No "buy-in" for your volunteer program?

In some organizations getting the staff or board of directors to fully support the volunteer program can be a daunting task.  Not everyone sees the value in engaging volunteers effectively... which only makes a volunteer manager's job more difficult!

One of VIP's areas of focus is just this - providing each of our partner organizations with the tools and support they need to understand just what volunteers can do for their clients and the organization as a whole.  We even measure this!  If you're a VIP Fellow or work at a partner site, you may have noticed that one of our standards is that each "organization has a vision of what volunteers can do for the organization and the people it serves."

Last month's Hot Topic from Energize! Inc has some fantastic tips on making an effective case to bring to anyone in your organization who doesn't "buy in" to the volunteer program.

How have you proven the worth of the volunteer program to those involved at your organization?  Any tips to share?  Comment and let everyone know!

Ever wonder who volunteers?

Check out this great infographic put together by the Corporation for National and Community Service:

Showcase your volunteer experience on LinkedIn

Good afternoon, VIP program!  There's some exciting new news about LinkedIn, the social networking site for professionals.

LinkedIn built itself on its platform that allows participants to showcase their education and work experience in a way that is suitable for interaction in the professional world.  The latest addition to the site includes the ability to add volunteer experience and causes to your profile.

If you are or were an AmeriCorps member, this is a great opportunity to showcase your year of service in the professional realm.  Many employers are looking for people who are passionate and committed - and what better way to show that than through your dedicated AmeriCorps term of service?

Serving your community or country, whether it is through AmeriCorps or anywhere else, is something to be proud of - so go ahead, display it on your profile!

Great video on nonprofits!

In VIP, many of our Partner Sites are nonprofit organizations, so many of our AmeriCorps members spend their 1700 hours getting to know their organization in great detail.  But have you thought about the impact of nonprofits in the US as a whole?

Check out this interesting video with a great list of statistics on US nonprofits - anything in  this video surprise you?

The year's off to a great start at Cal Poly SLO!

by VIP Leader Tyler Parthemer

August has meant the beginning of my second term as an AmeriCorps VIP Lead. The first week consisted of three days at my new agency, the City of San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Department, and two days of AmeriCorps orientation.  The first three days at my agency were fantastic—I was able to meet a very enthusiastic staff, plan and prepare for the first day of school, introduce myself to school administrators, and meet a group of fifteen amazing young teenagers eager to be a part of our SLO Teens after school program.

The two days of AmeriCorps orientation were also great.  We have a wonderful corps of twenty-seven members all ready and excited to serve and make a difference in our community.  We had the opportunity to learn a little about everyone, write a goal-setting letter to ourselves for the end of the service term, and bond over some great team-building activities.  Despite everyone having just met, we were all able to come together and begin to form professional and personal bonds.  It was an incredible start to a second service term and I look forward to the ten months ahead.