VOLUNTEERING NEW ZEALAND FOCUS:

CommunityCentral goes live

CommunityCentral is now live and VNZ members will be receiving this issue of VNZ Update directly through the site.

Other regular recipients of Update should receive it this way in December. Community Central is an online space for people in tangata whenua, community and voluntary, public health and other organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand to work together, share and converse online. VNZ is proud to be one of the five organisations who have led its development. Our colleague organisations are NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations, ANGOA, NZCOSS and Shore, the Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation.

The first version of the website is now available. Right now you can:

• Join for free and sign-up to receive e-newsletters - from now on, get your email newsletters from national organisations including VNZ via CommunityCentral.
• Browse through key sector collaborative projects - ComVoices and Workplace Wellbeing now have their home in CommunityCentral.

CommunityCentral takes the hassle out of managing email lists and distribution. The CommunityCentral team especially like to hear from you if your organisation is looking for an easier way to manage its email newsletters.

CommunityCentral provides an upload facility, a mail server as well as subscriber-based subscribe and unsubscribe-all in one place, so contact the CommunityCentral Team.

Organisations can also register their interest in private workspaces and networks - both features we're planning on adding in the coming months. They will help us all work smarter across the sector -soon you'll be able to create or join a private workspace for keeping common sets of files and records for groups working together on different computers, across different organisations or in different locations. Also, you'll be able to use networks to share ideas and discuss a topic or theme of common interest. Contact the CommunityCentral Team if you're interested.

Do we know about your plans for International Volunteer Day?

Volunteering NZ would like to hear about plans from all around New Zealand for the celebration of International Volunteer Day, Friday 5 December. We have established a special blog where you are able to post your plans (instructions on how to post an item are available from the blog) or simply email them to office[at]volunteeringnz.org.nz and we will do it for you. New posters and balloons have been produced and samples of the posters have been dispatched to more than 700 different addresses across the country. As the poster is generic to enable it to be used throughout the year, we have also sent out the remaining copies of previous years special IV Day posters. These have now been used up but a PDF version of last year's poster can be accessed through the IV Day toolkit on our website. If you would like a supply of posters and balloons email office[at]volunteeringnz.org.nz or phone 043843636. We will send them to you as soon as possible.

Introducing our new board members

As reported in the last issue of VNZ Update, there are two new members in the six VNZ Board members elected for the 2008/09 year. They are Gillian Peacock and Lloyd Davies Both of them bring considerable experience of the community sector from both paid and voluntary roles.

Gillian has been working at Sport & Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) for the last two years in a role created to support the many volunteers in the sport & recreation sector. She has also worked at the New Zealand Fire Service as the national advisor volunteer services and has a background in human resources and a special interest in building capacity and capability. Her volunteer roles have included Lifeline, Anglican Social Services, the Multiple Birth Association and school and sport groups. While living in Dar es Salaam in the mid 1990's she volunteered at the International school counselling teenagers.

Lloyd Davis, chairperson of Volunteering Western Bay of Plenty, is a founding director of Mediation Plus, a company providing organisational management solutions. Lloyd has held several senior management positions in the health, social services, sport and recreation sector as well as independent management consulting. A JP and active Rotary member, he is board member of the NZ Institute of Management and chairs or is a committee member of several Bay of Plenty groups including Tauranga's Village Radio where he is also a volunteer broadcaster. Lloyd and Tim Burns served together some years ago on the Executive of Hospice NZ.

The other elected board members are:
Heather Clark, current board member, National Advisor Volunteer Services (HR)NZ Fire Service
Dianne Denny, current board member, Chairperson Volunteering Auckland
Alison Marshall, current VNZ Chairperson, National Manager Volunteer Services NZ Royal Foundation of the Blind
Olwen Taylor, current board member, former chairperson Volunteer Wellington

Volunteer Centres have another successful meeting

Representatives from the network of 14 volunteer centres held another successful meeting in Wellington at the end of October. The centres meet twice a year, providing them the opportunity to discuss projects that they work on collaboratively, new initiatives for promoting and supporting volunteering, learn about national developments which affect them and provide advice and support to the newer centres. The meeting welcomed the representatives of the newest volunteer centre, Volunteering Mid-North based in Kaikohe. Centre manager, Bella Tari and colleagues have attended previous meetings but this was their first since the centre formally opened its doors in September.

A special speaker was Hon Winnie Laban, the then Associate Minister of Social Development. She brought her own commitment to the community and voluntary sector and support for volunteering. VNZ Chairperson Alison Marshall. Executive Director Tim Burns and Communications Officer Branka Cicak attended different sessions of the meeting. Alison spoke as VNZ Chairperson about VNZ issues of interest to the centres. Tim was able to provide the VNZ perspective to various discussions.

Some of the presentations and topics in the programme were:

• Building partnerships/strengthening community - Bernie Babe, Nelson Community Support Service co-ordinator discussed their successful partnership with Volunteer Nelson.
• Louise Lee reported on her recent research trip in UK as part of her overall research into employee volunteering programmes. Some of the centres then reported on their employee volunteering programmes.
• Lani Evans Volunteering Otago's youth volunteering co-ordinator spoke about the projects which she is developing with schools and university students.
• Alison Marshall, Julie Thomson and Tim Burns reported on overseas conferences with Alison and Julie focusing on the Volunteering Australia conference and Tim on the IAVE world conference.

VOLUNTEERING STORIES FROM NEW ZEALAND

Volunteer Wellington is a winner

Volunteer Wellington took the Educational and Child Youth Development Award at the Wellington Awards Regional Community Awards which form the Wellington section of the Trustpower Community Awards. Prior to this Volunteer Wellington received the Supreme Award for Wellington City and represented the city at the regional finals along with the winners from Hutt City, Upper Hutt, Porirua and Kapiti. The supreme winner for the region was the Kotuku Music Academy Support Trust and the other category winners were Paekakariki Station Precinct, the Heritage and Environment Winner, Riding for the Disabled Hutt Valley, the Health and Wellbeing winner; Mana Tiaki Incorporated, Arts and Culture winner and Athletics Wellington Officials, winners of the Sports category.

Volunteers - the catalysts of the election

a reflection by Branka Cicak, VNZ Communications Officer

Having the elections behind us, it is time to reflect on and remind of the role volunteers play in winning the numerous votes for the parties running for the seats and offices.

Over the last couple of months the New Zealand public was following the national election campaign, while the whole world had its eyes on the other side of the Pacific: who was going to be the next US president. What both political momentums had in common was the enormous army of the volunteers working in support of the candidates they believed in and wanted to be led by. However, what they did not share is the amount of recognition given to those volunteers who knocked on the doors, distributed leaflets, made phone calls, set up the billboards, stood with their party signs at the crossroads, gave a ride to the voters on the election days…

In case of the US presidential elections, there could be no more acknowledgement given to the volunteers as they received much credit and recognition for their contribution from the media, the candidates themselves, various political analysts and wider public. Their involvement was transparently defined as 'crucial' in making the people vote, and finally in achieving the results of the winning camp.

In New Zealand volunteers were no less committed to push forward the values they believed in but the phenomenon of political volunteering during the latest NZ election passed almost unnoticed. Although some of the parties did briefly address the input of volunteers in their campaign through speeches and websites, it seems not much was said and as the lights on the stage of campaigning battle went off, the volunteers will be forgotten until the next round.

As for most of the community and voluntary sector including VNZ, the new government brings new challenges and opportunities. One which is both a challenge and opportunity is to bring volunteering into the spotlight in the different national policies and make the new policy makers aware of the value of volunteering and its horizontal nature. Moreover, they should not forget the volunteers who contributed so much to enabling them to their position as members of Parliament for the next three years.

Sport and recreation volunteering plays a big part in Kiwi lifestyle

The 2007/08 Active New Zealand Survey demonstrates that large numbers of Kiwi adults continue to participate in sport and recreation. It also shows that there has been no fall off in overall participation levels since the previous comparable survey in 2001.

The survey commissioned by SPARC reveals that, on any given week, 80 percent of New Zealanders aged 16 and above participate in a sport or recreation activity - that's 2.6 million Kiwis having a go every week.

The data also shows that volunteers continue to be the backbone of sport and recreation with one in four adults involved as volunteers; that's 829,735 or 25% of the population over the age of 16 who give their time, skills and expertise as sport and recreation volunteers.

The survey tells us that men and women are equally as involved but that the largest group of our volunteers fall between 35 and 49 years of age. The most common role is coach/trainer at 46.5%, followed by parent helper at 36.9%, officials 31% and club administrators 26.3%. Compared with the total population volunteering levels were higher among Maori 33.2% and Pacific 31.9% adults and lower among Asian 13.2% and other adults. New Zealand Europeans volunteered at a rate of 26.1%.

The survey reinforces the good work the sport and recreation sector is doing in communities up and down the country.

Other major results in the survey are:

• Walking, gardening and swimming are the top three activities participated in per year;
• Clubs and centres play a major role in sport and recreation participation. Per month, one-third of adults utilise clubs/centres for sport and recreation;
• We love to compete - 37 percent of adults are involved in events and organised competitions.
• Among adults who are active, sport and recreation is the main way they achieve their recommended daily dose of physical activity;
• When compared to the total population, a similar proportion of Maori, New Zealand European and Pacific adults achieve New Zealand national physical activity guidelines.

The 2007/08 Active New Zealand survey is the most thorough and robust national level survey of sport and recreation participation ever done in this country and the first to be published since 2001. A total of 4,443 face-to-face interviews were conducted over a 12 month period.

New giving website coming

Givealittle, a new website to enable donations and offers of help, is about to be launched. The site will offer the opportunity to community organisations which are registered with the Charities Commission to seek financial and other support for their work and projects. Those wishing to give whether a small or large amount will be easily able to do this and also know that the cost to the recipient organisation will be much less than through most other fundraising systems. Click on this link to visit the Givealittle introductory blog.

VOLUNTEERING PEOPLE

New Leaders Announced for Salvation Army In NZ, Fiji & Tonga

Lieut-Colonels Don and Debi Bell have been appointed as the new senior leaders for The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory, effective 1 March 2009. They take up their new responsibilities, with promotion to the rank of commissioner, on 1 March 2009.

Don and Debi Bell are officers of the USA Western Territory who have served as Chief Secretary (second-in-command) and Territorial Secretary for Women's Ministries in the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory since 1 July this year. Their change in roles follows the retirement of Commissioners Garth and Mel McKenzie on 28 February.

Wellington Free Ambulance CE resigns

After over three years at the helm of Wellington Free Ambulance, chief executive John Britton has resigned and his resignations is effective from February 17 2009. "John Britton has led Wellington Free Ambulance through both changes and challenges, including overseeing the continuing development of WFA's patient care performance, the co-implementation of a national joint venture ambulance communications centre and strengthening WFA's financial control and performance," said WFA chairman Shaan Stevens.

Internationally experienced, existing general manager ambulance services (GMAS), Alan O'Beirne is acting Chief Executive.

VOLUNTEERING RECOGNITION AWARDS

Australia Cares 2008 Big Heart Awards

The Australia Cares 2008 Big Heart Awards were announced last month as part of an event to celebrate the growth of Melbourne Cares to becoming a national organisation, Australia Cares. The Big Heart Awards annually recognises two individuals and two teams for their outstanding contributions in the community. In the category for the Individual Award, 2008 winners are Anne Howells from Telstra and Meagan Denison from Cadbury Schweppes. The teams winning this year's awards are coming from ThoughtWorks and Cadbury Schweppes.

Australia Cares is a national independent broker for creating enriching partnerships between Australia's leading businesses, governments and community organisations. In partnership, Australia Cares designs and develops initiatives with tangible and outstanding sustainable outcomes for the community. For further information visit www.australiacares.org.au.

EVENTS

Sector Employment Seminars: Valuing the Work of Our Sector

A new one-stop employment resource for community organizations will be launched at a series of seminars on community sector employment organised by the Workplace Wellbeing Project. Mana Mahi. Participants will receive a free copy to take away. Board members, trustees (ie volunteers) and managers of community-based organisations are invited to attend.

The seminar will include a range of presentations on valuing the work of the sector, including:

• An address on the Scottish community sector by visiting guest speaker, Glyn Hawker
• Findings from recent New Zealand research on sector staff wellbeing and motivation
• Case studies and trials of job evaluation tools

The cost is just $40 per person.

Wellington, December 3: Wellington City Council Meeting Room
Contact: Lena Longman, 04 472 3364 or lenavlast[at]nzcoss.org.nz
Christchurch, December 4: Avebury House, Richmond
Contact: Sharon Torstonson, 03 366 2050 or ccoss[at]ihug.org.nz

Philanthropy NZ & Community Trusts combined conference

18-19 March 2009
Wellington
These dates for the Philanthropy NZ and Community Trusts conference have been announced last month. Further information will follow shortly at www.giving.org.nz.

Skills to Make a Difference - The National Non-Profit Sector Conference 2009

Early-bird registrations until 1 December
19-20 March 2009
War Memorial Conference Centre, Marine Parade, Napier

The programme features keynote addresses and workshops from experts in their field and draws on best practice commercial sector expertise and extensive NFP experience. The conference will identify the 'tool box' that NFP management and boards can use to be successful in an increasingly competitive market and challenging times.
Visit www.nfpconference.co.nz for further details.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

New Australian research demonstrates value of Charitable Bequests

The potential for bequests to contribute to the sustainability of Australian charities is immense according to new research which offers some surprising insight into just who might leave a bequest in their will. QUTs Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (CPNS) has released its report called Keeping Giving Going: Charitable Bequests and Australians by Dr Kym Madden and Dr Wendy Scaife.

The research explores the attitudes and behaviour of over 1000 charity donors, mainly located in New South Wales and Queensland, divided between "known bequestor" and "non-bequestor" donors.

Following are some of the key recommendations as the results of the research:

• The value of values: donor values and attitudes could be better harnessed to guide charity actions and communication.
• Remember the giving pyramid: provide more opportunities for bequestors to give at higher levels in other ways.
• Make bequesting easy: showcase, help, and open low pressure avenues of finding out more.
• Recognise champions: encourage existing bequestors to share their stories and values.

Click here to read more about this research project and its full report.

AMMADO - new non-for-profit online community

Ammado is a state-of-the-art global online community & giving platform that connects nonprofits, engaged individuals and socially responsible companies, and in a unique interactive environment dedicated to bringing about positive social change. It runs give donations in one of the most cost effective donation platforms in the world through the ammado Giving Circle.

Free to join, ammado was founded as a mission-based for-profit enterprise in Dublin in 2005. The site was launched in June 2008 and is available in 12 languages (Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish traditional and simplified Chinese) connecting individuals from 130 countries and 3,000 nonprofit organizations worldwide. For further information and to join visit www.ammado.com or contact Monica Salvitti at msalvitti[at]ammado.com.

Charitable Bequests in Australia research published

The potential for bequests to contribute to the sustainability of Australian charities is immense according to new research which offers some surprising insights into just who might leave a bequest in their will. QUTs Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (CPNS) has released its report called Keeping Giving Going: Charitable Bequests and Australians by Dr Kym Madden and Dr Wendy Scaife.

The research explores the attitudes and behaviour of over 1000 charity donors, mainly located in New South Wales and Queensland, divided between "known bequestor" and "non-bequestor" donors. The following are some of the key recommendations as the results of the research:

• The value of values: donor values and attitudes could be better harnessed to guide charity actions and communication.
• Remember the giving pyramid: provide more opportunities for bequestors to give at higher levels in other ways.
• Make bequesting easy: showcase, help, and open low pressure avenues of finding out more.
• Recognise champions: encourage existing bequestors to share their stories and values.
• Recognise champions: encourage existing bequestors to share their stories and values.
  

To read more about this research project and its full report, visit https://wiki.qut.edu.au/display/CPNS/Keeping+Giving+Going.

Pro bono legal work in Australia

A survey by the National Pro Bono (Legal) Resource Centre has found that pro bono legal work in Australia is on the rise. The survey results show an impressive commitment to pro bono, with 88% of respondents having done pro bono legal work in the last 12 months, but only 43% of respondents had done Legal Aid work in the previous 12 months.

A national survey was carried out on the pro bono legal work of individual Australian barristers during December 2007-June 2008 from 355 barristers from all States and Territories, covering a range of practice areas, ages and levels of seniority, representing approximately 7% of all Australian barristers. Survey respondents spent an average of 44.5 hours doing pro bono work last year. Fifty-nine percent of respondents undertook more than 35 hours of pro bono work a year, which is the National Pro Bono Aspirational Target.

The full report is available at www.nationalprobono.org.au.

EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This issue covers the very hot topic of the global economic crisis in relation to volunteering and provides some advices on how to produce good printed materials. There is a reminder of workshops to be presented by Martin Cowling in early 2009 and about the 2009 Advanced Retreat.

How Will the Economic Crisis Affect Volunteering?

by Susan J. Ellis

The world economy is what's on everyone's mind. Just as most people, apparently including the economists, were caught by surprise by the rapidity of the monetary crisis, no one can predict what will happen next or how long the news will be negative. (And in the United States, we'll have a newly-elected president to add to the uncertainty.)

The economic situation affects us all as private individuals and within community sectors. So this month I am tackling the question: How will a recession affect volunteering? Will volunteering increase, decrease, or change in some way as the financial situation becomes more dire? Having no claim to clairvoyance, I hope you feel compelled to share your hopes, fears, and predictions by posting a response as well. We can reasonably expect greater needs for human services and less funding to meet them. Homelessness, hunger, mental health problems, crime, and other bleak conditions may be on the rise. Concurrently, things that seem less "essential," such as the arts, may find themselves losing the donors they enjoy in wealthier times. In other words, the demand for volunteer effort will be greater than ever.

It is also true volunteers pay for their volunteering expenses from their discretionary funds, not their grocery money. So as people have less money for all things, it will indeed be harder for volunteers to lay out cash as well as give time. Therefore, smart organisations will increase the amount of funds available to reimburse volunteers for out-of-pocket expenses, especially transportation and gas. It might be time to do some fundraising specifically for this need, stressing to donors that money to reimburse volunteer expenses is leveraged hundreds of times over by the value of the services made possible by the reimbursement.

Looking Below the Surface
At first glance, the financial crisis seems like unending bad news. But might there be any silver linings? Let's examine some common assumptions and possible outcomes.

Assumption #1:
In hard times, people "can't afford" to volunteer.

Possibilities:
As the economy falters, more people will visibly be in need. In other words, it will be evident that both donations of cash and of time really matter. Making a difference is a primary motivator for giving. Even in a recession, no one wants to feel they're at the bottom of the totem pole - there's always someone in greater distress. Keep in mind, too, that research (in good times) on financial donors often concludes that, in terms of percentage of income, people of modest means give more money than the wealthy.

Volunteering comes into the picture when people feel they cannot give money but can give time. Such substitution is especially viable for people who are already committed to an organization's cause. And again, as the needs become more obvious and incontrovertible, it is easier to make the case for the value of pitching in to make things better. Substituting skills for money has been a pattern in corporate philanthropy, too. Corporate foundations may give fewer grants in a recession, but look to employee volunteering as an alternative or supplement to help agencies. Do development officers recognize this pattern? Do they make sure that the invitation to donate time as a volunteer is extended alongside the plea for a cash contribution? The organization that allows supporters to blend time and money may end the recession with more volunteers and ultimately bigger donors.

Assumption #2:
When people are suffering financially, they have self-centered priorities and are less likely to think about the needs of others.

Possibilities:
Under financial pressure, people's survival needs must come first. But the same pressure can elicit creative response in the form of mutual aid. The clearest example is barter, whether of goods for services or services for services. During the Great Depression, in fact, barter was elevated to an art form as communities without available cash organized exchanges of unpaid work. What's interesting about barter is that the value of the exchange is in the eyes of the parties involved, not necessarily the marketplace. So if it's worth it to me to walk your dog in exchange for a bag of vegetables from your garden, we have a deal.

The implication for volunteer management is to adapt this natural barter process to organizational or client needs. Instead of the model of recruiting an outside volunteer to "help" clients in need, we might organize mutual exchange among clients themselves. What can they do for each other, given the chance? Or, what does your organization have that a prospective volunteer might value, especially if money is tight? For example, perhaps a sole practitioner accountant with a small office might be happy to consult with the board on financial planning, in exchange for the chance to schedule a presentation to accounting clients in one of your meeting rooms occasionally.

Assumption #3
Financial worries cause mental depression, fear of the future, and other difficult emotions that cause people to withdraw.

Possibilities:
We've become much more knowledgeable about the "spontaneous volunteering" that happens during natural disasters and other immediate crises. There's strong evidence that people who respond to an emergency by rolling up their sleeves and joining with others to do something are overcoming the feeling of helplessness or powerlessness that a disaster evokes. This applies to other types of crises, too. Through volunteering, especially with others who have mutual concerns or needs, people feel less isolated and more in control. This implies that, rather than ignoring the depressing news stories, we might recruit new volunteers by using the crisis. For example this message Concerned about the future? Think what seniors on a fixed income today must feel. What better time to brighten their day with a friendly visit? Kids know their parents are worried about money (you may be, too). Show them that having fun with an adult mentor doesn't have to cost anything but an afternoon."

Finally, as unemployment increases, more people may a) be looking for new jobs; b) have lots of unwanted time on their hands; and c) welcome opportunities to build new skills that will help them in the job hunt. It's a real plus to be able to avoid a "gap" on a resume while job hunting. Actively recruit unemployed people with the approach of:
You are still wanted for your talents! As you seek new work, spend part of those long days with us. Keep your resume current and help others at the same time. Etc…

Again, this type of welcome, coupled with work the new volunteer enjoys, may win you a long-term volunteer even after new employment is found.

Assumption #4:
Anything that isn't a human service is of low importance in a recession.

Possibilities:
Naturally, basic human needs come first. But the old labour strike slogan of "we want bread and roses" still resonates. In other words, it's as important to feed the soul as the belly. Unfortunately, some cultural arts, recreation, and environmental organizations limit their outreach during a crisis, feeling that it is unseemly to divert people from more pressing needs. While this attitude may be understandable, it is also misguided. It is precisely at such times that groups and institutions offering beauty, relaxation, and other spiritual nourishment have an opportunity to demonstrate their worth. It's a chance to break the elitist image and actively engage people as audience members, participants, and volunteers because it's a needed, reviving break from bleak times.

The Big Obstacle
There is one important issue to acknowledge here. Organizations that have not welcomed or invested in volunteers in "good" times are less likely to be successful in a recession than those entering it with a solid volunteerism infrastructure already built. It's very hard to play catch-up in the middle of a crisis.

In the same vein, many of us have unfortunately witnessed organizations' attempts to cut their budgets by laying off the manager of volunteer resources! Seen as a "soft" position unconnected to primary client services, this job seems easy to eliminate - ironically, exactly when the organization wants more volunteers. Yet who is the person most capable of responding to the situation and need?

OK. It's your turn.
We're all caught in this financial mess and share the same concerns.

• What do YOU think is going to happen to volunteering in the next few months and years?
• What are you already seeing?
• What can we do about it?

Susan's Tip of the Month: "A Decision-making Guide to Printed Recruitment Materials"

by Susan Ellis

Recruiting volunteers is a continuous process of keeping your organization and its volunteer opportunities visible to a wide audience. One tool is printed materials, whether simple paper handouts after a presentation, flyers on bulletin boards, brochures for pick-up at exhibits, or inserts of various kinds. Computers have made it easy to develop a range of recruitment "pitches," storing different wording and arrange the words and images to target specific audiences as needed.

But a single piece of material cannot meet all recruitment needs! So how can you determine what you should prepare for what purpose? Here are questions to answer that will help you to narrow your choices and ultimately create the best piece each time.

Audience and Objectives

• Who will see this item?
• • Is this their first introduction to you or not?
  • How informed are they already about what your organization does
  • How informed are they already about the volunteer opportunities you offer?
  • What potential do they have to become volunteers? Are they getting the information because they:
    • Already are interested in volunteering?
    • Are financial donors or other supporters?
    • Happen to see it while looking for general information about your organization?
    • Receive the information incidentally without even realizing what it is?
  • What is their demographic profile? (Age, gender, education, etc.)
• Where will they get it?
  • Is this a volunteer recruitment event?
  • A casual, even recreational, event?
  • A serious professional event?
• What do you want them to know?
• What, if anything, do you want them to do once they know it?

Location and Opportunity

• How will they get this?: Is it an optional take-away or will everyone get a copy? Will someone mention it orally or will it be provided without explanation? Will it come in the mail or via e-mail?
• How much time will someone likely spend on it?

Content and Look
Depending on your responses to the questions above, you can then select the best:

• Size: Does it need to match other materials? Will it be inserted into something else of a certain size?
• Length
• Content: Is this going to focus on a single volunteer opportunity or introduce a variety of assignments? Is it a teaser to get people to learn more or will it try to give details right away?
• Tone (For example, is humour appropriate?)
• Level of language and does it need to be in several languages
• Visuals: What will it clean and easy to read? What photographs or illustrations will make your point while matching the tone of the piece?? Degree of permanence: Is it a "throw-away" that can be on plain paper stock or do you want people to keep it longer and so should use heavier, text stock?
• Space for tailoring or personalizing
  

Absolutely, positively always include CONTACT INFORMATION, including your Web site URL!!! And then make sure you have more information there (that is current). Finally, a word to the wise: PROOFREAD carefully! Not just for spelling errors, but for clarity and completeness. Ask several people who were not involved in designing it to look it over for you and ask questions. That will help you assess if you are indeed communicating what you want.

REMINDER: Martin J Cowling volunteer management workshops in February/March 2009

Details are being finalized for the series of eight volunteer management training workshops to be presented by Martin J Cowling in late February/early March next year.
Invercargill 16 February - contact southcomhouse[at]woosh.co.nz
Dunedin 17 February - contact dvct[at]ihug.co.nz
Christchurch 19 February - contact vc[at]volcan.org.nz
Blenheim 23 February - contact vm[at]volunteermarlborough.org.nz
Auckland 25 February - contact volunteer[at]volunteeringauckland.org.nz
Hamilton 27 February - contact volunteeringwaikato[at]xtra.co.nz
Tauranga 2 March - contact mgr.volunteerwbop[at]xtra.co.nz
Wellington 4 March - contact vw[at]volunteerwellington.org.nz

Australasian Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management

11 - 13 March 2009
Gold Coast, Australia

The Retreat is an annual educational and professional development opportunity for volunteer programme managers who feel they are past the 'basics' of their profession and are seeking new challenges. The retreat is organised by Martin Cowling and his colleague Andy Fryar. For further information please visit www.vpmretreat.com.au/2008retreat.php.

Volunteer Management Education Books for Sale

Volunteering NZ has for sale copies of four books written by Linda Graff on developing policies and risk management for volunteering programmes.

The titles and prices are:
Best of All - Quick reference Guide to Best Practice $46.00
Better Safe - Risk Management for Volunteer Programmes $46.00
Beyond Police Checks - Screening Guidebook $46.00
By Definition - Policies for Volunteer Programmes $36.00

We also have copies of Mary Woods' book
Volunteers, A guide for Volunteers an their Organisations $25.00

Postage and Handling
Up to 2 publications $5.50
3 or more publication $10.00
All the prices are GST inclusive.

Promotional suitable for general promotions and recruiting volunteers are available free from VNZ.

Orders for all may be faxed to 04 3843637 or emailed to office[at]volunteeringnz.org.nz. Payment may be made by cheque or credit card. If wishing to pay by credit card we will send you documentation to complete and return.