Volunteer Power News - Number 90
Author: Thomas W. McKee
"Volunteer Power News" Monthly Newsletter
© 2010 Advantage Point Systems Publishing
A warm welcome to all volunteer managers-those of you who recruit, motivate and mobilize volunteer workers.
You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up or asked to be on the list. Please recommend this e-mail newsletter or ezine to anyone who is interested in volunteer management.
If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you'd like to receive your own personal issue each month, please subscribe to receive free tips on how to recruit, manage and motivate volunteers.
Last month I voiced three concerns in Part I of Recruiting and Managing Teenage Volunteers.
To make the experience positive for the volunteer manager, the organization, and the teenager take these three action steps very seriously. Before we look at them, let's review-who are the millennials? I am interchanging the terms millennials, Gen Y and teenagers (we call them Gen@ in our book The New Breed). The millennials are the 68 million people born between 1982 and 1994. Since a person born in 1994 is 16 years old and considered the youngest millennial, for our purposes I am going to catagorize all high school students millennials (although technically most freshman and sophomores are a couple of years younger than millennials). And to make it easier in most of my workshops, this past year I have designated the under 30 crowd-29 and younger-millennials.
First: We must believe in them. Quit thinking of them as entitled, self-centered slackers who are a pain in the butt.
The Urban Dictionary (UD) has a new word to describe millennials. The term is Slackoisie, prounounced "Slack-wah-zee". This term was coined by J. Daniel Hull, Esq., author of the "What About Clients?" blawg, and popularized by Scott H. Greenfield, Esq., author of the "Simple Justice" blawg. As you read their definition, recognize that it is written from the viewpoint of a lawyer.
But through it all I am thankful that I had adult coaches, teachers and youth volunteers who didn't write me off even though I often thought they were out of touch, old, redundant, and ready to be put out to pasture. Just as I had people who believed in me, I need to believe in our youth. I must not write this generation off. Although I am very optimistic about this generation, I am also aware that they, along with every other generation before them, will not always follow the expectations of their elders.
The key question is not just how far this generation is pushing the envelope, but, how can you manage the whole new group of young volunteers who are willing and excited to help you make a difference? The first action step is to be willing to step up to the challenge and accept millennials as valuable volunteers.
Second: Ask the important question-Do you have a millennial-friendly volunteer culture?
Ask these questions about yourself and your organization to see if you're really "millennial" friendly. Answer each of these questions with a "yes" or "no."
Third: Provide opportunities for adult mentorship
Last week my son Jonathan and I were in Wichita, KS teaching a Volunteer Power workshop. After the session, Todd Hutchison, Student Ministry Pastor of Westlink Christian Church, invited us out for coffee to debrief the session and ask some very specific questions about keeping the passion alive with volunteers. When I asked Todd if he used high school volunteers, he began to describe the many ways the kids in his church get involved in volunteerism. His high school group of over 250 kids is divided into small groups of around 25 kids, each with three adult volunteer leaders. Many of those groups volunteer for community projecst. One group took on the project of collecting 500 coats for needy kids for Christmas. The kids worked as a team and contacted businesses, schools, and organizations to set up boxes to collect the coats. One adult volunteered her barn-remember we were in Kansas-to keep the coats until delivery time.
What I loved about this example was the impact of three adults coaching 25 kids to work together in meeting a community need. Today many youth groups-churches, scouts, clubs, and sports teams that already have adult leadership--are getting involved in projects. Why not invite them to one of your projects?
According to a survey reported in the September 2010 issue of Success Magazine, of people who volunteer:
Looking for a keynote for your annual convention, or a motivational session for your volunteer leaders, or a workshop to help your volunteer leaders recruit and keep their volunteers? Many of the private sector organizations that have sponsored our presentations for conventions are not able to sponsor these events during these hard times. I know many of you are feeling these cuts.
I would love to help. I will work with your organization to make our fees affordable for you by trying to arrange engagements in the same area to cut travel costs.
If you are interested, send me the contact form with your budget and I'll see what I can do.
Tom McKee
Volunteer Power
Workshop Content
SECTION I: THE NEW VOLUNTEER CULTURE
The 21st century volunteer culture is very different because of seismic shifts that have changed volunteer management. These shifts have impacted the volunteer organization; therefore how we recruit and manage the new breed of volunteer is a whole new game. The seismic shifts include the following:
IN STOCK! CLICK HERE FOR MORE
ABOUT THIS BOOK AND TO GET A COPY
(FREE U.S. SHIPPING!)
Here's a glimpse of the Table of Contents:
Introduction: The Common Predicament
Where It All Begins
SECTION ONE: THE VOLUNTEER RECRUITER
Chapter 1: Who Is the New Breed of Volunteer?
A Profile of the 21st Century Volunteer
Chapter 2: Recruiting the New Breed of Volunteers
The "Courting" Relationship
Chapter 3: Finding the New Breed of Volunteers (Not Scaring Them Away)
The Seven Deadly Sins of Recruiting Volunteers
Chapter 4: Tapping into Two New Breeds of Volunteers
Retiring "Boomers" and "Generation @"
SECTION TWO: THE VOLUNTEER MANAGER
Chapter 5: Motivating the New Breed of Volunteers
Discover Three Levels of Motivation
Chapter 6: Empowering Volunteers to Do It Their Way
Move from Delegation to Empowerment
Chapter 7: Managing the Virtual Volunteer
Virtual Volunteers and Using Technology
Chapter 8: Managing High Maintenance Volunteers
Performance Coaching the Volunteer from Hell
SECTION THREE: THE VOLUNTEER LEADER
Chapter 9: Leading the Successful Volunteer Organization
Mobilize the Collective Power of Volunteers
Chapter 10: A Leadership Case Study
A Fable of How to Do It Right
SECTION FOUR: RESOURCES
CLICK HERE
FOR MORE ABOUT
THIS BOOK AND TO GET A COPY
Plan Your Future
When the World
Keeps Changing
Get Tom's Inspiring Book
THEY DON'T PLAY
MY MUSIC ANYMORE!
As we try to navigate the 21st Century in this increasingly fast-paced and technology-driven world, many people are drowning in our culture of unremitting change. In the innovative book, They Don't Play My Music Anymore, Thomas McKee presents a creative approach to facing personal and professional change. He offers eight essential principles that can help you gain the confidence to face an unknown future. Using these techniques, you will develop a new thinking frame by which to approach your future with hope and confidence as you learn to embrace change instead of merely reacting to it.
Tom's Eight Principles
Will Help You Gain the Confidence
To Face an Unknown Future
"In a world where change seems to be happening faster than the five miles every second the Space Shuttle travels, They Don't Play My Music Anymore offers a practical, common sense approach to not only surviving this frenetic pace of change, but building and growing from it. Incorporating Tom's methodology as I chose to make a change in my profession has helped me map out and launch into new adventures in many ways as exciting as the three space missions I flew. I very highly recommend applying these principles!"
Who Takes the Fall When Your
Keynote Speaker is Just
Okay?...
You Do!
Tom McKee is a leading volunteer management speaker, trainer and consultant. You can reach Tom at (916) 987-0359 or
e-mail him at tom@volunteerpower.com. Other articles and free resources are available
at www.volunteerpower.com
For more articles by Thomas McKee, visit the Articles section on our website.
Author: Thomas W. McKee
"Volunteer Power News" Monthly Newsletter
© 2010 Advantage Point Systems Publishing
A warm welcome to all volunteer managers-those of you who recruit, motivate and mobilize volunteer workers.
You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up or asked to be on the list. Please recommend this e-mail newsletter or ezine to anyone who is interested in volunteer management.
If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you'd like to receive your own personal issue each month, please subscribe to receive free tips on how to recruit, manage and motivate volunteers.
In This Issue
- Featured Article: Recruiting and Managing Teenage Volunteers. Are they worth the effort?
- Resource: Volunteer Facts That You Can Use in Your Next Newsletter
Featured Article:
Recruiting and Managing Teenage Volunteers
Recruiting and Managing Teenage Volunteers
Part II
Part II
Last month I voiced three concerns in Part I of Recruiting and Managing Teenage Volunteers.
- Do I even want a bunch of teenage volunteers?
- Can the Glee promotion really help me find volunteers?
- What do I do with teenage volunteers after I get them?
What do we do with them after we get them?
To make the experience positive for the volunteer manager, the organization, and the teenager take these three action steps very seriously. Before we look at them, let's review-who are the millennials? I am interchanging the terms millennials, Gen Y and teenagers (we call them Gen@ in our book The New Breed). The millennials are the 68 million people born between 1982 and 1994. Since a person born in 1994 is 16 years old and considered the youngest millennial, for our purposes I am going to catagorize all high school students millennials (although technically most freshman and sophomores are a couple of years younger than millennials). And to make it easier in most of my workshops, this past year I have designated the under 30 crowd-29 and younger-millennials.
First: We must believe in them. Quit thinking of them as entitled, self-centered slackers who are a pain in the butt.
The Urban Dictionary (UD) has a new word to describe millennials. The term is Slackoisie, prounounced "Slack-wah-zee". This term was coined by J. Daniel Hull, Esq., author of the "What About Clients?" blawg, and popularized by Scott H. Greenfield, Esq., author of the "Simple Justice" blawg. As you read their definition, recognize that it is written from the viewpoint of a lawyer.
1) a class of narcissistic young professionals, particularly attorneys (usually Gen Y/millennials), who believe
that having a job is an entitlement, rather than a privilege. They often complain about the work they have (if working),
opine the lack of "real lawyer" jobs available in the market, and are critical of the long hours and inadequate pay
found at most small firms. They believe they are entitled to work/life balance, that their opinions on any subject
are inherently important and that whatever benefits they enjoy are inadequate. The Slackoisie are more interested
in having a place to go in the morning and some spending money than committing themselves to their clients and the
profession; or
2) a slacker with an exaggerated sense of self-importance and entitlement.
3) Anyone with a graduate degree who lives in their parents basement and is unemployed because they cannot find an employer who "appreciates their uniqueness" or demands that they actually produce quality work before being given a raise, the corner office and a convertible sports car.
As I read the above descriptions, I am reminded of my generation-the teenagers of the 50's. The press, church, and
entertainment industry didn't have a lot of praise for us. Do you remember Rebel Without a Cause or the uproar over
Elvis Presley on the Ed Sullivan show? Or some of you joined the long-haired hippies of the sixties, the mopped-headed Beatles,
and experienced the summer of love. Or remember the first earrings on guys in the 80's and the tattoos of the 90s? It seems that
every generation has been bent on somehow outdoing the previous generation. Every generation loves to push the envelope and create
new trends.2) a slacker with an exaggerated sense of self-importance and entitlement.
3) Anyone with a graduate degree who lives in their parents basement and is unemployed because they cannot find an employer who "appreciates their uniqueness" or demands that they actually produce quality work before being given a raise, the corner office and a convertible sports car.
But through it all I am thankful that I had adult coaches, teachers and youth volunteers who didn't write me off even though I often thought they were out of touch, old, redundant, and ready to be put out to pasture. Just as I had people who believed in me, I need to believe in our youth. I must not write this generation off. Although I am very optimistic about this generation, I am also aware that they, along with every other generation before them, will not always follow the expectations of their elders.
The key question is not just how far this generation is pushing the envelope, but, how can you manage the whole new group of young volunteers who are willing and excited to help you make a difference? The first action step is to be willing to step up to the challenge and accept millennials as valuable volunteers.
Second: Ask the important question-Do you have a millennial-friendly volunteer culture?
Ask these questions about yourself and your organization to see if you're really "millennial" friendly. Answer each of these questions with a "yes" or "no."
- Are you mission driven? Don't tell this young generation, "Please do this job and have it done by Friday." Instead,
say, "What can you do to help us accomplish our mission?" Get to know them as individuals and listen to their input.
Focus on desired outcomes and turn them loose.
- Are you a coach to these young individuals? Be a coach-not a traditional manager. A coach challenges volunteers to do
their best, yet nurtures individuals and encourages them to reach their full potential. And reaching potential involves
decision making.
- Do you involve this young generation in decision making? They want to be a part of the team in making decisions. Make
sure you ask teenagers what they liked about the project. Did they see any way to improve?
- Do you use Web 2.0 for your meetings and communication (www.wetpaint.com, Facebook, twitter)? This young generation
doesn't want to waste their time in long meetings and endless discussions.
- Does your group practice diversity (ethnic, gender, generational) in recruiting, promoting, hiring, and seeking leadership? This young generation ignores gender and racial biases and works with anyone who can help them accomplish common goals.
Third: Provide opportunities for adult mentorship
Last week my son Jonathan and I were in Wichita, KS teaching a Volunteer Power workshop. After the session, Todd Hutchison, Student Ministry Pastor of Westlink Christian Church, invited us out for coffee to debrief the session and ask some very specific questions about keeping the passion alive with volunteers. When I asked Todd if he used high school volunteers, he began to describe the many ways the kids in his church get involved in volunteerism. His high school group of over 250 kids is divided into small groups of around 25 kids, each with three adult volunteer leaders. Many of those groups volunteer for community projecst. One group took on the project of collecting 500 coats for needy kids for Christmas. The kids worked as a team and contacted businesses, schools, and organizations to set up boxes to collect the coats. One adult volunteered her barn-remember we were in Kansas-to keep the coats until delivery time.
What I loved about this example was the impact of three adults coaching 25 kids to work together in meeting a community need. Today many youth groups-churches, scouts, clubs, and sports teams that already have adult leadership--are getting involved in projects. Why not invite them to one of your projects?
Leadership Feature:
Some Facts You Can Use In Your Next Newsletter
Volunteering (is Good for Us!)According to a survey reported in the September 2010 issue of Success Magazine, of people who volunteer:
73% say it lowers their stress level
92% say it enriches their sense of purpose in life
68% say it makes them feel physically healthier
88% say it provides networking/career development opportunities
92% say it enriches their sense of purpose in life
68% say it makes them feel physically healthier
88% say it provides networking/career development opportunities
Volunteer Power Workshop:
Reenergize Your Volunteer Leaders with a Half-Day, Full-Day or Two-Day Volunteer Power Workshop.
The New Breed of Volunteer
A Volunteer Power Workshop
With
Thomas McKee
Recruiting and managing the 21st Century volunteers who want to do it their way
Thomas McKee
Recruiting and managing the 21st Century volunteers who want to do it their way
Looking for a keynote for your annual convention, or a motivational session for your volunteer leaders, or a workshop to help your volunteer leaders recruit and keep their volunteers? Many of the private sector organizations that have sponsored our presentations for conventions are not able to sponsor these events during these hard times. I know many of you are feeling these cuts.
I would love to help. I will work with your organization to make our fees affordable for you by trying to arrange engagements in the same area to cut travel costs.
If you are interested, send me the contact form with your budget and I'll see what I can do.
Tom McKee
Volunteer Power
Workshop Content
SECTION I: THE NEW VOLUNTEER CULTURE
The 21st century volunteer culture is very different because of seismic shifts that have changed volunteer management. These shifts have impacted the volunteer organization; therefore how we recruit and manage the new breed of volunteer is a whole new game. The seismic shifts include the following:
- Generations - Gen Y and retiring boomers-the new frontier of volunteers
- Technology - The addition of the virtual volunteer to the face-to-face volunteer.
- Empowerment - The knowledge worker demands to be led- not managed
The Two Leadership Factors: Guidance and Trust
- Guidance - How much hands-on direction do I give?
- Trust - How much confidence do I have that I can depend on the volunteer?
-
Stage I - Awaken the Passion - The Pre-Volunteer - (Low Trust-Low Guidance)
- The three levels of motivation
- The deadly sins of recruiting volunteers
- The dating process of recruiting
- The "big idea" method of presenting your passion
-
Stage II - Channel the Passion -- The Passionate Beginner (Low Trust - High Guidance)
- Communicate expectations five ways
- Train
-
Stage III - Manage the Passion -- The Talented but often Fragile Veteran (High Trust, High Guidance)
- Affirm the passionate who are the core of your volunteer team (recognize and reward)
-
Awaken the passion of the veteran volunteer
- Reframe
- Refresh
- Re-assign
- Re-train
- Or - if all else fails--Retire
-
Stage IV - Empower the Passion -- The Empowered Volunteer (High Trust, Low Guidance)
- Delegation vs. empowerment
- How to empower the volunteer without dropping the ball
Tom's Books:
The New Breed and/or They Don't Play My Music Anymore
IN STOCK! CLICK HERE FOR MORE
ABOUT THIS BOOK AND TO GET A COPY
(FREE U.S. SHIPPING!)
Here's a glimpse of the Table of Contents:
Introduction: The Common Predicament
Where It All Begins
SECTION ONE: THE VOLUNTEER RECRUITER
Chapter 1: Who Is the New Breed of Volunteer?
A Profile of the 21st Century Volunteer
Chapter 2: Recruiting the New Breed of Volunteers
The "Courting" Relationship
Chapter 3: Finding the New Breed of Volunteers (Not Scaring Them Away)
The Seven Deadly Sins of Recruiting Volunteers
Chapter 4: Tapping into Two New Breeds of Volunteers
Retiring "Boomers" and "Generation @"
SECTION TWO: THE VOLUNTEER MANAGER
Chapter 5: Motivating the New Breed of Volunteers
Discover Three Levels of Motivation
Chapter 6: Empowering Volunteers to Do It Their Way
Move from Delegation to Empowerment
Chapter 7: Managing the Virtual Volunteer
Virtual Volunteers and Using Technology
Chapter 8: Managing High Maintenance Volunteers
Performance Coaching the Volunteer from Hell
SECTION THREE: THE VOLUNTEER LEADER
Chapter 9: Leading the Successful Volunteer Organization
Mobilize the Collective Power of Volunteers
Chapter 10: A Leadership Case Study
A Fable of How to Do It Right
SECTION FOUR: RESOURCES
- Sample Position Charter
- Sample Project Charter
- Interview Guide for Hiring a Paid "Volunteer Manager"
- Sample Questionnaire for Virtual Volunteers
- Sample Board Code of Conduct
- Strategic Planning Retreat - Agenda of Questions
- SWOT Analysis Form
- Ice-Breakers and Openers
- Team Building Activities
- Sample Training Exercise-A Case Study:
THIS BOOK AND TO GET A COPY
Plan Your Future
When the World
Keeps Changing
Get Tom's Inspiring Book
THEY DON'T PLAY
MY MUSIC ANYMORE!
As we try to navigate the 21st Century in this increasingly fast-paced and technology-driven world, many people are drowning in our culture of unremitting change. In the innovative book, They Don't Play My Music Anymore, Thomas McKee presents a creative approach to facing personal and professional change. He offers eight essential principles that can help you gain the confidence to face an unknown future. Using these techniques, you will develop a new thinking frame by which to approach your future with hope and confidence as you learn to embrace change instead of merely reacting to it.
Tom's Eight Principles
Will Help You Gain the Confidence
To Face an Unknown Future
"In a world where change seems to be happening faster than the five miles every second the Space Shuttle travels, They Don't Play My Music Anymore offers a practical, common sense approach to not only surviving this frenetic pace of change, but building and growing from it. Incorporating Tom's methodology as I chose to make a change in my profession has helped me map out and launch into new adventures in many ways as exciting as the three space missions I flew. I very highly recommend applying these principles!"
Rick Searfoss, NASA Astronaut
and Space Shuttle Commander
and Space Shuttle Commander
Hear Tom McKee Live:
Listen to an MP3 of a ten-minute sample keynote presentation by Tom McKee, The Power of Volunteer Passion
Keynote Speaker is Just
Okay?...
You Do!
You can count on Thomas McKee for any size group. He has spoken to over one half million people in Europe, Africa
and the United States over the past 35 years and has worked with some of America's top corporations, organizations
and associations.
(More info about Tom here)For more articles by Thomas McKee, visit the Articles section on our website.
Subscribe: If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you'd like to receive your own personal
issue each month, please subscribe to receive
free tips on how to recruit, manage and motivate volunteers.
You're receiving this recurring mailing because you either directly subscribed to the list, signed up on our website, or emailed a request to be subscribed. Volunteer Power respects your privacy: We won't rent, sell, or share your email address with any company, organization, or individual.
Please recommend this e-mail newsletter or Ezine to anyone who is interested in volunteer management. Thank you for reading this month's issue of Volunteer Power News!
You're receiving this recurring mailing because you either directly subscribed to the list, signed up on our website, or emailed a request to be subscribed. Volunteer Power respects your privacy: We won't rent, sell, or share your email address with any company, organization, or individual.
Please recommend this e-mail newsletter or Ezine to anyone who is interested in volunteer management. Thank you for reading this month's issue of Volunteer Power News!
© 2012 Volunteer Power