Last week someone mentioned a website in Canada
(www.charity.ca) that accepts donations for
non-profits.  Below are a couple of sites that accept
donations for non-profits in the United States:

http://www.helping.org/ (this organization is also
non-profit, so 100% of the contribution goes directly
to the specified charity).

and

http://www.4charity.com (I'm not real familiar with
this one).

Ada Takacs, Volunteer Coordinator
MI Dept of Natural Resources, Forest Mgt Division
adoptaforest@...



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

I'm am trying to locate a good sample of an evaluation form filled out by
the volunteer. This would survey them on their volunteer experience, what
they learned and their overall contact with staff. I've tried searching some
of the material on cybervpm, but can't seem to locate exactly what I need.
Does anyone have something they can share?

Claudia Collier
The Volunteer Center of the YMCA
929 N. 4th St.
Mankato, MN 56001
507-345-8888
volunteer@...
Fax: 507-345-8707

Hi, everyone! I need your opinions on an issue that has come up recently.
I am especially interested in hearing from those of you who work in zoos,
aquariums, museums, parks, or other public facilities that interact with a
public audience in some way.

Our facility is changing the uniform for all staff and volunteers. In the
past, each department had its own color shirt (green for animal staff,
burgundy for education, etc.), and with this old policy, the volunteers had
their own color - teal.  However, a recent debate has been sparked with
this new uniform policy regarding volunteer uniforms.

One camp wants to have all staff and volunteers in the same shirt, with no
distinction made between staff, adult volunteers, or youth volunteers.  We
would all be in the exact same "putty" colored uniform shirt.  The reason
behind this idea is that it would do away with departmental factions, and
we  would present a unified and professional front to the general public.

The second camp believes the public would be better served if the staff and
volunteers were made distinct from each other with different colored
shirts. Also, this group feels that because there are different levels of
responsibility, authority, and empowerment between staff and volunteers,
there needs to be a clear distinction between the two.

The "higher-ups" are meeting today to discuss these issues, and people are
sharply divided on this issue.  If you have an opinion abouth this, or have
experienced this in the past and have some insight, please respond.  This
uniform policy will be  going into effect as of Jan. 1, so the decisions
about it are being made ASAP.

Thanks for all of your insight and advice.  It's nice to know you guys are
out there!

Tricia LeBlanc
Volunteer Coordinator
Audubon Zoological Garden
New Orleans, LA

Babette McKay wrote:
looking for evaluation forms used by the Supervisor of Volunteers to
rate/evaluate volunteer task/assignment performance. I need to get the staff on
board with good evaluation practices. I think ease of use in a form/process will
return a better response, but I am open to suggestion.
An example of what I get now: Rating (Poor); Comments (Attitude Sucks).



Babette:  I suggest that you have the supervisor review the evaluation form
with the volunteer (have the volunteer sign it, also) before returning it to
your office. This takes the responsibility for dealing with performance
problems off of you and places it on the volunteer's supervisor (where it
belongs). It also provides a formal way for the supervisor to address
performance issues which may not be major but could use improvement. If an
evaluation form comes in to you without the volunteer's signature it should
be returned to the supervisor for completion.

Lynn A. Doll, Director
Foster Grandparent Program
Western Carolina Center
Morganton, North Carolina
Lynn.Doll@...

Hi Tricia! I support the first camp. At Exploration Place, both the unpaid
and paid staff all wear the same uniform. It is important to us that
visitors know we are all here to serve them and we want them to feel
comfortable asking any of us for help. We do, however, have the word
"volunteer" on the nametags of volunteers to promote the program and to
allow the employees to distinguish between paid and unpaid staff.

Our security assistants wear a different shirt that says "SECURITY"
prominently on the back. As well, our technical services department (exhibit
repair) wear a different shirt as their jobs require them to focus on
exhibits rather than visitors though they are helpful and friendly with
everyone. Everyone else wears the same visible uniform and nametag.

I would recommend a unified look for your entire staff. I think it better
serves the visitors of your facility and also helps to reduce the "I'm paid
more than you are" attitude among paid staff. It's certainly worked well for
Exploration Place!

Good luck!

Krista

Krista Rapp
Manager of Volunteer Services, Exploration Place
300 N. McLean Blvd. Wichita, KS 67203
316-266-4270 - fax: 263-4545
"Kmrapp@..."

"'Volunteer' is not a job title, it's a pay rate." - Susan Ellis




> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tricia LeBlanc [SMTP:tseiler@...]
> Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 9:33 AM
> To: cybervpm@egroups.com
> Subject: [CyberVPM] Re: Volunteer Uniforms
>
> Hi, everyone! I need your opinions on an issue that has come up recently.
> I am especially interested in hearing from those of you who work in zoos,
> aquariums, museums, parks, or other public facilities that interact with a
> public audience in some way.
>
> Our facility is changing the uniform for all staff and volunteers. In the
> past, each department had its own color shirt (green for animal staff,
> burgundy for education, etc.), and with this old policy, the volunteers
> had
> their own color - teal.  However, a recent debate has been sparked with
> this new uniform policy regarding volunteer uniforms.
>
> One camp wants to have all staff and volunteers in the same shirt, with no
> distinction made between staff, adult volunteers, or youth volunteers.  We
> would all be in the exact same "putty" colored uniform shirt.  The reason
> behind this idea is that it would do away with departmental factions, and
> we  would present a unified and professional front to the general public.
>
> The second camp believes the public would be better served if the staff
> and
> volunteers were made distinct from each other with different colored
> shirts. Also, this group feels that because there are different levels of
> responsibility, authority, and empowerment between staff and volunteers,
> there needs to be a clear distinction between the two.
>
> The "higher-ups" are meeting today to discuss these issues, and people are
> sharply divided on this issue.  If you have an opinion abouth this, or
> have
> experienced this in the past and have some insight, please respond.  This
> uniform policy will be  going into effect as of Jan. 1, so the decisions
> about it are being made ASAP.
>
> Thanks for all of your insight and advice.  It's nice to know you guys are
> out there!
>
> Tricia LeBlanc
> Volunteer Coordinator
> Audubon Zoological Garden
> New Orleans, LA
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
> CyberVPM On Line Discussion for Volunteer Program Managers
>
> To post message: cybervpm@egroups.com
> To unsubscribe:  cybervpm-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> Vacation:        cybervpm-nomail@egroups.com
>
> Other useful addresses at: http://www.egroups.com/group/cybervpm
>
> This is a MODERATED list.  All courteous requests handled promptly and
> cheerfully.
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hi Tricia:

I used to sit on the Board of Directors for a large zoo, and the same question
came up with us.  We chose to survey our volunteers to find out what their
feelings were.

85% of our volunteers (approximately 750 total) wanted to have a separate color
from that of the staff.

The reasons that we were given were very similar to those that your post states.
There are indeed "responsibility" differences between the staff and the
volunteers.  Our volunteers wanted to ensure that our patrons understood that
there were differences.

At the same time, many of our "old-timers (long-time volunteers, not age)"
wanted to be recognized as volunteers.  It was almost as though it was a status
symbol for them.

So, from my history, I suggest you keep the different color shirts for staff and
volunteer.  Or...survey your volunteers for their input.

Sincerely,

Lance

Lawrence W. Hood, Jr.
Volunteer Development Coordinator
MADD National Office
469-420-4583 or
800-438-6233, ext. 4583
hood@...
www.madd.org

For volunteer opportunities,
give me call at the number listed above.

I posted a few days ago...but haven't gotten a response, so
I'll try again:

How long do I have to keep applications on file once
someone stops volunteering for our hospital?  I need to
know the legal requirement.

How long do I have to keep an application on file for
someone who decided not to volunteer altogether?

Your help is much appreciated.

-Rebecca Randel
Volunteer Coordinator
----------------------------------------
Rebecca Randel
Email: Rebecca.Randel@...
"NYU Medical Center"

My opinion:
1) For legal purposes, I think volunteers should appear
differently to the public.  In the case of an emergency, it
is better for a person from the public to reach out to
staff for assistance, rather than to a volunteer...no
matter how well you think you train your volunteers.  In
our hospital's Physical Therapy Dept., volunteers must wear
special uniforms to distinguish themselves from staff, so
that if a patient starts to hobble over to someone, they
know NOT to ask a volunteer for support for standing, or if
they are about to fall.  A volunteer in this hospital is
not covered under insurance for aiding patients in such a
way...so we make sure patients don't seek out volunteers
for those purposes.  So, volunteers need to look different,
especially on our medical floors.
2) Your 'higher-ups' and the public will see the impact of
volunteers, and understand how integral they are in your
organization, if they are wearing distinguishable dress or
accessories (i.e., an ID badge..that's what our volunteers
wear).  When volunteers start looking like everyone else,
it takes away your department's visibility & achievements
in some way...especially to your board of directors & other
'big wigs' who don't talk to your department much, but
who are often on the property where your programs take
place & see things going on.

There are more reasons, but to me those are the most
important.

Does that help?

-Rebecca Randel
Volunteer Coordinator
----------------------------------------
Rebecca Randel
Email: Rebecca.Randel@...
"NYU Medical Center"

response to:
Rebecca Randel
How long do I have to keep applications on file once
>someone stops volunteering for our hospital?  >
>How long do I have to keep an application on file for
>someone who decided not to volunteer altogether?

Contact your human resources department for their policy.  Each state has
different standards, but do comply with federal labor laws.  Treat
volunteers like you would a paid staff person.  If your organization keeps
employee records for 3 years, you should keep your records that long.  Some
go with 7 years just like financial records.  Some organizations will only
keep employee applications on file for 6 months and then shred.  But use the
same standards as your human resources dept and then you comply with your
organization's policies and procedures.

Pat Pashak
Volunteer Resource Center at the United Way of Bay County
PO Box 602
909 Washington Avenue
Bay City, Michigan 48707-0602
email: volunteer_baycounty@...
voice: 517-893-6060
fax:   517-893-6073

"The Power of One. It takes only a single idea, a single action to move the
world." ~~Unknown

________________________________________________________________________________\
_____
Get more from the Web.  FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

Rebecca,

I do not have a complete answer and I suspect that there are regional and
organizational differences.  Here in Jefferson County, we have a person who's
job is archiving documents.  We work with him to have all official documents on
an archiving schedule where upon after a certain period they are destroyed. This
is based in part on policy and in part on the Colorado Revised Statues.

Our County Archivist is Duncan McCollum and he can be reached at 303-271-8446.

Unfortunately, I did not learn of this until about a year ago and I have yet to
put any documents on a archiving schedule.  However, I think this is another way
of establishing the volunteer program as "legitimate"

Have you contacted you HR department to see what the rule is for employee
applications?

Our Records Disposition schedule says 2 years + Current, after termination of
employee, provided that all documentation has been forwarded to the HR Dept.


Michael Lee Stills
Volunteer Services Coordinator
Jefferson County Open Space
700 Jefferson County Parkway: STE 100
Golden,  CO 80401

Phone: 303-271-5922 (Public Line)
Phone: 303-271-5971 (Private Line)
FAX:     303-271-5997
E-mail:   MStills@...

>>> Rebecca.Randel@... Friday, December 1, 2000 >>>
I posted a few days ago...but haven't gotten a response, so
I'll try again:

How long do I have to keep applications on file once
someone stops volunteering for our hospital?  I need to
know the legal requirement.

How long do I have to keep an application on file for
someone who decided not to volunteer altogether?

Your help is much appreciated.

-Rebecca Randel
Volunteer Coordinator
----------------------------------------
Rebecca Randel
Email: Rebecca.Randel@...
"NYU Medical Center"



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CyberVPM On Line Discussion for Volunteer Program Managers

To post message: cybervpm@egroups.com
To unsubscribe:  cybervpm-unsubscribe@egroups.com
Vacation:        cybervpm-nomail@egroups.com

Other useful addresses at: http://www.egroups.com/group/cybervpm

This is a MODERATED list.  All courteous requests handled promptly and
cheerfully.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Rebecca-
When I worked in a hospital, we could send our records in documents storage
boxes with the human resources files to our storage facility.  Maybe your
human resources does the same thing to keep paper down to a minimum in their
office.

Pat Pashak
Volunteer Resource Center at the United Way of Bay County
PO Box 602
909 Washington Avenue
Bay City, Michigan 48707-0602
email: volunteer_baycounty@...
voice: 517-893-6060
fax:   517-893-6073

"The Power of One. It takes only a single idea, a single action to move the
world." ~~Unknown

________________________________________________________________________________\
_____
Get more from the Web.  FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

At the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, we are legally required to keep
all volunteer service records for seven years, once a volunteer has left
our service.   This covers the seven year period in which a volunteer could
choose to  bring legal action against an organization for a variety of
reasons, i.e injury etc.

Deborah Young
Volunteer Coordinator
Doon Heritage Crossroads

email: ydeborah@...
Phone: (519) 748-1914 ex 223
Fax: (519) 748-0009

rebecca-

i'm not sure there are legal requirements in this area. you may want to check
how long your personnel dept. keeps records on employees who have left and use
that as your standard for volunteers who leave.

if someone decided not to participate, unless they think they will in the near
future, you may not need to keep that application at all. you may want to keep
those you screen out as inappropriate in case they reapply.

mashi blech
member to member
brooklyn, ny

response to:
>>> Rebecca.Randel@... 12/01 1:05 PM >>>

CyberVPM Discussion Group Rules and Regs

We at CyberVPM  welcome diversity of opinion in discussions on the list and,
within the limits of professional discussion, have a strict "Censor the reading,
not the writing" policy.   We moderate this list but will not censor posts or
their senders so long as the posts are courteous and relevant to the subject
matter with which the list is concerned. If you find a particular member's posts
objectionable, consider simply ignoring him/her. If a person's posts violate any
of the following rules, contact the listowner. The listowner reserves the right
to unsubscribe any member not adhering to the following rules. We will make
every effort to resolve the problem first, but it will be the responsibility of
the offending subscriber to change the character of his/her posts.  The remedy
where this is not satisfied may include preventing the offending member from
resubscribing.

Pay special attention to #'s 6, 10 and 11, the most commonly ignored rules!

Please read the Terms of Service after these rules.

1. CyberVPM is designed to be used for discussion of any issue clearly related
to the professional management of volunteer resources. Please keep posts on
topic.

2. Please do not crosspost messages onto other lists without first gaining the
permission of all authors quoted in the post.

3. Do not repost messages from other sources unless they are clearly related to
the purpose of CyberVPM.

4. Under no circumstances send viruses, web worms, virus alerts, spams, chain
letters or other bulk e-mail postings to CyberVPM or any member of CyberVPM.

5. Please respect other members of CyberVPM and keep your messages to the list
or to individual members courteous and constructive. That includes the
listowner.  If you are having trouble with another CyberVPM member, please
contact the listowner. Please also respect members' privacy.

6. Please keep quoting of text from posts to which you are replying to the
minimum amount to clarify your comments., Do not quote messages in their
entirety.

7. Posts advertising products or services clearly related to volunteer
management are encouraged as a means to share resources.

8. Please do not send list commands to the list itself. Send these to
listserv@... or see http://www.cybervpm.com/cybervpm.htm.

9. Please clear all virus alerts, calls for help by individuals not personally
known to you (like the boy in England who wanted postcards) and other unverified
requests or alerts to the listowner. Most of these are either outdated or indeed
hoaxes.

10. Please put at least your name, e-mail address and location on every post. 
This is very helpful to other subscribers.  It would be nice if you gave the
name of your organization, too.

11. In general, it is better to send all responses to other subscribers' posts
to the list so everyone can see them.  Sending them directly to the person is
rather like passing notes at a meeting instead of sharing your thoughts with
everyone.  On the other hand, it's rather impolite to send purely personal
messages to the list.  Messages like, "Thanks, Skippy!" or "Me, too!" are
trivial examples.  More annoying  is when someone offers to fax something to
anyone who wants it and others start posting their fax numbers to get a copy. 
Use your best judgment.

13.  Harrassment or use of the listserv to encourage others to harrass any
indifidual or group, slander/libel or use of the listserv for any illegal
purposes is grounfs for immediate dismissal from the list and possible legal
action.

Terms of Service

By subscribing to and remaining subscribed to the CyberVPM mailing list, the
subscriber agrees to the following:

1.  To hold the CyberVPM mailing list, listmaster, CyberVPM.com web site,
webmaster and agents harmless from any and all claims or liability resulting
from participation in the mailing list or web site.

2.  Information or opinions posted to the CyberVPM list is that of the
originating author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the
listmaster, or CyberVPM.com. The listmaster makes or implies no warranty as to
the accuracy or truthfulness of information appearing on the CyberVPM list.
Reference to specific products or services on the list do not imply endorsement
or guarantee by CyberVPM or the listmaster.

3.  The subscriber will not use the CyberVPM mailing list or web site to conduct
illegal activities. This includes, but is not limited to, theft or transfer of
illegally obtained or copied software, illegal harassment, or use or copying of
copyrighted or trademarked material.

4.  To follow the CyberVPM rules regarding posting and conduct stated above.

Violation of any of these terms of service will result in the removal of the
subscriber from the CyberVPM list.

Thank you for your thoughtful attention.

  Cordially,

Nan Hawthorne           hawthorne@...
CyberVPM.com
Shoreline, Washington State, USA
206-418-9980

Office hours: 1 PM - 6 PM Pacific Time Monday-Friday

Award-winning resource site for volunteer programs
http://www.cybervpm.com

Hello,

I'm gearing up for our annual Volunteer Holiday Party and the launch of
IYV and I was considering giving the volunteers IYV ribbons but I
couldn't remember what the outcome of the ongoing ribbon debate was. A
VPM from Australia was kind enough to send me a package containing an
orange and blue ribbon but I don't know if this is official. Anyone have
any ideas?

My other question pertains to online training. Do any of you use web
tutorials or online training for your volunteers? Could you send me some
web addresses if you do? Our organization is considering using online
tutorials to supplement our face to face training.

Thanks,

Tori Allen
Volunteer Coordinator
Stanley Park Ecology Society
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
604.718.6522
spes@...

Some one asked about IVY ribbons.  I would like to share and idea I plan on
implementing and extend an invitation to anyone interested to join me.
I will be sending 3 blue (hopefully dark blue--but I have not purchased them
yet) ribbons to all of our volunteers.  They will be asked to wear one
through out the entire year.  They will be asked to pass the other to out to
individuals who do not volunteer, but they believe will benefit from
volunteering ( does not have to be in my organization).  It is a spin on the
pay it forward idea.  I will also instruct the volunteers to take their time
and not give them out randomly, but to consider the ribbon a valuable
treasure to be shared.  Again, this is my idea and anyone who wishes to
share in it with me is welcomed.  I plan to get the ribbons out before the
new year.  I am even thinking about giving one ribbon to our city council.

Gail Doswell, Coordinator of Volunteers
City of Fairfield, CA
Phone (707) 428-7589
FAX 707.428.7437
gdoswell@...

Hi Gail,

I emailed about the ribbons - may I ask why you chose dark blue??

Thanks,
Tori

"DOSWELL, GAIL R" wrote:

I would like to share and idea I plan on
> implementing and extend an invitation to anyone interested to join me.

edited for overquoting - moderator pp

Gail Doswell wrote:Re: IYV ribbons...  I would like to share and idea I
plan on implementing and extend an invitation to anyone interested to join me.
I will be sending 3 blue ribbons to all of our volunteers.  They will be
asked to wear one through out the entire year.  They will be asked to pass the
other to out to individuals who do not volunteer, but they believe will benefit
from volunteering.

This is a very cool idea, Gail!  I have been sending monthly e-mail
"countdown" messages ("only three more months until International Year of
the Volunteer...") to all management staff in my hospital, asking them for
anecdotes and stories about the volunteers with whom they work.  I have
gotten back some wonderful stories which I am compiling into a booklet for
our celebration next year.

Maybe I will send a ribbon to every person who sends me a story.

Sandy Duncan, DVS
Cabell Huntington Hospital
Huntington, WV
sduncan@...

Rebecca,

I am not sure what your state requires, but consider on other piece of
information.  A large portion of our volunteers hours are used for an
In-Kind donation for our grants.  Therefore, I believe it becomes a
financial record as well.  We keep ours based on IRS standards.

Lynda Miller
Operation Care
Program Manager
lynda@...

I called my HR department - they had NO IDEA what standards
held for the volunteer dept., and told me I should ask
other Volunteer Coordinators. They said they aren't sure
that I have to abide by the same standards as HR.

I know I can't abide by allthe standards of HR anyway...I
think they keep some files on record for 10 years.  I have
no more filing room, so that is not possible for me, unless
they want to buy storage space.

-Rebecca
----------------------------------------
Rebecca Randel
Email: Rebecca.Randel@...
"NYU Medical Center"

I like your idea as well.  How about, you use my idea and I will use your
idea!!

-----Original Message-----
From: Sandy Duncan [mailto:sduncan@...]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 12:07 PM
To: 'cybervpm@egroups.com'
Subject: RE: [CyberVPM] Ribbons


Gail Doswell wrote:Re: IYV ribbons...  I would like to share and idea I
plan on implementing and extend an invitation to anyone interested to join
me.
I will be sending 3 blue ribbons to all of our volunteers.  They will be
asked to wear one through out the entire year.  They will be asked to pass
the other to out to individuals who do not volunteer, but they believe will
benefit from volunteering.

This is a very cool idea, Gail!  I have been sending monthly e-mail
"countdown" messages ("only three more months until International Year of
the Volunteer...") to all management staff in my hospital, asking them for
anecdotes and stories about the volunteers with whom they work.  I have
gotten back some wonderful stories which I am compiling into a booklet for
our celebration next year.

Maybe I will send a ribbon to every person who sends me a story.

Sandy Duncan, DVS
Cabell Huntington Hospital
Huntington, WV
sduncan@...



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CyberVPM On Line Discussion for Volunteer Program Managers

To post message: cybervpm@egroups.com
To unsubscribe:  cybervpm-unsubscribe@egroups.com
Vacation:        cybervpm-nomail@egroups.com

Other useful addresses at: http://www.egroups.com/group/cybervpm

This is a MODERATED list.  All courteous requests handled promptly and
cheerfully.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

because it is my favorite color, no other reason.

-----Original Message-----
From: Stanley Park Ecology Society [mailto:spes@...]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 11:49 AM
To: cybervpm@egroups.com
Subject: [CyberVPM] Ribbons-edited for overquoting


Hi Gail,

I emailed about the ribbons - may I ask why you chose dark blue??

Thanks,
Tori

"DOSWELL, GAIL R" wrote:

I would like to share and idea I plan on
> implementing and extend an invitation to anyone interested to join me.

edited for overquoting - moderator pp


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CyberVPM On Line Discussion for Volunteer Program Managers

To post message: cybervpm@egroups.com
To unsubscribe:  cybervpm-unsubscribe@egroups.com
Vacation:        cybervpm-nomail@egroups.com

Other useful addresses at: http://www.egroups.com/group/cybervpm

This is a MODERATED list.  All courteous requests handled promptly and
cheerfully.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Greetings colleagues
keeping you informed re
the ribbon debate.
I can tell you that Australia,
England, and the United Nations team
have officially taken up with
the orange and blue ribbons.
We hope to make this a united global
theme so that in time the twin ribbons
can be struck in fine coloured metal and worn
as pins and sold at supermarkets and
wherever your usual pins are sold.
We are launching these ribbons through
our local, state and National parliamentarians
and organisations this 5 December and
everyone will be encouraged to wear them
for every IYV event together with every
IVolunteers Day 5 December.
Cheers
Michelle Jokic
manager@...
www.geelongvolunteer.org.au
www.govolunteer.com.au

(Note: museum setting) We have the same color (bright red) for volunteers and
regular floor staff and any other staff that help out on the floor during rush
days, but the staff wear red shirts while the volunteers wear red vests.

People seem comfortable with that, given that in emergency situations, only "red
shirts" have any responsibility to our visitors (injury, fire, etc.).

cybervpm@egroups.com wrote:

> Our facility is changing the uniform for all staff and volunteers. In the
> past, each department had its own color shirt (green for animal staff,
> burgundy for education, etc.), and with this old policy, the volunteers had
> their own color - teal.  However, a recent debate has been sparked with
> this new uniform policy regarding volunteer uniforms.

--
*** Visit a science museum today, and let your imagination take flight!  ***
Mary Eileen Wood, Volunteer Coordinator
MOST, 500 South Franklin Street, Syracuse NY 13202
315/425-9068 x2155  fax 315/468-8681

>  I'm gearing up for our annual Volunteer Holiday Party and the launch of
>  IYV and I was considering giving the volunteers IYV ribbons but I
>  couldn't remember what the outcome of the ongoing ribbon debate was. A
>  VPM from Australia was kind enough to send me a package containing an
>  orange and blue ribbon but I don't know if this is official. Anyone have
>  any ideas?

>  Tori Allen
>  Volunteer Coordinator
>  Stanley Park Ecology Society
>  Vancouver, British Columbia
>  Canada

Colleagues,

The United States National Committee for IYV is composed of Points of Light
and Jr. League International and supported by Disney/ABC Inc. The soon
to-be-updated website is: <A HREF="http://www.iyv2001us.org/">
http://www.iyv2001us.org/</A>

US IYV National Committee representatives are:
Jr. League International
Clotilde Dedecker
6846 East Quaker, 11th Floor
Orchard Park, NY 14127
cpbd84@...

Points of Light Foundation
Pam Warwick
1400 Eye Street NW
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
pwarwick@...

US IYV representatives have been chosen for their expert guidance and support
for the project within the United States. You may wish to contact them.

Rustie Brooke
Founder, Project Facilitator, NYC/IYV

New York City Celebrates The International Year
of Volunteers 2001

We would like to remind you of this upcoming event.

Intl Volunteer Manager Appreciation Day

Date: Tuesday, December 5, 2000
Time: All Day

2nd Annual International Volunteer Manager Appreciation Day
http://www.nonprofitspace.org/vpm-day/

>From: "Tricia LeBlanc" <tseiler@...>
>Subject: Re: Volunteer Uniforms

>One camp wants to have all staff and volunteers in the same shirt, with no
>distinction made between staff, adult volunteers, or youth volunteers.

The  POLF's "Changing the Paradigm"  lists several principles, that when in
place, point to effective volunteer involvement.

One of these principles is "There is a conscious effort to reduce the
boundaries and increase the teamwork between paid and volunteer staff."

Having different uniforms for paid staff and volunteer staff can be defined
as a boundary.  The most effective organizations strive to eliminate
arbitrary distinctions between staff and volunteers.  Instead of paid staff
and volunteers it is "us" fulfilling our mission and meeting the needs of our
clients.

Regarding the issue of needing the distinctions to identify
job-appropriateness actions and behavior.  If volunteers (and paid staff for
that matter) are approached with questions or issues which are not app
ropriate for them to take on, simply train them to identify these and say,
"Let me find someone who can best assist you."

Regards,

-George

Georgean C. Johnson-Coffey, M.Ed.
Nonprofit Management and Volunteer Involvement Consulting
PO Box 15118
Fort Wayne IN 46885-5118 USA
PH: 219-485-9081
FX: 219-485-5847
E-mail: georgeanjc@...

Jump off cliffs and build your wings on the way down.  - Ray Bradbury

At the risk of prompting another huge discussion
regarding the pro's and con's of a volunteer ribbon,
its colour etc. I wish to share with you what we are
doing in England.

We are adopting an Australian idea for volunteer
ribbons.

You get a dark blue and an orange ribbon (IYV colours)
and cut them to about 12cm in length.

Next, tie the ribbons together at one end.  Fix a
small safety pin through just below the knot.  This
produces a colourful ribbon with a unique twist
(pardon the pun) on others because of the knot.




=====
Rob Jackson
Volunteer Development Officer (Regional Fundraising)
Royal National Institute for the Blind

t - 020 7391 2383  f - 020 7388 7483  m - 0794 121 9226
e - rjackson@... or robjackson74@...
w - http://robjackson.moonfruit.com/

____________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.co.uk address at http://mail.yahoo.co.uk
or your free @yahoo.ie address at http://mail.yahoo.ie

Thank you all so much for your insightful advice and opinions!  The word
came down Friday afternoon that all volunteers and staff will wear
identical shirts. There will be a distinction made on the nametags, with
volunteers having the word "volunteer" on their nametags.  There will be no
distinction made betweeen our adult and our youth volunteers, who range in
age from 11 - 17.

I do  have a confession to make.  While I did try to sound impartial in my
original posting, I was a member of the second camp.  I felt that it was
important to have an obvious distinction between staff and volunteers for
the sake of the volunteers and the visitors.  But, I didn't make that clear
because I wanted to know what you all thought about the issue.  After
reading all your postings, I have to say that I was persuaded to look at
the issue in a new light, and I am beginning to see the advantages to this
new policy.  Thanks for opening my eyes!

Tricia LeBlanc
Audubon Zoological Garden
New Orleans, LA

Claudia -

I just created a 1 page, 10 question survey with my Volunteer Committee. I
would be glad to share it with you! I believe I would need to put it in the
mail as attachments are not to be used in this forum - is that OK?

Cordially,

Ginger Murphy
Volunteer Coordinator
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
101 South Bryn Mawr Ave., Ste. 110
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 527-2222

> >
> I'm am trying to locate a good sample of an evaluation form filled out by
> the volunteer. This would survey them on their volunteer experience, what
> they learned and their overall contact with staff.

(Edited for overquoting, TS - Moderator)