December 2009

VOLUNTEERING NEW ZEALAND FOCUS:

Best wishes for the season and a successful 2010

As we come to the end of what has been a busy and successful year for the volunteering community in New Zealand, Volunteering NZ sends its best wishes to all readers for Christmas and New Year and that 2010 will be lead to further successes.

We began the year in a climate of recession and this was best illustrated for us by the increase in numbers of those seeking volunteer roles who lost their paid employment or their hours of work were cut. Finding them volunteering opportunities will continue to be an important focus in 2010 and beyond.

The major events of Volunteer Awareness Week, International Volunteer Managers Day and International Volunteer Day were all successful and this was best demonstrated by the keenness of main stream news media to highlight the contribution which volunteers are making in their communities.

Another highlight was undoubtedly the very successful conference where about 170 people came as registrants and/or participated as speakers and session leaders. The enthusiasm which came through both the sessions and break times was one clear indication of the value that was being gained from being there.

A key message from the conference is already being acted upon with the first steps being taken towards planning about how best to provide for the professional development of those who have a volunteer management role. This will be one of the several important pieces of work that VNZ will participate in during 2010. Youth volunteering, how best to develop the VolunteerNow website and organising at least one series of workshops with specialist educators will be other important elements in VNZ's work as well as the regular events such as Awareness Week and IV Day.

International Volunteer Day 2009 celebration

This year's 5 December was again a vibrant day in the volunteering community of New Zealand. The Volunteer Centres across the country marked the day in a number of creative ways giving away free scones, organised special lunch for their volunteers, telling volunteer stories, host Youth Volunteer Awards. Many national and local organisations celebrated the day in a variety of ways. Just one example was the thank you letter sent by St John to its many volunteers.

However, a most remarkable example of volunteering in action was the joint effort of volunteers from all over NZ who gathered in Palmerston North from 2-6 December to help in running the Special Olympics National Games. One thousand Special Olympics athletes competed in the Games and there were 500 volunteer coaches plus 500 event volunteers ensuring the games were a great success.

One of the volunteer coaches, 14 year old Max Stromer from Auckland, was featured on Close Up prior the event started. Here is a link to the clip and select chapter 4 Coaching special Olympic swimmer team.

Other media coverage was not lacking this year either. An item on volunteering at Wellington Hospital
made it to air during prime time on Close Up at NZTV1. TV3 also had an item in their News on Saturday where it showcased how volunteering and other forms of giving could be brought together.

Participate in the first National Volunteer Managers Survey

This survey is for anyone involved in any way in managing or co-ordinating volunteers, whether you are called a volunteer manager, coordinator or something else entirely.

It is a part of new study being conducted by Drs Carolyn Cordery and Karen Smith of Victoria University of Wellington. By identifying training needs and career paths, the study aims to add to the development of capacity in the sector, and support managers and volunteers. It will also feed into the NZ Volunteer Management Strategy. The study is being actively supported by Volunteering New Zealand and the Tindall Foundation has provided funding. Volunteer Wellington and others assisted in the preparation of the survey questionnaire.

The questions ask about your background, roles, challenges and training needs. The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. Click the following link: VUW Volunteer Managers Survey to access the survey and further information. This Survey will close on January 31, 2010.

We thank you for your participation and if you have any queries please contact:
Nick Dutton at Nicholas [dot] dutton [at] vuw [dot] ac [dot] nz or by phone at (04) 463 5233 extn 8948.

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Change to Immigration NZ Website on visitors to NZ volunteering

A change has been made to the Immigration NZ website to make it clear that holders of visitor permits can volunteer while in New Zealand. Previously the statement on the site said they could not, even though the policy of the Immigration Service was that they could.

The website now asks the question
"Can I work in New Zealand while holding a visitor permit?

The answer given is:
Holders of visitor permits cannot work in New Zealand. If you wish to work you must first obtain a work visa/permit. For more information on obtaining a work visa/permit, please refer to question "How can I get a work permit/visa?"

However you may carry volunteer work while on a visitor permit. Volunteer work is work that is not carried out for gain or reward. Gain or reward can be defined as 'in-kind' benefits such as board or lodging or meals, clothing or transport.

Volunteers generally work for charities and not-for-profit organisations. Non-paid on-the-job training before commencement of paid employment is not generally regards to be volunteer work. Non-paid work experience for commercial organisations is also not generally regarded to be volunteer work.

Please note that WWOOFing (Willing Workers on Organic Farms in New Zealand) is considered to be paid work, as WWOOFers receive food and accommodation. Visitor permit holders must not work as WWOOFers.

The change to the website follows discussions by Volunteering NZ with the Immigration Service. We will be having further discussions with them about the reimbursement of expenses as defined in the recent changes to the Taxation Act not being considered reward or gain.

VOLUNTEERING PEOPLE

Changes coming up for the team at Volunteering Otago

Lani Evans, currently the Youth Volunteering Co-ordinator, will take on the role of Manager of Volunteering Otago when Susie Yeats leaves for pastures new overseas at the end of January. Lora Johnston, who has been working with Susie in the centre manager role has been appointed as the Youth Volunteering Co-ordinator. Glenys Geytenbeek continues in her role as Co-ordinator - Mental Health.

New National Training Co-ordinator for LandSAR

Ross Browne , a regular volunteer with Wellington Land Search and Rescue, has taken up the new position of National Training Co-rdinator the LandSAR. Ross says he has found his calling. He has spent his paid working life so far in various communications and IT roles, his last as a business development manager for a Wellington IT company. He says he never truly fitted into the corporate world and instead looked forward to his unpaid work as a search and rescue volunteer. He will be setting up a new national training programme in his new role and the needs of volunteers and those who manage them (often also volunteers) will no doubt be well identified by him.

VOLUNTEERING RECOGNITION AWARDS

Red Cross volunteer wins Wellingtonian of the year

In the wake of International Volunteer Day (5 December) Red Cross volunteer Margaret Rankine has taken first prize in the Community Service category at this year's Wellingtonian of the Year Awards, better known as 'The Wellys'.

Margaret has been involved with New Zealand Red Cross since 1948, promoting fundraising, providing first aid services for community events, teaching first aid and participating in civil defence exercises run by the Hutt Emergency Management office. She is currently president of New Zealand Red Cross East Harbour Branch after being a member of the Branch since 1954.
Community service became a passion for Margaret after the Wahine Disaster of 1968 when the Eastern Bays in Wellington where she lived was cut off by the violent storm.

The Wellys have been celebrating Wellington's star achievers across eight categories for over 20 years, taking the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of individuals across all sectors of the community who make Wellington a vibrant place to both live and work.

Attitude Award winners announced

Robbie Francis, a passionate youth advocate, has won this year's Attitude ACC Supreme Award. The Waikato University student was presented the trophy by Sir Murray Halberg and Associate Minister for ACC and Disability Issues Pansy Wong at a black tie function at Eden Park in Auckland.

The Attitude Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of New Zealanders living with a disability and have grown out of the Attitude TV series, which screens on TV ONE on Sundays.
It was Robbie's second award of the night, having first won the Attitude Youth Award. Robbie (20) has phocomelia syndrome, which means she was born without several bones in her legs. After major reconstructive surgery she now wears a prosthetic limb and lives knowing her other leg may also need to be amputated one day.

Robbie has already been to Bangladesh doing volunteer work with disabled children and has taught English in Calcutta slum schools. She sponsors a World Vision child with a similar condition to hers and looks after a seven-year-old girl with severe cerebral palsy three days a week.

Robbie's next challenge will take her to the Middle East for a year using a full scholarship awarded to her by Rotary International. She will study conflict resolution and peace studies.
She recently completed a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in world religion and human development at the University of Waikato.

Other Attitude Award category winners announced on December 3, World Disability Day, were Karen Michalanney (Spirit Award), Matthew Aitken (Courage in Sport Award), Paula Tesoriero (Sport Performer Award), Glynne MacLean (Artistic Achievement Award), Julie Bartlett (Community Award), Blenheim Foods (ACC Employer Award), Robert Martin (Attitude Hall of Fame) and Mackenzie Kench (Person of the Year Award).

Manukau and Taranaki Civil Defence volunteers recognised

City Council's Emergency Management Offices in Manukau and New Plymouth held their annual Civil Defence Volunteers Awards Dinner earlier this month. These events bring together members of community-based civil defence welfare teams and provide the councils an opportunity to show their appreciation for their service and commitment.

In Manukau teams of volunteers have assisted council in responding to emergency events including a slip at Turei Hill Kawakawa Bay, welfare and logistical support to the Ministry of Health in its response to the H1N1 influenza event and recent local response to the Samoan tsunami and the threat this posed to coastal areas.

In Taranaki more than 520 years of service to civil defence was recognised at the ceremony. Twenty-two people received Ministerial Long-Service Awards for Civil Defence Emergency Management, including one who's been involved for more than 50 years and three others whose service spans four decades or more.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Review of Volunteering Australia Services

Following a review of government funded services provided by Volunteering Australia (VA), the Australian Government has re-affirmed its financial support through the National Secretariat Program (NSP) for VA as the national volunteering representative body.

In this role VA will continue to represent and support members and maintain national networks; contribute to the development of government policies that support the volunteering sector; and inform members and constituents about Australian Government policies related to the volunteering sector.

The Government, through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) will continue to provide financial support for National Volunteer Week and The National Conference on Volunteering in 2010. In addition, the Government will continue funding for GoVolunteer as future options for national volunteer registration are considered. VA will continue to look at how GoVolunteer can meet the changing needs of stakeholders, and opportunities to further develop the system and infrastructure will continue to be explored.

The Minister has advised that VA will receive funding for the National Volunteer Skills Centre (NVSC) until March 2010 to complete key training resources currently under development. VA recognises the Federal Government's intention to encourage good volunteer management practice in the sector and will continue to develop and maintain its suite of training tools, including its key publication The National Standards for Involving Volunteers in Not for Profit Organisations. VA will look to partner with other organisations, including its Foundation Members and State and Territory Government Offices of Volunteering, to continue promoting good practice in volunteering and volunteer management.

VA believes that the review process validated the importance and relevance of a national voice for the volunteering sector. With this renewed support from Government, VA will be working closely with its members and all stakeholders to enhance its capacity to consult with, represent and support the diverse volunteering sector.

Australian National Survey of Volunteering Issues results

The Australian National Survey of Volunteering Issues 2009 was released to coincide with the International Volunteer Day. More than 3,700 respondents took part ensuring a wide cross section of opinions was received from individual volunteers, volunteer-involving organisations and companies with employee volunteer programs.

Some key findings of the report included:

• More than one third (36%) of volunteers reported they had not had any recognition for their good work in the last month of their volunteering.
• 'Knowing that my contribution would make a difference' is most important to volunteers in their decision to volunteer (selected by 80% of volunteer respondents).
• 'Being accepted as a valuable team member', 'personal thank you' and 'feedback about my contribution' are the most significant methods of recognition that volunteer respondents reported made them feel valued as a volunteer.
• 30% of organisations surveyed have not been able to access adequate information about the protection of volunteers under occupational health and safety legislation.

The report also found that costs of volunteering remains a significant impost with 44% of volunteers who flagged this concern reporting that out of pocket expenses affected their ability or desire to volunteer. The most common cost problems were fuel (84.6%) and telephone charges (65.4%). Only 17% of volunteers reported that their organisation offered full reimbursement of their out of pocket expenses. 27% of organisations said that out of pocket expenses had a negative impact on their ability to attract, recruit, train and retain volunteers.

The full report can be downloaded from the Volunteering Australia website (www.volunteeringaustralia.org/survey).

IAVE renews its commitment to convening Volunteer Centres

Source: E-IAVE
Remember 1982? That was the year that the IAVE World Volunteer Conference was held in Oxford, England under the leadership of IAVE members in England and the Volunteer Centre of the UK. Foster Murphy, then executive director of the Volunteer Centre, added a special dimension to that event by convening, immediately after, a meeting of national volunteer centres from around the world. (Volunteering NZ is a national volunteer centre in this context.)

That meeting began a continuing association between IAVE and the national volunteer centres that has, as all relationships do, waxed and waned - with changes in leadership, emergence of new priorities, the emergence of regional coalitions and changes in the volunteer centres themselves.

At its meeting in Paris, the IAVE board reaffirmed its long-term commitment to support the development and sustenance of centres with a primary focus on using its convenings as opportunities to bring them together to learn from and support one another.

As a result, the board is asking that a specific component for national and local volunteer centres be added to the World Volunteer Conference in Singapore in January 2011 and to the regional conferences in Latin America and the Arab Nations.

The board also approved, in concept, the holding of a Global Forum of Volunteer Centres in conjunction with the World Volunteer Conference in Ireland in 2012 - coincidentally, the 30th anniversary of the first such convening.

Partners of the Americas to host the 2nd Global Youth Volunteer Summit

Source: E-IAVE
The IAVE board has selected Partners of the Americas to host the second Global Youth Volunteer Summit, which will take place on November 3-5, 2011 in Barranquilla, Colombia as IAVE's closing event in the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the International Year of Volunteers.

The Global Youth Volunteer Summit is a unique event in the world of volunteering, an occasion when young people involved in volunteering come together to celebrate and share their knowledge and experiences.

In conjunction with the Universidad del Norte (UNINORTE), Partners and IAVE will bring youth together from all corners of the world to explore ways to increase social inclusion and civic participation through volunteer service. The Summit will feature distinguished international speakers, as well as expert workshop and forum leaders and presenters from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governments and the corporate sector.

The second Youth Summit comes 10 years after the first was held in Tokyo in 2001, which celebrated the UN International Year of the Volunteers.

The Global Report on the International Volunteer Managers Appreciation Day

The International Volunteer Managers Appreciation Day Global Committee listed a number highlights in its report on the events that marked this year IVMDay. The highlights included:

• International Support Group (ISG) grew by 25% during 2009
• ISG now has around 80 key groups in 16 different countries
• There is a new affiliate level category of ISG membership for individual volunteer programmes

The full report is available from OZVPM website.

London's Volunteer Management Charter launched

5th December marked the launch of London's Volunteer Management Charter, the first of its kind across the UK. The Charter was developed by Greater London Volunteering in close consultation with the London Volunteer Centre network. It gives clear guidance to what makes for excellent volunteering experiences, and provides assurance for volunteers looking to get involved in and support London's communities.

Over 50 partner organisations have joined together to begin to respond to the huge increase in demand for volunteering opportunities in the capital. Research by YouthNet in 2009 evidenced the need for an increased supply of volunteering opportunities. This was further echoed by The Institute of Volunteering Research's findings in 2008 which identifies the need to respond to the demand for volunteering with an improved supply of quality opportunities and by strengthening the volunteering infrastructure.

The Charter supports organisations to prepare and support volunteers, and will be followed up with advice, training and referrals to develop volunteering programmes. It has ten strands of good practice which are Equal Opportunities, Expenses, Induction, Organisational Involvement, Personal Development, Recruitment Process, Resolving Difficulties, Reward and Recognition, Safe Volunteering Environment, and Support.

The organisations who sign the Charter commit to developing the strands above and will be offered a Volunteer Management Health Check, where one of the Experts in Volunteering Team will draft an action plan to look at areas where the organisation can improve. The programme is as much about developing volunteer management from scratch, as it is to recognising volunteer management practices that are adhering to best practice.

Further information visit www.expertsinvolunteering.org.uk or www.glv.org.uk. You can also contact Anne Layzell, Experts in Volunteering Development Manager at anne [at] glv [dot] org [dot] uk.

UN campaign: Volunteer for our Planet

Thousands of volunteers around the world have registered more than 1.5 million hours of effort to tackle climate change and other environmental issues, as part of a campaign to promote International Volunteer Day on 5 December.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme launched the global campaign 'Volunteering for our Planet' to promote voluntary effort for the environment. The information about environmental volunteering collected during campaign about has be presented the at the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. 'Volunteering for our Planet' is the UNV contribution to the UN campaign to Seal the Deal in Copenhagen.

Since the website launched in October, tens of thousands of people have visited the website, www.VolunteeringForOurPlanet.org, to register the time that they spend on a voluntary basis, helping communities to adapt and innovate and to mitigate the causes of climate change.
As the total registered effort passed 1.5 million hours, volunteers in developing countries had registered the most time and activities. The top five countries were India, Pakistan, Kenya, Nigeria, and the Philippines. Only one western country, the United States, appeared in the top 10.

Governmental Youth Service initiatives blooming in South Asia

Source: ICP Service News Worldwide
The youth civic engagement field is growing rapidly throughout South Asia, empowering young people across the region. Through a number of government policies and programmes offered by non-government organisations in Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, young people are given opportunities to make a positive impact on their communities. There is more to be done to strengthen the development and implementation of national youth policies development and provide more resources to youth service programs. However, the youth populations of these countries hold tremendous potential as agents for social change and a powerful force for addressing and solving critical issues such as poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and more.

Bangladesh
In 2009, the Bangladeshi government began a new programme, the National Service Scheme (NSS), which aims to help 2,000 young people develop skills through national service. In the first year, young people between 24 and 28 years old will participate in three month skill development programmes. After completing the training, the young people will work in the fields of agriculture, social welfare, and housing and public work.

Nepal
In Nepal a government-run youth service programme, National Development Volunteer Service, serves as a full-time field work programme for young people. The programme is divided into three categories: short term - six months, medium term - one year and long term - two years. Each year approximately 450 to 650 young people participate. The goals of the programme include engaging young people willing and/or experienced to contribute to nation building, promoting the spirit of volunteerism, and mitigating the gap between local needs and available national/
international volunteers. The participants are involved in projects contributing to rural development, education, health and agriculture.

A Ministry of Youth was established in 2008 and a national youth policy is currently under discussion. Nepal's recent efforts to draft a new constitution may provide an opportunity for further promoting and encouraging youth civic engagement.

Pakistan
A key element of the Pakistan National Youth Policy, which came in place in early 2009, is intended to create a National Youth Council (NYC) to "create synergy, harmony and increased coordination in the programs of various institutions."

However, the policy faces a number of obstacles such as funding for full implementation. In November 2009, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) announced plans to help the Government of Pakistan implement its youth policy. UNFPA will take a lead role in the implementation of the policy by coordinating and mobilizing local NGOs and groups. In addition to financial assistance and technical support, UNFPA will assist the Ministry of Youth Affairs with establishing about 100 Youth Activity Centres with the UNFPA Youth-Friendly Model.

In May 2009, the Government of Pakistan decided to expand the National Internship Programme of the Youth Affairs Ministry. The programme aims to provide one-year skill development to 25,000 young people aged 25 that have completed 16 years of education. The Youth Affairs Ministry also introduced National Volunteer Awards for those who have contributed on volunteerism.

NATIONAL EVENTS

Community Economic Development Conference

9-11 February 2010, Waitakere, Auckland
This inaugural New Zealand community economic development conference is aimed at people from not-for-profit organisations, government agencies and councils who wish to explore international best practice in the fields of community-led local economic development, social enterprises, social finances, asset transfer and enabling support mechanisms.
The conference has attracted a wide range of international and New Zealand presenters who will challenge conventional approaches to community economic development, explore new ways of thinking, encourage entrepreneurship and inspire participants to engage in actions that will enhance communities well-being. Prior to the conference two specialist two day workshops will be run on Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and Cultural Planning led by two leading overseas specialists. For further details and to register for the conference and workshops, go to: www.cedconf.org.nz.

The National Not-for-Profit Sector Conference: The Way Forward: Inspiration + Skills

11-12 March 2010, Waipuna Conference Centre, Auckland
This conference focusing on management and governace of the not-for-profit sector will feature number of interesting speakers including Hon Tariana Turia, Trevor Taylor and Margareth Wheatley.
For further information visit http://nfpconference.co.nz/ or contact events [at] grow [dot] co [dot] nz.

Involve 2010 Connect: Together We Are Stronger

17-19 November, 2010, Auckland
This three day event organised by NZ Aotearoa Adolescent Health and Development will focus on ways to empower young people.
The conference promotional video is available from Youtube. Check out the conference website for programme, registration and fees www.involve.org.nz.

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

2010 Australian National Conference on Volunteering

27 - 29 October 2010 Sebel Albert Park, Victoria
The dates for the conference have just been announced and further information will follow in the next couple of months. For further announcement on the theme, programme and registration keep an eye on www.volunteeringaustralia.org.

IAVE 2011 World Volunteer Conference

24-27 January 2011 Resort World Hotel, Sentosa, Singapore
Hosted by Singapore's National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre, the event will run in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV+10) and IAVE's 40th anniversary. In the tradition of recent IAVE conferences, an affiliated Youth Volunteer Conference will be held on January 21-23 at the campus of the Singapore Management University.

The two-and-a-half day event will have a mixture of conference sessions, forums, and workshops. On the agenda will be issues of poverty eradication, literacy, health, environmental sustainability, the baby boomer generation, youth, religious bodies, leadership development, cross-cultural sensitivities, research into volunteer capital, risk management, episodic volunteering, large-scale events, humanitarian relief, and corporate volunteering.

Further information and the draft programme are available from the IAVE website.

2010 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development

10 - 15 June 2010 Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, China
This first ever consortium will offer a platform for more than 2,000 professionals, academics, practitioners, social planners, policy makers and advocates from East and West to meet, exchange, and develop an action agenda for social work and social development in the next decade. There are three Conference themes:
1) Life Course Challenges & Actualization
2) Social Inclusion for Whom? Equity for What?
3) Sustainable Environment
For further information and registration visit the official conference website www.swsd2010.org.

The Role of Community in Economic and Disaster Recovery

25-28 July, 2010 New Orleans
This conference will offer the opportunity for community development practitioners and scholars to meet and discuss successful ways to promote all facets of community development. They invite participation on all aspects of community development, including economic and social programming. New Orleans is an ideal site for this conference because it launched major new programming under extremely difficult conditions. In a literal sense, many communities in New Orleans had to be rebuilt. The conference is designed to learn from the New Orleans experience and to compare and contrast that work with similar experiences world-wide. More information available from info [at] iacdglobal [dot] org.

RESOURCES and EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Deck the Halls and Check the Pulses

By Susan J. Ellis
The end of one year and the start of the next is a great time to "check the pulse" of people in your organization. Keep things easy with a very short feedback request consisting of only two main questions -- one looking back over the year ending and the other looking ahead. But ask for a specific number of short responses to each.

For example:

1. In 2009, what two things did you do or see someone else do that you felt were really important to the people we serve?
   a.
   b.
2. For 2010, what two things would help you to be even more successful in your work here?
   a.
   b.
   

Note that the questions do not necessarily have to be about volunteers, nor do you have to limit the participants to volunteers only. In fact, asking everyone, regardless of position or pay status, to respond will allow you to use the responses to demonstrate the role of the volunteer office in organizational recognition and planning. Here are two ideas for how to do that, based on the sample questions above.

Sharing the many answers you will get to question #1 will make everyone feel good (it's that time of year, after all). You might even post the "really important" actions on big sheets of newsprint in some area seen mainly by paid and unpaid staff. Make sure the comments are legible and presented seriously, but you can also use colored markers, glitter, whatever, to make these posters festive. (Be sure to say something at the top such as "The Volunteer Office Wants You to Know..." so that you get the credit for the idea!)

For question #2, you might collate the answers and group them under topic headings. Distribute the list to everyone individually. There are many ways you can go from there. You might ask everyone to circle the five ideas they like the best and promise that, in 2010, you will attempt to put volunteer energy into those areas. Or you might offer to facilitate a meeting in each unit or program to discuss what's needed and what you, collectively, can do to accomplish this.

One important caveat: Do not ask for any feedback that you can do nothing about! In other words, if you do not feel able to tackle the issue of "what do you need to be successful," ask a different question. The whole point is not to conduct a survey per se, but rather to use the holidays to make people reflect positively on what they did throughout the year, and then to be upbeat for next year.

Website predicts the future of charity fundraising

Fundraisers are being offered the chance to predict the future on a new website called Fundraising Scenarios.

Created by the Management Centre consultancy, it allows fundraisers and sector experts to put forward their ideas about how fundraising will look in 2020. The results are intended to inform "flexible strategic planning" among charities, according to the Management Centre.

They have been conducting a series of interviews and discussions with leading opinion-makers, in order to generate a series of possible future fundraising scenarios. The information has been gathered on this website, to help fundraisers develop innovative and flexible strategies, fit for the future. Check it out!

Australasian Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Managers

17-19 March 2010, Hahndorf Hotel, Hahndorf, South Australia
The Retreat is an annual educational and professional development opportunity for volunteer program managers who feel they are past the 'basics' of their profession and are seeking new challenges. The theme next year is Volunteer Management ~ What does it take?

Andy and Martin are back and joined this year international Faculty member Jayne Cravens from the USA. They also have invited DJ Cronin from Queensland and Meg Webb of Volunteering Tasmania to be the 2010 guest Faculty.

To download a brochure or book for next year's event visit the retreat website.

Graduate Diploma in Non-for-profit Management

This is a professional qualification that directly addresses the complexity of working in an NFP organisation, and highlights the differences between managing in the NFP sector and a business or government department. Provided by Unitec it covers subjects like Value Based Management and Leadership, Financial Management in the NFP sector, Leading and Facilitating teams, tec.

The first semester courses starting in mid February 2010 will take place in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. For forther information and enrolment please visit Unitec's website.

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 "Do a World of Good - Volunteer" 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 [dot] org [dot] 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.