Comments on: When It Comes to Volunteer Management, Size Doesn’t Matter http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/when-it-comes-to-volunteer-management-size-doesnt-matter Maine Conversations about Volunteer Management Sat, 6 Sep 2008 00:57:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Anne Schink http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/when-it-comes-to-volunteer-management-size-doesnt-matter#comment-39 Anne Schink Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:55:14 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/when-it-comes-to-volunteer-management-size-doesnt-matter#comment-39 I think we often make the assumption that larger systems are more likely to have better management practices. My experience is that this is not always true. A committed executive in a small agency who seizes the opportunity to use best practices in organizational development, as well as volunteer management, is as likely as anyone to push hard until those practices are well established. It takes personal curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning to tackle issues, experiment, and risk failure to ensure that things are done right regardless of scale. Change is sometimes easier if you can just toss the past aside and create something new. Small systems are apt to be more facile it seems to me. I think we often make the assumption that larger systems are more likely to have better management practices. My experience is that this is not always true. A committed executive in a small agency who seizes the opportunity to use best practices in organizational development, as well as volunteer management, is as likely as anyone to push hard until those practices are well established. It takes personal curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning to tackle issues, experiment, and risk failure to ensure that things are done right regardless of scale. Change is sometimes easier if you can just toss the past aside and create something new. Small systems are apt to be more facile it seems to me.

]]> By: Penny Kern http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/when-it-comes-to-volunteer-management-size-doesnt-matter#comment-37 Penny Kern Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:09:22 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/when-it-comes-to-volunteer-management-size-doesnt-matter#comment-37 I have to agree. I truly believe that when a volunteer is matched correctly and given the opportunities to be of value, the size of the organization doesn't matter. To me, a volunteer who's treated like part of the "team" (either staff/volunteer or volunteer/volunteer)is more likely to gain, personally, from their volunteer experience. Although it's not easy to build these kinds of staff/volunteer relationships in larger organizations, it can be done. Just my humble opinion. I have to agree. I truly believe that when a volunteer is matched correctly and given the opportunities to be of value, the size of the organization doesn’t matter.

To me, a volunteer who’s treated like part of the “team” (either staff/volunteer or volunteer/volunteer)is more likely to gain, personally, from their volunteer experience. Although it’s not easy to build these kinds of staff/volunteer relationships in larger organizations, it can be done.

Just my humble opinion.

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