reasons. The employees give more than $800,000 each year in funds that go to assist over 1000 families.

Microsoft employees raised more than $2.76 million for the United Way of King County. That money is helping their new Parent-Child Home Program, which ensures that children from low income, struggling families enter school with an equal chance.

Microsoft employees also made donations through Jolkona, a nonprofit organization providing effective ways to channel small-scale gifts to high-impact projects around the world. Here’s just a few of the immediate outcomes of those donations:

• 550 children fed in Uganda for two weeks each
• 30 girls educated in Afghanistan
• 12 artificial limbs provided in Bangladesh
• 31 children saved from diarrhea in India

The Employee Benefit

Several years ago two Microsoft employees, Leif Hemstad and Kristen Marchus-Hemstad, were transformed through a simple act of giving. The husband and wife duo are regular participants in Microsoft’s annual Giving Campaign.

Each year they host a party at their home in Minnesota. This particular year they decided to invite their friends and colleagues from Fargo’s Microsoft campus to bring donations for the local food bank. In the end, they collected about 50 pounds of food and a few hundred dollars as a donation.

A few weeks later, when Leif and Kristen excitedly drove the food and money to the food bank, they were disappointed with what they saw. The long shelves meant to be filled with food were nearly bare - and more significantly, the people waiting in line hoping for help looked humiliated, desperate, and very, very hungry.

“Once we walked into the food bank, we began thinking that our gesture, while noble, was not significant or impactful to the thousands in our county who face hunger,” Hemstad said.

What this couple saw, was deeply unsettling. They recall returning to the parking lot and sitting in the car. “I cried, and Leif got direct,” Kristen said. “We decided we were going to do this – we were going to make a difference.”

The couple decided they needed to branch beyond themselves. They partnered with the United Way and planned another party for friends and friends of friends. Their goal was to receive 75 guests and raise $7,500. They were delighted when 190 people showed up, raising $23,000. A year later the couple held another party and raised $61,000. This year, the goal is $75,000.

What’s the Point?

There are a lot of reasons why companies have employee volunteer programs. Volunteering is growing in popularity, it’s an effective means of engagement in the CSR strategy, it communicates powerfully to the community. But whether or not companies know it, the single most important reason for employee volunteering and giving programs is this: they create better people.

Corporations are literally a ‘body of people.’ So it follows that each corporation reflects those people who comprise its body. If you want a good corporation, you need good people.

Companies like Microsoft, which place an enormous emphasis on community investment, create space for their employees to become better people. When we interact with others in our community that we may not normally see or listen to, we are captured by the possibility that there is more to life than what we know. We are led to better questions about the world around us and about ourselves. For Lief and Kristen this happened when they entered a little food pantry and asked themselves, maybe for the first time, “What is hunger?” And more importantly, “In what ways can we take responsibility for the issue of hunger in our neighborhood?”

When we ask questions like these, “better questions about the world around us and about ourselves” we become better fathers, better sisters, better friends and better employees. Microsoft accomplished a great feat by giving $96 million - but that’s not what matters. What matters is that they’re changing the world by changing their people, one by one.

* * *  

Chris Jarvis is a leading CSR blogger and speaker who works with companies to help them connect with their communities. Chris co-founded Realized Worth with his partner, Angela Parker, to help companies create outstanding corporate volunteering programs and utilize social media to create authentic and engaging conversations.

Chirs can be found on Twitter at @RealizedWorth and vlogging as the exclusive Canadian representative of 3BLMedia. 3BLMedia works with organizations to tell their CSR, Sustainability and Cause Marketing stories across the social web.

Summer of Service 2011

 

 
With June just a few weeks away, we're getting excited for Summer of Service 2011!  Since last year's blog series was such a big success, we decided to engage the service community, rally the troops, and do it again!

Starting Mondays in June, we'll be bringing you a new voice and new perspective on service and volunteering from inspiring leaders in the field. If you're a volunteer leader, or someone who cares about making a difference in your community and world, you won't want to miss Summer of Service!

Please Welcome our Guests:

Nate St. Pierre of ItStartsWith.Us sharing how small actions can have a huge impact

Christina Jumper of the National Military Family Association with a perspective on Military Family service

Marilyn Price-Mitchell of Roots of Action - helping families, schools and communities help kids thrive

Jacob Colker founder of Sparked - making it insanely easy for us all to pitch in and "micro-volunteer" from anywhere this summer

Michael Nealis of Points of Light Institute bringing us the latest scoop in service from the National Conference on Volunteering and Service

Tammi DeVille author of Changing the World On A Tuesday Night   taking on the importance of story telling for social cause

Rabbi Will Berkovitz of Repair the World, sharing insights on faith and service

Susan Ellis founder of Energize, Inc, the leading resource for professional volunteer leadership development

Several lifestyle bloggers sharing their stories of family service and action including Angela Ishmael of SwankyMoms, Rachel Matthews of A Southern Fairytale, and surprise guests!

Please join us this summer in celebrating service and volunteering!

Teacher Gift Ideas for the End of the School Year

Great Class Gifts: Low Cost and Sure to Please

The pools are about to open and the books are about to close. The school year is almost done, but before your kids bolt from school without a second thought, remember to thank their teachers for all the hard work they've done throughout the year.

Ask your room parent about the school district’s policy on end-of-year teacher gifts.  Some allow parents to collect cash and gift cards, others have a strict dollar limit.  Here are a few fun low-cost options involving the whole class:

5 Simple Ideas for Teacher Gifts

• Treasure Chest: Provide each child with a small envelope and ask the family to contribute a summer ‘treasure’.  It can be anything – an inspirational quote, a thank you note, a small toy, photo, movie tickets, or even a gift certificate to your favorite local book store, restaurant or salon.  Package the sealed envelopes in a toy treasure box (or a box with a photo of a treasure chest)  add chocolate coins and present it to the teacher with this note: 
  We’ve treasured your teaching all year long. Please enjoy these small treasures from us.  (Opening one a day this summer takes more patience, but brings more delight!)    
•  Summer Reading Escape: Ask parents to provide their favorite gently used books and magazines.  Package them in a colorful beach tote with a new beach towel, sunscreen and water bottle.  If your class is the cash-gathering kind, purchase an e-reader and online book store gift certificate.
• Garden Gadgets: If you’re teacher is a gardener, ask members of the class to donate seed packets, garden tools or small gift certificates to home and garden supply stores.  Present them in a large watering can with a bow and a potted plant.  (This same theme idea can be replicated for other hobbies - art baskets, cooking supplies, etc.)
• A Thank You Boquet: We polled teachers a while back and the thing that they appreciated most (yes, even over another candle, or school-themed trinket), was a simple thank you note. Send two colorful index cards home with each child. Write one thank you note yourself and have your child write one too - be sure to make it personal (sentence starters below). Gather up all the notecards and assemble them in a colorful basket with a foam bottom.  Use florist note-card holder picks to hold the thank you cards.  (Supplies available at any craft store). Some parents may want to include photos or gift cards also. 

• • You’re extra special because…
  • Thank you for…
  • I love how you…
  • This year you’ve taught me…

 A Few Hours Off: Things get stressful towards the end of the year with tests and all the kids getting antsy to get out for the summer. Have parents take turns helping in the classroom. This can be by organizing a reading circle, an end of the year party put on by parents, or signing up to help with all the end-of-year packing up that needs to be done in the classroom.

Make the end of the school year a celebration, and not just because your kids are escaping school. Have it be a time to remember the good times of the past year, and to thank their teacher for their hard work.

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And for even more great end of the school year ideas including specific ideas for retiring teachers and middle school and high school teachers, please check out our free ebook The Greatest Gifts for Teachers. We'd love to hear your ideas too.  Please click 'comments' below.

photo courtesy of Photobucket and Xmadedx

Easy Committee Picker Signup Sheets Using VolunteerSpot | How to VolunteerSpot

Easy Committee SignUp Sheets and Volunteer Interest Forms

Now is the perfect time to recruit volunteers for activities and committees at school, nonprofits and in Faith Groups. In securing commitments now, committee chairs can breath a sign of relief and concentrate on planning activities, delegating tasks and even asking newly signed up committee members to invite their friends!

How to use VolunteerSpot as a committee picker for your group:

Step 1: Choose a 'No Specific Day' Signup Sheet
Step 2: List Committee Options
Step 3: Invite Members to Signup for their Choice of Committees
  

Step 1: Choose a No Specific Day Signup Sheet

Login and create a new activity in the Planning Wizard and choose a “No Specific Day” signup sheet on screen 1.

Step 2: List Options

Click Plan Spots

Add a ToDo item for each committee that needs volunteers. You likely won't add a time, and will need to choose if there is an unlimited number of spots, or if you have an ideal number of members in mind. Use the 'details' field to share more information about the committe or even list the committee's meeting time, such as “Meets Every Monday at 4pm”  or “ Meets First Tuesdays at 6pm”.

 
Step 3: Invite Members to Signup for their Choice of Committees

Invite your Committee members via email or post a Sharable URL link or Signup Button on your website or Facebook page. When a volunteer clicks the signup link and chooses a spot, (s)he’ll see something like this:

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Once committee members have all signed up, you can print rosters, Export data into Excel or other files, or create new signup sheets to invite members to events and activities (single day or multiple day).  Click “invite from previous” to automatically populate the committee members’ email addresses in new activity invitations!

Happy Planning!

Secrets to Volunteer Engagement

 
You’ve asked yourself the same questions a million times…

“Why won’t anyone volunteer for our events?” 

“Why is it always the same people who volunteer for everything?” 

As a former PTA President at an elementary school I’ve asked myself the same questions at least a million times and the conclusion I have come to is that if you offer volunteers “meaningful” work to do they will be more likely to jump in for the less favorable jobs when you need them.   

When volunteers decide to engage themselves in an activity they want to feel that they are making a difference. While serving popcorn at the fun fair is commendable and makes attendees of the event happy, there are more meaningful ways to engage your volunteers to allow them to make a larger impact. 

I recently took the time to develop a volunteer reading program, with the support of the school reading specialists, to assist teachers in the classroom with readers in need of some extra attention. When the form went out to recruit our volunteer readers there were names on the list I had NEVER seen before.  These parents wanted to volunteer, but apparently we had never given them the job that fit their needs as an individual.  This new program now provided them an opportunity to offer their time in a way that they felt was important and also made a huge difference in the education of the students.   

Additionally, these same volunteers, who had not volunteered before, recently spent 30 minutes of their Friday night helping at the fun fair – which was a first for many of them – but this was likely sparked from the new connection they felt with the school through their reading intervention work! 

Overall, what I have learned over the last few years of recruiting volunteers is that the act of recruitment is not about filling MY space with bodies, it is about filling THEIR space with something that is important to them.  By building a partnership between the school/PTA/district and the volunteers you will allow them to feel a greater connection to the success of everything that is produced from that structure/school/association – whether it be reading intervention or the success of the fun fair on any given Friday night. 

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Jennifer DeFranco is a committed PTA advocate in Illinois and currently serves as the Membership/Marketing Director for the Illinois PTA.  She also served as the 2010 Illinois delegate to the Mom Congress at Georgetown University and currently serves as a mentor for the 2011 delegation, presenting on bullying prevention. She is the mother of two outstanding elementary age children and a wife to an exceptionally wonderful husband. Connect with her on Twitter.

Conference and Travel Tips | Tidy Thursday

By April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach

Building on last week's article about preparing and packing for your conference - fast forward. You're in the midst of your conference and travel excursions connecting with colleagues, enjoying hotel amenities and taking in all the atmosphere has to offer. Although you realize you're exhausted, you still keep pushing because this is a once-a-year experience and you want to capitalize on the full experience!

Yup, I hear you! We've all been there. Usually this philosophy is followed by a vicious cold, fatigue for weeks and a to-do list that is haunting your self esteem.

So how does everybody else make it look so easy? Simple ... years of practice! Here are some of my veteran conference and travel tips that have been refined over the years:

How to Avoid Burnout During Conference and Travel

Pace Yourself

The excitement that builds up before heading off to a conference and travel environments are a breeding ground for conversations. Remember, you'll be having many conversations in the days to come ~ try saving your thinking power {and voice} for those.

Rest

This is a hard one, a conference and travel can be so over-stimulating that once faced with a pillow you may be too "wired" for sleep.

Consider a strategy for shutting down your brain:

•  
  • Install a sleep music app on your phone
  • Bring a favorite movie to watch
  • Pack a travel candle of your favorite relaxing scent 
  • Try to avoid anything that will continue to 'use brain cells' like:
    
    • Looking at the agenda for the next day
    • Talking to roommates until dawn
    • Getting all of your thoughts from the day into a journal {this should be done before relaxation begins}

Know Your Limit

While this is a helpful tip for adult beverage consumption, it is also a golden rule during conference and travel times too. It's important to know when you've hit your new information limit. The capacity of our brains differ in their size but never in their warning signals, we all have them and we all should listen when they are screaming for a break.

Worth Missing a Session? 

Consider whether the conversation you're in can only happen now. Like say, speaking to a potential mentor who has a crazy busy schedule {and you're only getting their undivided attention because you are physically in one another's space}. Or can you continue this once back in your office via the phone or email {perfect environment when considering collaborating on an idea}.

Many professional conferences record their sessions. If you have the opportunity to purchase those recordings - do it. Not only is it helpful for referring back to {when you're less overwhelmed} but it can give you the necessary buffer to finish that great conversation.

If recordings aren't an option but the conversation is too good to leave, find someone who attended {as they leave the session} and ask to review their notes. I'll often ask "What was your one biggest takeaway from the session?". This is a great conversation starter and allows you to hear their opinion of the experience.

Arriving Home, Ready to Resume Normal Life 

As you wrap up your conference and travel journey you may want to consider your "re-entry" strategy.

If you are not driving take the travel time to:

• Catch up on sleep
• Review new contacts made
• Strategize your follow up plan
• Brainstorm new ideas
• Be quiet

If you are driving home:

• Consider a voice recording device to "dump" all your thoughts into
• Play non-stimulating music
• Take in your surroundings, are the trees blooming - do the cars have out-of-state plates - what's the one thing in each city you drive through that stands out?

Remember, life still went on while you were gone. And it isn't waiting for you to be ready to catch up. A recent client of mine shared this:

“Last year my husband was faced with a sick cat needing to go to the vet ... while I was 5 states away! Of course, the situation was dealt with, but I came home to a routine that began without me. I now needed to observe and listen for my place, hard to do since I'm usually the one updating my husband in these types of circumstances.” 

When you arrive at your own doorstep prepare yourself for the initial energy to receive everyone who missed you, including the jumping dog, then find the nearest recliner and glue yourself to it.

Next week is all about the days following your arrival home from conference and travel. Gentle re-entry strategies, follow up techniques and implementing the momentum from the experience.

Keepin' it Tidy,

April

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You may also like: Conference Planning, Packing and Other Preparation Tips

April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect.