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We All Need a Laugh

Submitted by Susan J Ellis
on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 19:24

As serious as our work is, it is also frequently very funny.  So why is it so hard to find witty stories, cartoons, and other forms of humor focused on life in nonprofits, government, and volunteer management? 

Energize has been finding links to humor and sharing funny stories from our site visitors for years and we can always count on board development expert Carol Weisman to make us laugh with her great newsletter, but we all now have a really wonderful, regular humor resource!

Why We All Need to Take a Ride on VolunteerSpot's #TinyCars Campaign

Submitted by Cara Thenot
on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 21:22

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, VolunteerSpot launched a “Tiny Cars” campaign to fight for support of H.R. 387: Charitable Driving Tax Relief Act of 2011.  Passage would mean an increase of the measly $.14 per mile tax deduction rate for charitable driving unchanged by the U.S. Congress since 1997. That’s compared to the 50 cents per mile deduction for business use of a personal vehicle in 2011.  And the new bill would also no longer count such reimbursement to volunteers as gross income.

The “Spark Plug Theory” of Volunteer Recruitment

Submitted by Susan J Ellis
on Thu, 12/29/2011 - 16:08

It’s always fun to apply theories from one field to a completely different one.  In an online Bloomberg Businessweek article, "The Spark Plug Theory of Marketing,"  author Steve McKee notes that many business ads fail because “companies cram too much into them trying to make their case, or expect that they can open and close the sale in one fell swoop. The best advertising is like a spark plug that leaves a small gap for the audience to fill in for themselves . . .

Volunteer Journalists Capture Recent European Volunteer Centre Conference

Submitted by Susan J Ellis
on Fri, 12/09/2011 - 21:15

On October 19-21, the European Volunteer Centre (CEV) sponsored a symposium in Berlin on "Volunteering and Active Citizenship: Two Sides of the Same Coin?"  I had the opportunity to participate in this event which was being videotaped by a team of volunteer journalists. The director and editor, Brian Christopher Griffin, just let me know that two videos have been posted to YouTube.

March 27, 2011: International News From the Field

Submitted by Susan J Ellis
on Sun, 03/27/2011 - 16:58

27 March:The Johns Hopkins University Center for Civil Society Studies (CCSS) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have announced the release of a new manual to help statistical agencies around the world track the amount, type, and value of volunteer work in their respective countries.

The Manual on the Measurement of Volunteer Work (68 pages, PDF) – available free of charge – is a unique, internationally sanctioned guide to generating reliable, official data on volunteer work using a common definition and approach. Previous research by CCSS has found that even conservative estimates of the value of volunteering is roughly double the value of donations of cash and other contributions by individuals, foundations, and corporations. Their press release on the release of the Manual is titled “Counting the Volunteers the World Counts On.”

Supported in part by the United Nations Volunteers, the manual includes a definition of volunteer work as well as a cost-effective means of

January 2, 2011: International News From the Field

Submitted by Susan J Ellis
on Sun, 01/02/2011 - 19:40

2 January: On December 20th, the Corporation for National and Community Service released “My American Story,” a series of television public service announcements that feature ordinary Americans who are tackling problems in their communities through volunteering. From an Iraqi war veteran who serves with AmeriCorps helping fellow soldiers readjust to civilian life, to an RSVP volunteer who uses his life experience to help youth on probation; the spots show the power of people to improve lives and strengthen communities. Visit Serve.gov to watch the videos (there are also tips to help you get your local television stations to air the PSAs).

In addition to the PSAs in English and Spanish, there are also 12 short videos showcasing the value of service. The site further encourages organizations and individual volunteers to share your own stories or submit a video.   

The goal of the project is to increase volunteering – once again putting effort into a general recruitment campaign

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