VOLUNTEERING NEW ZEALAND FOCUS:

VNZ Board election confirmed at AGM

The six newly elected members of the Volunteering NZ Board had their election affirmed at the Annual General Meeting of VNZ at the end of October. Those elected were:
Heather Clark, current board member, National Advisor Volunteer Services (HR) NZ Fire Service
Dianne Denny, current board member, Chairperson Volunteering Auckland
Lloyd Davies, new board member, Chairperson Volunteer Western Bay of Plenty
Alison Marshall, current VNZ Chairperson, National Manager Volunteer Services NZ Royal Foundation of the Blind
Gillian Peacock, new board member, Project Manager - Volunteers & Officials SPARC
Olwen Taylor, current board member, former chairperson Volunteer Wellington

They were elected under revised rules which also provides for three appointed members The appointed members are each a representative of Maori, Pacific Peoples and other ethnic peoples, selected and nominated through their own communities. As part of the change in rules, the full board will internally elect the Chairperson, Vice-chairperson and Secretary/Treasurer.

The outgoing Board have recommended that the incoming Board co-opt Jane Poa and Tyron Love. Jane joined the Board in 2002 as a Pacific Peoples' member and Tryon Love was co-opted onto the Board earlier this year. They will be able to assist the board in working with Maori and Pacific communities to develop and implement the processes for the formal appointment of the Maori and Pacific members of the Board.

Three of the former board retired at the AGM; Mary Woods who was Vice-Chairman, Russell Ness, Secretary/Treasurer and Meredith Stokdijk. Tribute was paid to them at the Annual Meeting for the service they had each provided over several years.

Volunteering NZ membership criteria endorsed

Volunteering NZ's annual meeting endorsed the criteria to be used for approving new members of VNZ. The criteria were developed following changes to VNZ's rules at the 2007 AGM. Previously full membership was limited to volunteer centres and national organisations committed to volunteering. Under the new criteria membership will also be open to other organisations committed for whom there would be benefit in membership in a national body of organisations committed to volunteering. The new criteria also state that membership of Volunteering NZ does not substitute for nor preclude membership of a volunteer centre.

CommunityCentral due to go live very soon

This was one of the messages from Dave Barrow, NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations and Ros Rice, NZ Council of Social Services, who outlined and demonstrated how CommunityCentral will work at the Volunteering NZ AGM. Those present were told about the vision and planned features of this new on-line interactive information facility. As mentioned in the last issue, the first stage of CommunityCentral will include the distribution of VNZ Update which will come in a form where readers will see the headlines at the begining and be able to link straight to the aritcles of most interest. The November issue of the Update will likely be the first to be sent through Community Central.

Northern Volunteer Centre is new VNZ member

Volunteering Mid North which opened recently (see story below) has been admitted as a new member of Volunteering NZ. It has been established by Te Hau Ora O Kaikohe and is based in Kaikohe. It becomes New Zealand's 14th volunteer centre.

What are 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 will establish a special blog where you will be able to post your plans or simply email them to office[a]volunteeringnz.org.nz and we will add your contribution. Work on producing the posters and balloons are underway and will be despatched to all on our mailing lists. If you would want a supply and have not had any in the past, please contact the same email address.

ACC cover in some volunteering situations being reviewed

The Department of Labour together with ACC has initiated discussions with VNZ and other interested parties concerning ACC cover of volunteers in three particular situations. First was cover for mental injury resulting from a major traumatic event. Admendments to the ACC Act earlier this year provided such cover for paid workers but not unpaid workers (volunteers) who experience mental injury in similar circumstances. VNZ made a submission on the legislation before it was passed that the cover should be extended to include volunteers. More data on this is required and organisations such as NZ Fire Service and St John have been obtaining this for the Department.

The second issue raised was what type of ACC cover applies to employee volunteers who are injured while involved in an employee volunteering project on pay including paid leave days. Are these employees 'at work' in terms of the ACC Act and eligible for paid accident leave if injured and absent from work during the first week of absence. The issue also raises the wider question of good health and safety practices. VNZ is planning a survey of current employer policies on these points, working with the volunteer centres which have employee volunteering programmes.

Third is a situation applying to New Zealanders volunteering overseas. If one of these volunteers is injured while overseas and then needs further treatment or rehabilitation on return to New Zealand they have no cover from ACC for the costs of that treatment.

Volunteering NZ would be interested in receiving feedback or comments on these three issues. Email Tim Burns at ed[at]volunteeringnz.org.nz.

VOLUNTEERING STORIES FROM NEW ZEALAND

Volunteering Mid North opens its doors

New Zealand's furthest north Volunteer Centre, Volunteering Mid North, opened its door in Kaikohe on 16 September under the guidance of Te Hau Ora O Kaikohe. The region around Kaikohe, often overlooked in innovative economic projects, has a history of being a high needs area in terms of addressing factors around poverty. It has a high Maori population and lower income levels than in other rural - urbanised towns.

Being a provider of health and social service programmes, Te Hau Ora o Kaikohe believes the establishment of a volunteer centre adds another innovative approach in helping to identify and solve community problems, mobilise resources to meet community needs, provide training in volunteer management, link together community leaders, manage independent volunteer programmes and advocate for community and volunteer issues.

In September 2006 a meeting involving local community, not-for-profit organisations was held to assess the viability and community support for a volunteer centre in the Mid North. A feasibility report was compiled and Volunteer Working Party established to raise awareness and guide the establishment of the Centre.

Bella Tari has been appointed Volunteer Centre Manager and she can be contacted at vc.bellat[at]xtra.co.nz.

BP Vouchers for Volunteers allocated

More than 400 organisations received BP fuel vouchers in BP NZ's Vouchers for Volunteers programme. In August, BP invited registered charities or volunteer organisations that rely on voluntary assistance and use vehicles to apply for thousands of BP fuel vouchers.

BP Managing Director Peter Griffiths said ``We wanted to do our bit to help and ensure volunteers can continue their good work in the community. BP received more than 2,000 applications from around the country. The number of people giving so generously of their own time and money for all these amazing organizations was overwhelming.''

He said there was more than a 25% increase on the number of organizations that received vouchers in 2007. The organizations were spread right throughout New Zealand and were performing a wide variety of functions in their community. The list of voucher recipients can be accessed at http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9026117&contentId=7048157.

VOLUNTEERING PEOPLE

Volunteering Otago youth co-ordinator gains salary support

Lani Evans, Volunteering Otago's youth co-ordinator, will have her salary and expenses paid for one year by the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation to expand her present involvement with Volunteering Otago.

Together with five other passionate individuals, Lani is being funded by the Foundations' World of Difference programme which provides pays the salaries for up to 12 months for six individuals year who are committed to helping, mentoring and inspiring our youth.

Lani is using Facebook to attract the youth of Otago to volunteer work in the region. She has signed up 800 young people to the organisation's Facebook page in recent months. "It's great to see the youth of Otago really getting stuck in and willing to give it a go. I truly believe that reconnecting the threads of community is one of the greatest imperatives of our time," says Lani. Her role with Volunteering Otago as a youth coordinator will help build stronger communities and shift perceptions of young people. Already the number of youth volunteers through the organisation is higher in 2008 than for the full year in 2007 because of her contribution.

As a referral, promotion and advocacy agency supporting 120 not-for-profit organisations and 400 individuals per year, Volunteering Otago aims to build a community of trained volunteers throughout the region. Lani is setting up systems within the Volunteering Otago team and initiating a school and community involvement programme, with the aim of engaging 100 student volunteers in its first year. She has worked with Volunteering Otago for nearly six months and runs a weekly mobile volunteer centre at the University of Otago which has significantly increased the number of young Volunteering Otago volunteers.

Lani also works as a phone volunteer for Youthline and set up a community education programme based on a previous trek along the length of the South Island (the Mana Wahine Walk) to raise awareness for Youthline. Lani will continue her studies toward a Masters in Education and a Diploma in Adult Education and Training during the year.

The five other people named as 2008 World of Difference recipients are:
• Tiffany Harkess (Auckland) - Youthline
• Sally Wood (Nelson) - HYPE-GS (Help for Young People at Events and in their Gathering Spaces)
• Cameron Calkoen (Auckland) - Carabiner
• Bridget Roche (Wellington) - Challenge 2000
• Joshua Briggs (Wellington) - Evolve.

New President and Board of AAVA

Leticia Vargas was elected the President of the Australasian Association of Volunteer Administrators (AVAA) at its recent AGM. Those newly elected were Rae Plush South Australia, Kalie Gladwin and Mark Gladwin Queensland, and Liz Scarfe from Victoria. Continuing Board members are; Donna Amos, Peter Heyworth, Bernice Finlayson, DJ Cronin, Anastasia Magriplis, Karen Smith, David Waylen and Roger Tweedy who is the NZ member of the Board.

Jan Dowland new chair of Platform

Leading mental health advocate Jan Dowland has been appointed as chair of Platform, the national collaboration of community organisations that provide mental health and addiction services. Jan is currently a consultant undertaking project work for IHC New Zealand and other disability providers. Over the last 30 years she gained the extensive research experience in New Zealand and the UK. She has been CEO of IHC New Zealand, chaired the Mental Health Commission from 2002-2004 and was a panel member of the confidential forum for former inpatients of psychiatric hospitals.

New National President for NCWNZ

Elizabeth Bang has been elected the new National President of National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ). She was the senior vice president for fours years and has been involved with NCWNZ's Council since the 1980s. Mrs Bang is also the CEO of Hospice Waikato.

In taking up her role, Mrs Bang announced the two new target focus areas that NCWNZ will be highlighting. These are financial sustainability and positive mental well-being. She says under financial sustainability, NCWNZ will draw awareness in areas of concern to women, Pay Equity, and the gender pay gap.

VOLUNTEERING RECOGNITION AWARDS

AAVA Volunteer Administrator of the Year announced on Volunteer Managers Day

Margie Berlemon, the South Australian State Commissioner for the Girl Guides was announced as the the winner of the 2008 Volunteer Administrator Award of Excellence on International Volunteer Managers Day, 1 November, by the Australasian Association of Volunteer Administrators.

She manages approximately 400 volunteers across South Australia and travelled over 22 times in the past year to rural and country areas to support Guide Leaders. She has been pivotal in restructuring regions for more efficient operations and reducing burdens on volunteers.

Volunteering Canterbury Youth Volunteer Awards 2008

DEADLINE: 7 November 2008-10-30
Volunteering Canterbury will be giving special recognition to young volunteers from Canterbury at its Youth Volunteer Awards night which will be a celebration of International Volunteer Day, 5 December. The awards will be presented by Helen Mahon-Stroud, coach of the Canterbury Scope Tactix netball team. She will speak about her sporting experience and how volunteers contribute to sport. Nominations may be until 7 November. Visit www.volcan.org.nz for a nomination form.

Surf Life Saving NZ recognizes lifeguards

Surf Life Saving NZ celebrated the outstanding contribution of their lifeguards at their recent annual awards ceremony in Wellington. The Awards recognize the significant achievements of members within Surf Life Saving NZ and honor those who have made an extraordinary contribution over the previous 12 months.

Otaki legend Neale Ames won DHL Volunteer of the Year for his tireless commitment, energy and dedication to Surf Life Saving. Taranaki's Brian Velvin was named DHL Surf Official of the Year. Fifteen year old Papamoa youngsters Nathan Smith and Liam O'Toole took out the BP Surf Rescue of the Year award for their dramatic rescue of five girls at Papamoa beach in December 2007. Debbie Phillips-Morgan from Raglan picked up the NZLGB Lifeguard of the Year award. Walter Maxwell from Lyall Bay, Wellington took home DHL Coach of the Year having trained over 140 athletes while long time member Allan Mundy of Omanu Surf Club in the Bay of Plenty won DHL Instructor of the Year.

Brian Wilson (Midway Club Gisborne), Grant Morrison (Mairangi Bay) and David Price (North Beach Canterbury) were all awarded Distinguished Service Awards. Two Life Membership Awards were presented to double Olympic Gold Medalist Alan Thompson from Waikanae Surf Club Gisborne and Denis Cooksley of Mairangi Bay Auckland. Twenty further Service Awards were presented to lifeguards from a range of clubs around New Zealand.

Surf Life Saving plays a big part in the New Zealand community. Approximately 15,000 New Zealanders are members of SLSNZ. All of these people are volunteers who give up their time during weekends and holidays to ensure our beaches are safe. Last summer they performed over 100,000 preventative actions during 175,000 hours of beach patrols.

Greymouth Churches Community Youth Project wins Top Award

The Greymouth Churches Community Youth Project won the Supreme Award at the TrustPower Grey District Community Awards for the second time. The Greymouth Project operates "The Shed" a popular youth activities centre in Greymouth which not only has provided a place that keeps children off the street, but also teaches them social responsibility.

Other winners were:
Heritage and Environment: Paparoa Wildlife Trust
Health and Well Being: Greymouth Meals-on-Wheels
Arts and Culture: Greymouth Operatic Society
Sport and Leisure: West Coast Hockey Association
Educational and Child/Youth Development: Greymouth St John Youth

Franz Josef St Johns Ambulance wins Supreme Award

Franz Josef St John Ambulance won the Supreme Award at the TrustPower Westland District Community Awards. Despite a small pool of just ten volunteers, Franz Joseph St Johns Ambulance is able to offer a full-time ambulance service. Franz Josef is a popular tourist destination that places high demands on their emergency services, yet has a very limited number of volunteers living locally.

Other winners at TrustPower Westland District Community Awards were:
Heritage and Environment: Westland Community Centre Incorporated
Health and Well Being: Hokitika Community Patrol
Arts and Culture: Westland Arts Development Group (WAI) Incorporated
Sport and Leisure: South Westland Netball Association
Educational and Child/Youth Development: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westland Mentoring Programme

The Wairoa Community Development Trust takes out Supreme Award

The Wairoa Community Development Trust has won the Supreme Award at the TrustPower Wairoa Community Awards. The Trust began a programme early this year called CACTUS, a programme designed and based around physical fitness training developed from military fitness programmes.

It is designed to extend a young persons mind and physical capabilities. A Wairoa volunteer committee looked at CACTUS as a way to address the issues of the youth in Wairoa, using the Picton CACTUS as a model; the volunteer group modelled the programme to suit the community of Wairoa. The course was implemented by the Wairoa Community Development Trust who realised that due to a breakdown in family and social structures, the young people of Wairoa were at risk of failure to achieve their potential through lack of discipline, motivation and the lack of pride in their achievements.

Other winners of TrustPower Wairoa Community Awards were:
Heritage and Environment: Wairoa Museum Friends Incorporated
Health and Well Being: Wairoa Lighthouse Lions
Arts and Culture: Wairoa Community Cooperative Society
Sport and Leisure: Wairoa Celtic Sports Club
Educational and Child/Youth Development: Wairoa Playcentre

EVENTS

Australia New Zealand Third Sector Research 9th Biennial Conference

AUT University City Council, Auckland 24-26 November, 2008
A final reminder about this conference which will gather academics, practitioners, artists and others involved and interested in the Third Sector to present their ideas, experiences, processes and findings of their work. The three main themes of the conference will be:

• Responsibilities and Rights for Wellbeing of People and Planet
• Organisation, Governance, Management in the Third Sector
• Public Private Partnerships, Corporate Social Responsibilities

For more information visit http://www.anztsr.org.au/2008%20conference%20web%20home.htm.

Remuneration Design Workshop - Valuing the Love Factor

Wellington, Thursday 13 November
Auckland, after 13 November (TBC)
This workshop will offer information on reviewing and designing internal remuneration systems for non profits organisations. The Love Factor is the difference between the pay that employees in the not for profit sector are willing to accept and what they could anticipate receiving in the broader employment market. The workshop will demonstrate the Strategic Pay Survey of Remuneration in the Not for Profit Sector as a tool for tracking pay relativity in this sector compared with other employment markets. For all enquiries regarding the workshop, contact David Shannon at David[at]strategicpay.co.nz or phone 09-303-4053.

e-Engage Your Community: Expanding your communications toolkit

28 November
Rotorua
Rotorua will be the next centre to host this conference - a day of speakers and practical hands-on workshops providing practical advice on getting up to speed with the latest and emerging communication tools. Early-bird registrations for Not-For-Profit organisations are $75 per person,. There will be a maximum of 120 people due to venue limitations. For more details contact the Rotorua Social Services Council at rossco[at]callplus.net.nz

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 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

Hamilton, November 27: Community Waikato, 33 Victoria Street
Contact: Sally Ridley, 07 838 1583 or sally[at]communitywaikato.org.nz
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

2nd Annual International Day of the Volunteer Forum

5 December 2008
University of the Fraser Valley, BC, Canada
Abbotsford Spirit of BC Community Committee and Fraser Valley Volunteer Support Network are organising the 2nd Annual International Day of the Volunteer Forum The focus for 2008 is Uniting the World through Volunteering -Celebrating the Spirit. For further information please contact 1-888-504-7441 or michelle.rickaby[at]ufv.ca

Philanthropy NZ & Community Trusts combined conference

18-19 March 2009
Wellington
The dates for the Philanthropy NZ and Community Trusts conference were just announced and further information will follow shortly at www.giving.org.nz.

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

19-20 March 2009
War Memorial Conference Centre, Marine Parade, Napier
This conference is a great opportunity to develop the skills needed to succeed in the Not-For-Profit mission of every organisation and be inspired by meeting with other like-minded NFP professionals. Find out more at www.nfpconference.co.nz

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

UN report on progress since IYV 2001 launched

On 6 October 2008, UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri spoke to the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) of the UN General Assembly to introduce a report on progress since the International Year of Volunteers in 2001.

The report is part of a series of follow-up reports prepared since IYV 2001, building on previous reports presented in 2002 and 2005. These reports presented progress on the implementation of the recommendations contained in a number of UN General Assembly resolutions that followed IYV. The report contains the contributions and comments of more than 50 member states, 10 UN agencies and a large number of stakeholders from civil society, academia, and the private sector.

The report recognizes that volunteerism is a value embedded in each and every culture, even if it is expressed in different and culturally-specific ways, and that voluntary action is inspired by principles of free will and solidarity, without expectation of personal gain. It equally recognizes that global development, while clearly requiring concerted government action, also needs to rely on individual and community voluntary action to support the attainment of development goals. Use this link for the report http://www.unv.org/en/news-resources/resources/on-volunteerism/doc/statement-by-flavia-pansieri-1.html.

Report on Volunteering and Social Activism

The International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE), CIVICUS, and United Nations Volunteers programme have released the new study "Volunteering and Social Activism: Pathways for participation in human development." A key finding of the study is that both, volunteering and social activism are important strategies for fostering people's participation in social change and human development. The paper calls for a shared understanding of the common and interdependent characteristics of volunteering and social activism, so that the vast potential of volunteerism for advancing human development and social change can be released.

Stand Up: Credit crunch won't stop volunteers fighting poverty

More than 115 million volunteers (almost 2% of total world population) were mobilised under the slogan 'Stand Up Take Action' at over 2000 events around the globe to demand that world leaders not use the financial crisis as an excuse for breaking the promises they made in 2000 to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The actions were organised as the part of International day for the Eradication of Poverty which is globally celebrated on 17 October.

During Stand Up, citizens of poor countries demanded that their governments:

1. Make the Millennium Development Goals the highest priority in budget allocation.
2. Put in place clear plans to achieve the Millennium Development Goals at the national, sub-national and local levels, adapted to local realities.
   
3. Aggressively fight corruption and set up mechanisms to end impunity.

Citizens of rich countries demanded that their governments:

1. Establish targets to deliver on existing aid volume commitments.
2. Commit to debt relief beyond existing aid commitments and ensure that it reaches the poorest countries without delay.
3. Announce concrete plans to complete the Doha Trade Round with an outcome that will help poor countries and the poorest people achieve the Millennium Development Goals, through the elimination of trade distorting agricultural subsidies, capping of domestic subsidies on products of importance to poor countries, and genuine market access to poor countries.

Events, which were organized across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Oceania can be found at www.standagainstpoverty.org/en/node/878.

Volunteerism on the agenda in Ecuador

Volunteerism for development has been formally recognized for the first time in the new Constitution of Ecuador. The Constitution, which was approved through a referendum on 28 September 2008, recognizes volunteerism for development "as a form of social participation". This move will allow legislators to draft a new law on volunteerism for development in Ecuador.

The 'Mesa de Voluntariado de Ecuador' (MVE) - the National Roundtable on Volunteerism - had an important part to play in the inclusion of volunteerism in the new Constitution. The MVE has been supported by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme since its creation in 2004. Its aim is to strengthen and to promote volunteerism in Ecuador.

Volunteerism in Ecuador enjoys a long tradition, with customs such as the Andean 'minga' (mutual aid between neighbours of a community), and more recently with a great number of well organized and well structured volunteer organizations. However, volunteering in Ecuador has been associated with a 'traditional' model, linked to the concept of charity and benevolence.

This is the first recognition of the contribution that volunteerism makes to development in Ecuador, paving the way for submitting the Draft Law on Volunteerism for legal consideration by the relevant body. For the full story visit www.unv.org/en/news-resources/news/doc/-74d13345a1.html.

Journal of International Volunteer Tourism and Social Development

Early next year the international publisher Routledge is launching the Journal of International Volunteer Tourism and Social Development. The concept behind the journal is a peer-reviewed, transdisciplinary and transnational publication with the focus on social science with a special emphasis on volunteer tourism. The journal will serve as a forum for debate against the backdrop of cross cultural interactions from local to global based within international volunteer tourism. The approach adopted in this journal will attempt to include all areas of discourse that relate to volunteer tourism such as economics, marketing or management. For further information how to subscribe and/or contribute please visit http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/1754-6362.

RESOURCES and EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This issue reports on the workshops to be presented by Martin Cowling in early 2009, a notice about the 2009 Advanced Retreat, a reflection from Tim Burns, news of a thought provoking booklet and details of two specialist funding opportunities.

Martin J Cowling volunteer management workshops in February/March 2009

Martin J Cowling will present a series of eight volunteer management training workshops in New Zealand in late February/early March next year. This follows his successful and popular workshops over the last few years. Volunteering NZ is assisting in the planning and co-ordination of the workshops which will be hosted by Volunteer Centres in each city. They are currently finalising the topics which Martin will cover. The dates for the workshops are:

Invercargill 16 February (to be confirmed)
Dunedin 17 February
Christchurch 19 February
Blenheim 23 February
Auckland 25 February
Hamilton 27 February
Tauranga 2 March
Wellington 4 March

About Martin - He founded People First -Total Solutions in October 2003 after an extensive work history in the private, government and community sectors. He provides coaching, training, public speaking and consultancy services to clients in five countries. For more on Martin click here.

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 http://www.vpmretreat.com.au/2008retreat.php.

Volunteers - they are out there

An occassional Talking Point from Tim Burns, VNZ Executive Director

Quite often when I'm contacted by journalists or talking with someone about the work of VNZ, I'm asked if it were true that volunteer numbers were in rapid decline. Those asking the question usually refer to an organisation they have heard about that is having trouble recruiting new volunteers and maintaining their volunteer services.

These examples are certainly true, but equally other organisations report they have all the volunteers they need or even have a waiting list. The underlying reasons for either declining volunteer numbers within an organisation or a successful volunteer service is usually how it manages its overall volunteer programme from recruitment through orientation and training to support and managing the volunteers in their roles. Some organisations who have had falling volunteer numbers decide to take a new path and find success.

Just a week or so ago I read about a service which certainly seems to be headed in this direction. One of Wellington's suburban newspapers reported they had run an earlier story about the Johnsonville Meals of Wheels which was in crisis because of a lack of volunteer drivers and checkers. The story obviously hit a chord, because the outcome was more than 40 people calling the co-ordinator Angela Roestenberg and she has selected 30 drivers and two checkers. She said she was pleased with the numbers of younger drivers. Angela was heartened that so may people were prepared to offer their help. "It seems all a lot of them needed was to know that help was needed and who they should contact". So a lesson from this story is how thinking about how to get the message out that volunteers are needed. A local volunteer centre would be a very good place to start as they are experienced in finding volunteers.

However, there can be a more deep seated problem. A story of another driving service illustrates this. It comes from a town just north of Melbourne where volunteer drivers take older people and others who cannot transport themselves wherever they needed to go. The services came to realise most of their drivers were male and 50 or older. As the drivers retired, new volunteers were not coming forward. Following a major review, it was realised there was no flexibility in how the volunteers were rostered and there was little offered in the way of training. The predominance of older male drivers - all Aussi born - was also not helpful in recruiting women and new immigrants who had come to live in the town. So major changes were made in the way volunteers were recruited, how they were asked to volunteer (flexible rostering which suited the volunteers' time and commitments), good orientation and training and good support, A major turn around was achieved, many new volunteers recruited including women, younger people and new immigrants. The service was saved and revitalised.

If your volunteer service is struggling to find new volunteers and keep them, you too should look at how you look for volunteers, how you bring them into your service, match your needs with theirs in terms of time and how you use them, provide them with orientation, training and ongoing support.

For help with this and you can contact one of the 14 volunteer centres, you should approach them for guidance and to ask about their education and training programmes. Visit the Volunteering NZ website and particularly the links to the Centres and other useful links such as to www.ozvpm.org.

Get the Word Out: Going Public about Young People's Power

by Jenny Sazama and Karen S. Young
This is an articulate, provocative booklet that, "explores the reasons why young people should be decision makers, details the oppression that keeps them from being actively involved, and offers various tips and exercises that can help both young people and adults think strategically about ending young people's oppression." It can be ordered from www.energizeinc.com/store/.

Community Internship Programme funds

Deadline: 15 December, 4pm
The Community Internship Programme fund, designed to provide salary funding to assist community groups to employ skilled professionals from the public, private or community sector for three to six months, is now is open for applications. The grants are available for a three way partnership initiatives between the government, local authority, private business and community sectors.

It focuses on skills sharing and the exchange of knowledge between sectors and community organisations, while building ongoing relationships and networks which continue after the internship ends. Further information on the Fund and the application process is available from http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.NSF/wpg_URL/Services-Community-Internship-Programme-Index?OpenDocument.

2008/09 Community Partnership Fund - Expressions of Interest

Deadline: 10 November
The 2008/09 funding round of the Community Partnership Fund (CPF) is now open for people seeking to launch innovative grassroots Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives. Since 2005, the CPF has provided $17.4 million to over 100 community-driven ICT projects. Partnerships between community, local government, businesses and government have brought further contributions of over $30 million to complete CPF projects.

This year the funds are available for the new projects that support "Digitally disadvantaged New Zealanders " and for expansion of existing CPF projects. Further information is available at http://www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz/Funding/The-Community-Partnership-Fund/.

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.

Posters from past Awareness Weeks 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[a]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.