Retention is defined as an issue because the conce...

2008-07-30T07:50:00.000-06:00

Retention is defined as an issue because the conceptualization of volunteering is as an ongoing activity. But everything we know about trends in volunteering these days is that it's becoming a short-term (episodic) activity. So, that the data reveals volunteers moving into and out of volunteering should have been perfectly predictable.

The problem might not be retention. The problem is, I think, our expectation that volunteers will stay. Isn't it long past time we gave up on the notion that volunteers are long term workers? ... the world HAS changed and we need to change our thinking. The management implications that follow include: rethinking what we want volunteers to do, redeveloping more short term positions with high-output. high value potential. Then stop measuring value, contributions and success by numbers of hours of service and start paying attention to what volunteers actually accomplish. I think in many situations, carefully placed high-skills volunteers are able to accomplish quite a lot more in a short time than many long term volunteers placed in low-level, routine positions.

Have a look also at the Global Volunteer Managemen...

2008-07-30T05:37:00.000-06:00

Have a look also at the Global Volunteer Management Survey which has some interesting things to say about those who manage volunteers and the resources volunteer involving entities put into volunteer management: http://www.pfts.com.au/

Comments on Change Yourself. Change the World.: Volunteering in America Report Released: Retention...

Retention is defined as an issue because the conce...

Have a look also at the Global Volunteer Managemen...