Volunteer Management for Results: How to Create and Sustain Success

The Volunteer Center is offering a comprehensive, six-hour course on “Essentials of Volunteer Management: From Development to Achievement” on Thursday, August 4, 9am - 3pm.  The $75 registrationfee includes breakfast, lunch and extensive course materials in a binder.   Participants from Volunteer Center Member Agencies pay only $50; contact the Volunteer Center for more information on becoming a Member Agency.

Participants will “learn the ropes” of volunteer management  as they cover important benchmarks for success, including:

• Planning the Volunteer Program
• Volunteer Recruitment and Placement
• Orientation and Training
• Supervision and Recognition
• Evaluation of the Program

Best practices and new trends in volunteer management will be discussed, including how to use social media and traditional media to market to volunteers and other stakeholders, how to engage leadership-level volunteers, and how to target recruitment efforts to specific demographics.

Volunteers are a major economic factor in communities across the country.  The most recent data from Independent Sector values volunteer time at $21.36 per hour.  Combined with the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data showing nearly 64 million people volunteering an average of 52 hours per year, the value of volunteering is more than $71 billion.  This means that volunteering is worth the investment of managerial talent.

“Volunteering is definitely worth the investment in managerial talent,” says Janet Sharma, executive director of the Volunteer Center.  “The Volunteer Sector has been facing numerous challenges due to the economy and shrinking work force.  By implementing the practical solutions offered in this workshop, volunteer coordinators can improve their professional skills and learn to manage people who are eager to give their time and talent to help our community.

“We know that volunteers must be engaged to be effective,” continues Sharma.  “Ensuring that those who manage volunteers have the necessary skills is critical to the success of non-profit organizations.  This day-long workshop will benefit newcomers to the field as well as those already deeply invested.”

For more information about customized training or to register for “Essentials of Volunteer Management”, send an e-mail to: training@bergenvolunteers.org, or call Tess Tomasi at (201) 489-9454 Ext. 114.