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By Pete Phair

I have a couple of good friends who spend many weekends every year maintaining their respective sections of the Appalachian Trail. Another just received a coveted Volunteer of the Year Award from an organization she has done some fantastic work for. My friend Bo drives for hours to manage ski races all over the Northeast and my brother, God Bless him, travels all over the world as a volunteer for a group that accredits high schools. Just this past year alone, I volunteered for six different organizations between January and December. Look around you- you are surrounded by volunteers whether you realize it or not. And it seems that just about every one of them has a different reason for volunteering.

Part of my job requires that I try to figure out what compels people to volunteer. Why, for instance, would someone raising three young children, working forty plus hours each week and trying to maintain a semblance of a personal life want to give up a Saturday afternoon to stand behind a table for four hours? Why would someone offer their lunch hour two days a week to work on menial tasks that aren’t theirs to own? Why would a young woman trying to find employment in this current economy spend nearly an entire day each week as a volunteer in our office?

Some answers are straight forward- volunteering looks good on a resume`, it gets one out of the house and in some cases, volunteering helps to keep skill sets fresh. There are some volunteer scenarios that may result in personal perks while still others address intrinsic rewards we all need to feel good about ourselves. I suspect however, that there are a lot of underlying reasons that are not as obvious. Knowing those reasons should be able to help me with my recruiting efforts. But to find relevant answers to these questions, it seems I had to first ask – what are the reasons I volunteer?

Here’s what I came up with…
• Generally, I believe in the cause- passionately. Enough to drive me to action.
• Ultimately, the things I volunteer to do, better the lives of someone some way.
• Because it’s fun. Period.
• Volunteering helps me to feel less self-involved.
• I feel like I’m giving back to something.
• It involves me in a greater community.
• I get to meet new people.
• I want my daughter to see that volunteering is part of who we are as a family.
• It gives me a sense of accomplishment.
• I am part of a team working toward a common goal.
• I get to share my skills when I volunteer but just as important, sometimes I get to just do what I am told and not have to troubleshoot or make any decisions!

Let’s not forget that the reasons why people do not volunteer should be considered in our thinking too. Transportation, childcare and availability all play into the equation but so does philosophical alignment. A lot of our volunteers initially approach me to volunteer for WinterKids because they love to ski. That’s great but we do not necessarily need volunteers who ski. We need folks who want kids to get outside and be active in the winter time. Conversely, people who do not ski, or who are not active in the wintery outdoors, feel they have nothing to offer WinterKids. Au contraire! That’s why perception is another element in whether a program successfully recruits volunteers or not. Although your needs may be obvious to you and your co-workers, it may not always seem that way to potential volunteers
I suppose it all boils down to good matches. What would Abbott have been without Costello? Lewis without Clark? Sonny without Cher? Who can really say? But knowing how your organization’s volunteer needs match up with the audience you draw from is crucial to sustaining a successful program.
Thankfully, 110 people felt aligned enough with WinterKids to provide over 900 hours of volunteer service since last June. Without them, we would not have been able to do the work we do and whatever their reasons are for helping us, I am thankful and proud that they choose WinterKids as a volunteer opportunity. In a word, they are the Milli to our Vanilli…

Pete Phair is Outreach Coordinator at WinterKids and a featured blogger.

By Trudy Hamilton

I’ve been trying to think of a top-notch, really exciting and inspiring topic to blog about this week. I’ve been left with “Blog Blank”, or perhaps “Blog Blahs”.

I’ve also been reading Brokaw’s “The Greatest Generation”, and recently had the opportunity to visit Washington, DC. So, here we go…the book often speaks of the civic life led by veterans after World War II. These outstanding men and women who became civic leaders in their communities, whether it was to counsel other veterans, start Little Leagues in their towns, join the Rotary, serve on school boards, lobby for hospital funding. This generation is often thought of as the “builders” of volunteer infrastructure as we now know it, the doer’s, if you will, developing voluntarism to a higher degree in society. They did so many wonderful things, that it is easy to forget what was there before them.

In Washington, DC, pre-World War II reminders surround you. The American Red Cross dates back to 1881, The Salvation Army in America 1879. Girls Scouts of America, The Audubon Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. The Civil War left an unprecedented number of volunteers, who moved west and volunteered their time, the efforts, in creating an expanded territory, new states, and budding infrastructure.

The difference, from what I can see, is how so much was accomplished by these two very different generations. The post-WW II generation seemed to focus on long-standing efforts at the local level, making their communities more pleasant. Sometimes this involved joining with a national organization, other times beginning their own grassroots programs. The pre-WW II group seemed to be more focused on efforts at a national level, often rigidly organized, often with such frenzied energy needed to sustain a national effort in the days before telecommuting, telephone, and telegraph.
Fast forward to the 1980’s, and the creation of so many volunteer-dependent social service non-profits created to fight the ills of society. Often without even a budget for staff members, these non-profits have made great strides in community healthcare awareness, fighting poverty and hunger, protecting the vulnerable, conserving the wild lands. What I note with this generation is a true passion for what they want to volunteer to be involved with. Not that prior generations didn’t have that passion, but it seems quieter, more reserved.

The latest group, current college student age, are also volunteering in ways that fit their lifestyles, about things they are passionate about, and building a whole new model. Think about the service learning opportunities now encouraged, or the FeelGood movement (one cheese sandwich at a time to end world hunger). This generation has the access to all the traditional methods of volunteering, and is also creating new ways for their peers to get involved when it fits their schedule.

When you look at all the changes over time, the different pieces each group has added, how well what they have done has worked, as a building block for the next group, it is truly stunning. It also makes me wonder what we’ll see from today’s kindergartners, 30 years from now. If history repeats itself, it should be something to marvel over! Any ideas?

Trudy Hamilton is the Manager of Volunteer Resources for SeniorsPlus in Lewiston and a featured blogger.

By Rochelle Runge

In partnership with VolunteerMaine.org, the Maine Commission for Community Service sponsors both this Blog and the VolunteerFare Newsletter, in and effort to provide you with news and information on the sector and relevant educational topics to help further your professional development.

Our newsletter contributors and bloggers aim to target messages that will be helpful to your work and interesting to read. In order to help us focus our energy please take a few minutes to answer this short 7 question survey on VolunteerFare and the Blog. Thank you in advance for your help!

Rochelle Runge is the Public Relations Representative for the Maine Commission for Community Service and a guest blogger.

By Elizabeth Cole

It’s late August. The sounds of crickets, katydids, and back-to-school commercials fill the night air. But before you start mourning the loss of yet another summer, remember that the change in seasons isn’t all bad for volunteer managers. The coming of fall and the start of another school year promise a new opportunity to recruit student volunteers.

Put aside your lemonade for a moment and think about this: between 2002 and 2005, the number of college students who volunteered grew by an astonishing 20 percent, the largest increase of any demographic. Tapping into one of Maine’s thirty colleges or universities, not to mention her hundreds of secondary schools, could help you target young adults who are passionate and energized about service and social change. At its heart, service learning is a way for students to bridge the distance between school and the real world, to meaningfully connect with their community, and to deepen their understanding of what they learn in the classroom.

Of course, there are legitimate concerns about involving students in your organization. The first is time. Students today are busier than ever, their schedules filled with academic and extracurricular commitments that might prevent them from volunteering consistently. The academic year is punctuated with extended winter, spring, and summer vacations that may further complicate scheduling. Transportation can also be an issue if students do not have their own cars or bikes. From the student point of view, these same three factors could be barriers that deter them from volunteering. That would be a shame. Your organization could miss out on a host of enthusiastic and talented volunteers.

So what can you do to help attract and accommodate college students? Make it easy as easy as possible for students to get involved: hold orientations, interviews, and volunteer trainings on campus. Do your best to work around their academic schedules. Understand that December and May are going to be the busiest times of year for students with end of term projects and papers. Give them a choice of regularly scheduled meeting times to help them organize their time in advance. Think about offering transportation or arranging a carpool from the campus to your site. Many students get involved with volunteering to explore careers or to add to their resumes. Sit down and talk to students to find out what sorts of training, networking, or knowledge you could provide that might help them with their future plans. Finally, as with any volunteer, provide ongoing structure, supervision, and support. You’ll be rewarded with knowledgeable and eager volunteers.

Before you run off to the nearest campus to start recruiting, keep in mind these tips. First, get permission (and tips) from the dean of students or the office service learning before you conduct any sort of recruitment on campus. Consider asking professors of relevant courses if you can make a short appeal during one of their class sessions. If you presently have student volunteers, enlist their help in developing your recruitment campaign. They can be a valuable asset in helping you develop effective strategies. Ask them to spread the word to their friends about volunteer opportunities with your organization. As the hours of daylight shorten and the air gets crisper, spending a moment now thinking about student volunteer recruitment could pay off in a big way later.

Resources with further tips on engaging college students:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Recruiting College Volunteers: A Guide for Volunteer Recruitment and Management. (1995). Philadelphia: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Tierney, J.P., Joseph, P. & Branch,Y.A. (1992). College Students as Volunteers for At-Risk Youth: A Study of Six Campus Partners in Learning Programs. Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures.

Elizabeth Cole is an Americorps VISTA with the Maine Commission for Community Service, a presenter at the Blaine House Conference on Volunteerism and a guest blogger.

By Rochelle Runge

Volunteering in America, the most comprehensive data ever assembled on volunteer trends and demographics, found that America’s volunteers dedicated more than 8 billion hours of service in 2008, worth an estimated $162 billion.

The fact the volunteering held steady during a time of high unemployment and foreclosure rates was welcome news to nonprofit and government leaders, who are facing increasing demands at a time of dwindling resources. Previous research would suggest that volunteering drops during an economic downturn. Visit the Portland Press Herald to read a related article, Economy can’t stop the volunteer spirit.

Here are some stats for Maine:
- In addition to the 339.6 thousand adults in Maine volunteering in 2008, an extra 38,418 individuals worked with their neighbors to fix a problem or improve a condition in their community but did not serve through an organization. In Maine this type of volunteering is often referred to as “neighboring.”

- Even with the economic crisis, the volunteer rate in Maine remained relatively constant, at 31.8% in 2008. While the neighboring rate increased by more than 10,000 volunteers.

- Maine ranked 2nd in New England in terms of the number of volunteers.

- Maine ranked 7th in the nation for volunteer hours donated per resident.

- Maine volunteers contributed 51.3 million hours of service in 2008 with an economic contribution valued at $981.7.

- In Maine, more than 9,200 people participate in national service (AmeriCorps,VISTA, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve) each year. This year, the Corporation for National and Community Service will commit more than $5,900,000 to support Maine’s national service initiatives.

The research is based on annual surveys of approximately 100,000 individuals collected by the U.S. Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service. The VolunteeringInAmerica.gov website contains nine years of data on volunteering, and rankings, volunteer trends and demographic information for every state.

Rochelle Runge is the Public Relations Representative for the Maine Commission for Community Service and a guest blogger.

By Patty Ott

During the week of July 13, Senior Corp programs throughout the state are initiating various opportunities for potential volunteers to learn about the Senior Corp programs and how to get involved. Join one of these events and you will find lively conversations, exciting information and challenging opportunities. .

One important way seniors can make a difference is by participating in the Born to Read program. RSVPs throughout the state connect caring readers with preschool children in partnership with the Maine Humanities Council.

Startling statistics show that:
• Children who are NOT read to have a vocabulary of 1,500 words when they start school.
• Children who ARE read to regularly in their preschool years have a vocabulary of 4,000 to 15,000 words, have improved ability to express themselves and increased attention span.
• Parents today typically spend one-third less time with their children than a generation ago. Preschools need older adults to be positive role models for children.

Not only is this volunteer job important to a child’s life, it is wonderfully rewarding to bring stories to little ones and unlock the power of reading in their young lives. Their minds are eager to learn and you have the key!

Visit Penquis RSVP (Knox, Lincoln and Waldo Counties) on Friday July 17. We are having Open House from 9-3:00, 170 Pleasant St. Rockland. We will show you “Born to Read” materials and many other opportunities that can match your interests and talents to make a difference in your community.

Patty Ott is a Division Manager for Penquis Retired & Senior Volunteer Program and a guest blogger.

Information Age Volunteerism - Open Sourced! Crowdsourced!
By Ben Rigby, www.techpresident.com

Click here to read a very interesting blog about volunteerism in the age of facebook, flicker and the like.

By Trudy Hamilton

Many of you have read the article in October’s Volunteer Fare about LD 2202 (please refer to the October article if you’d like background about LD 2202). The response has been requests for how to get the ball rolling in your own communities, a kind of “How-To” manual.

While I’m not aware of any towns in Maine that have adopted an ordinance that puts LD 2202 in practice, quite a few are starting to have conversations around it. There are many towns in other states that have been successful, so I’ll share what I found out during my research.

Please remember that if you work for an agency that depends upon municipal funding, you should check with your Executive Director before proceeding with efforts to get ordinances passed.

Step 1: Educate, educate, educate!
• Do you have volunteers over the age of 60 that could benefit from this ordinance? Share what you know with them, and work on building a strong base of support.
• Educate people in your agency. Encourage their advocacy in their own communities.
• Educate your community. Talk to your selectmen, your town manager, your budget committee, your social services committee.

When you are working on educating people about LD 2202, it might be helpful to put together a fact sheet that you can hand out, with the following information:
• Statistical data and explain your rationale for the article.
• How many seniors are paying Real Estate Taxes in your community?
• Approximately how many seniors would be eligible for your program?
• How will your Town’s senior property tax relief compare to neighboring towns?

Step 2: Be prepared!
There will be a variety of people with many questions. Here are a few (and answers if I have them):
• How many people will benefit?
• What will be the cost?
• Who will pay for the program? There is no state funding, but towns often set money in their budgets to offset tax abatements, or fund social assistance programs. The beauty of a town budget is that residents can choose what they want to pay for.
• Why should it be limited to only those over 60? Some will feel it is discriminatory, based on age. The amendment was designed, however, to encourage and assist older adults in maintaining their independence at home as long as possible. You can also answer this question with another question…why should those older adults be taxed for services they don’t use, such as school funding?

There will be different questions from each town, and probably different questions at each town meeting, as well.

Step 3: Get the support that you need on your side.
• Select boards in each town. Arrange to work with residents of the town to gain the support of town leaders.
• Opponents of selectpersons. Make sure this is “bipartisan”, rather than politics. Focus on the issue, not personalities.
• Media. Submit an article to your local paper, and have materials for reporters to refer to in their stories, as well. This is especially important if reporters are covering meetings.
• Budget Committee…often, the Select boards follow all the recommendations of the Budget Committee.
• What people will speak up to defend it?
• Who will oppose the article and why?

Step 4: Craft the article or ordinance.
How are articles usually written? Obtain the help of an experienced town leader to help you write your article. Will you leave it open to broad interpretation at a later date, or will you include all the details, such as what type of volunteer service counts, who may benefit from the program, what will the benefit be, how will the program be administered, how often may people benefit from the program? Be prepared to help guide the answers to these details so a win-win situation is created for both volunteers and municipalities.

Step 5: Get the article on the warrant for the town meeting. Dates are very important here, as towns vary widely for holding town meetings. What are the closing dates for an article to make the warrant? Do you need the support in advance of townspeople, as indicated by signatures on a petition?

Step 6: Obtain support for your article. This is different from obtaining support for the idea. Now, you have a concrete article you are asking folks to be supportive of. This
support for the is critical. Without strong support your article may not pass. This can be the most difficult step because it not only involves politics, but also involves money. You can, however, delegate much of this work.
• Ask volunteers to call supporters and give them the dates and times for all public hearings.
• Have seniors who can not attend the meetings write letters of support for the article and bring the letters to town meeting.
• Get the local press actively involved with the article. Create a human interest story. People like to hear stories about why the article is so important and who it will assist.
• Write an explanation of the article in your monthly newsletter.
• Speak about the article at your local Senior group meetings.
• Get as much positive press as possible.
• Get your article on your local cable station.
• Offer transportation to meetings. (Car pools, vans etc.)

Step 7: Attend Town meetings and select board meetings where the article is being discussed. Remember, however, that if you are speaking outside your own town of residence, you will have to ask permission to speak.

Hopefully, these steps will help you initiate passage of LD 2202 ordinances in towns throughout Maine. While helping older adults stay in their homes, this is also an unusual opportunity to place volunteerism in the spotlight, recognizing the important work volunteers do in their communities.

Trudy Hamilton is Volunteer Manager at Seniors Plus and is a featured blogger.

Each year, the Corporation for National and Community Service releases a comprehensive report on the state of volunteering in America. This year’s Volunteering In America report is the most comprehensive set of data ever assembled – offering detailed information on volunteering trends and demographics from all 50 states including Maine over a three-year period from 2005-2007.

Maine and the Nation:
• Maine ranked second in volunteerism in New England.
• Maine ranks well above the 2007 national average, in the percentage of citizens volunteering, of 26.2 percent.
• Maine residents averaged annually more than 44 million hours of service between 2005 and 2007 totaling over $868 million of service in 2007.

National Service in Maine:
More than 9,100 people of all ages and backgrounds are helping to meet local needs and strengthen communities through 29 different national service projects across Maine. Serving through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve, these citizens tutor and mentor children, build homes, restore the environment, respond to disasters, and build nonprofit capacity. The Maine Commission for Community service targets more than 1 Million dollars in AmeriCorps funding annually to meet Maine’s most critical needs.

As the U.S. faces an economic downturn communities and individuals will need the support of the services volunteers provide now more than ever. Citizens can make a real difference in the community, especially during this critical time, by turning off the TV and swapping just 2 hours of TV time and volunteering instead. To read the full report on Volunteering in America please visit www.VolunteeringinAmerica.gov.

Rochelle Runge is a guest blogger and the Public Relations Representative for the Maine Commission for Community Service.

This language has been thrown around a lot lately, and, probably like some of you, I ignored it or then tried to guess what it was. I just knew it was ‘hot’. And since I’m not, I decided I could let someone else take care of it. That is, until a recent retreat where a Social Marketing expert provided us with excellent training and introduced a website that is available to anyone. The website guides you through a process where you can create your own social marketing plan, using the templates and information provided on the website. Check it out!

Social marketing is aimed at behavior change. i.e. wearing seatbelts or quitting smoking. While most of us think of ‘marketing’ as strategies to make you buy something, social marketing seeks to identify strategies that will affect your behavior. The introduction to the online course notes that ‘marketing recognizes that communication, advertising and education can lead to awareness and knowledge, but they aren’t the only factors that affect behavior change. Social marketing looks for interaction between the factors. Social marketing depends on a deep understanding of the consumer.’

The program stresses the importance of thorough market research as a means of getting to know your customer and what really motivates them. Much of the program walks you through the process for identifying barriers to behavior change, for determining potential benefits for changing behavior, for recognizing the competition from alternatives, for isolating the factors that really influence behavior, and for understanding the exchange between choosing one alternative over another.

Other chapters deal with the traditional ‘4 p’s of marketing’—product, price, place and promotion. The goal of this model is to identify the intersection of these factors to target specifically the message that will reach the desired audience, will create behavior change, and that will succeed over time.

The stories and anecdotes in the material are primarily based on health issues, but the material applies to any effort to change behavior. Since the program was developed with federal fund through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the materials are available to anyone interested in using them. If the link above does not work, go to the website and enter Social Marketing in the search box. You will get there eventually!

Anne Schink is a featured blogger and Program Manager for Project INVEST at the Maine Commission for Community Service.