Have you at any time considered the number of hours you have donated in service to MTNA? Active membership in this organization.

Have you at any time considered the number of hours you have donated in service to MTNA? Active membership in this organization, which functions primarily by the agency of volunteer efforts, means you probably have given many hours and contributed in a wide variety of ways: serving in succession a board, planning an circumstance judging, speaking, monitoring, even cookie baking!

The United States is a nation of givers. Americans donate their time and currency to a multitude of causes and charities. The average individual donates 42 hours by means of week and gives because they believe they owe something to their communities. Robert K Goodwin, president and CEO of the 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."

nevertheless in spite of our history of service, volunteerism is a growing issue for organizations similar as MTNA. The majority of Americans find themselves living in insecure financial times that require brace incomes. As mothers have joined the workforce, the traditional offer 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 forward a dollar value to their time and ask, "What is in this for me?" and they don't vault 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 work. likewise while most Americans are willing to offer and are volunteering for specific causes, they have earnestly less time and want to use it where they behold the greatest benefits.

This profile can be discouraging to an organization in ne of many willing hands, unless once we understand why our old-fashioned methods may not work in today's world, we will be able to devise recently made known solutions that will allow our organization to continue to flourish. If you are in a position where you ne family power, consider the following tips for attracting and retaining worthy volunteers:

Think "outside the box" The organization itself must appeal to those asked to offer by being efficient and well organized, it may be time to reorganize the infrastructure and redefine and streamline responsibilities.

Up the "cause ratio." Before anyone will join forces with you, they have to view the value in it and realize their participation will make a difference.

Articulate a "vision." Broadcast in each way available, a vision or intention and a clear set of objectives and plans for achieving those goals. Eliminate any busy work or duplication of services. Find the easiest and greatest in quantity efficient way to accomplish the goal.

Give clear instructions. Simplify technical information, on the other hand give enough "insider" information to help offers realize they belong to a team. Give them adequate resources and cutting-edge information that will help them in their proffer experience and other parts of their lives as well.

Find the right individual for the job. Let them know wherefore you want them specifically and for what reason they will make a difference.

present "episodic volunteering," where projects have a defined duration. Be careful not to ask them to eat an elephant. plane one bite at a time, an elephant is still an elephant. Give assignments that are reasonable to each volunteer's abilities and time restraints. If necessary, increase the work force or downsize the assignment.

Delegate; don't dictate or micromanage. Give guidelines and goals, and then give them the creative license to do the work at jobs using their own knowledge and abilities.

Motivate at pointing out the personal rewards they will receive, of the like kind as recognition for their efforts, association with colleagues, understanding of satisfaction in their work, increased skills and likewise on.

Give continual verbal and public acknowledgement. Do not take any act of service for granted; notice and appreciate it.

Although we live in an age of uncertain prosperity and changing values, volunteerism is not dead. There are many willing tribe who desire to contribute to important causes and organizations like ours. With this information and with creative thinking, we can find recent techniques that will strengthen our profession and our organization.

2004 MTNA National interview Sessions

On Tuesday, March 30 9:15-10:15 A.M., Geri Cheney will at hand "The Power of People: Our offer Forces." The session will discuss the importance of volunteerism to the succes of organizations of the like kind as MTNA. The changing paradigm of volunteerism also will be discussed during the session.

The Local Associations Forum meeting will be held Monday, March 29 9:15-10:15 A.M.

This is the inferior of a two-part series. The first part of this series appeared in the December/January 2003/2004 AMT.

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

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