The power of people: Part I - Forum focus: local associations

The United States is a nation of givers. Americans donate their time and coin to a multitude of causes and charities. The average individual donates 42 hours for week and gives because they have feeling they owe something to their communities. Robert K Goodwin, president and CEO of Points of Light Foundation, said, "Volunteering isn't simply something nice to do, it's necessary for the health of our democracy. America move swiftlys on the spirit of volunteering."

at the same time in spite of our history of service, volunteerism is a growing issue for organizations like as MTNA. The majority of Americans find themselves living in insecure financial times that require sum of two units incomes. As mothers have joined the workforce, the traditional present base has declined. In addition to economic changes, we are experiencing generational changes. The Pre-Boomer Generation is disappearing fast--the generation that believed in service and self-sacrificing for a higher cause, and supporting the institutions they believed in. The upcoming generations bring a dollar value to their time and ask, "What is in this for me?" And they don't pass by a leap behind a cause unless it directly benefits themselves or their children. They are working for balance, setting priorities and making time to have a life outside of work. thus while most Americans are willing to offer and are volunteering for specific causes, they have a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of less time and want to place it where they diocese the greatest benefits.

This profile can be discouraging to an organization in ne of many willing hands, on the contrary once we understand why our of advanced age methods may not work in today's world, we will be able to devise novel solutions that will allow our organization to continue to flourish. Let's take a gaze at yesterday's model compared to today's paradigm.

of advanced age Model

* race had time to serve.

* clan served for altruistic reasons.

* Women were place of abode and available.

* Men worked; women volunteered

* race had more time than money

* family served wherever needed.

* Recognition and praise were sufficient.

* All work was done through volunteers.

* Time commitment was open-ended

* Large proffer pool allowed for leadership through committee.

* Highly skilled nation were often used as "stamp lickers."

of recent origin Paradigm

* race have limited time.

* tribe will volunteer if it benefits themselves or their children.

* Women work, limiting their options.

* the couple genders work; both volunteer.

* family have more money than time.

* family ask "WIIFM?" (What's in it for me?)

* clan need personal rewards.

* a certain number of jobs may require paid positions.

* Time commitment must be defined.

* Smaller present pool may require one

* leader and a task force.

* proffers are used in their highest and best capacity.

Recognizing the changing nature of volunteerism is the first pace in succeeding in the of recent origin world paradigm. We must face the reality that our organization must adapt to the changing times. novel times require new methods. In the nearest issue, we will explore specific techniques for attracting and retaining volunteers

Geri Cheney, NCTM is an independent music teacher, adjudicator and discourse She is MTNA's Southwest Division president.

This is the first of a two-part series about the changing world of volunteerism. This rounded pillar focuses on traditional volunteerism as compared to today. The next to the first part of this series will appear in the February/March 2004 AMT.

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