We saw this today and thought that our readers should weigh in. Do we cheapen volunteer engagement as an organizational best practice if we call it a courageous or bold act. What do you think. We would love you to weigh in on this controversial post.  Using Volunteers a "Courageous" or Bold Act? Oh Please!

A few months ago, we posted about the 2011 Volunteering In America report published by the Corporation for National & Community Service. The report contains a great deal of information - all very useful and applicable to the work of volunteer engagement across our country. One of the major areas of discussion following the yearly release of the volunteer engagement data is always the volunteering numbers. And, for 2010, the volunteering rate went down (slightly...

In just a few days, all across America, people will pause and remember the tragic events that occurred ten years ago on September 11, 2001. People will share stories of where they were on that fateful day, remember those who were lost, and mentally scan through those images that are indelibly printed in our minds. And then, more than one million Americans will roll up their sleeves and volunteer, serving their neighbors, communities, and others in need in tribute to those who perished on that day.

As we all know, volunteer engagement does not happen on an island… instead, it is a part of a larger organization and is integrally related to many facets of nonprofit management. This is why we are so pleased to announce our latest publication, You and Your Nonprofit: Practical Advice and Tips from the CharityChannel Professional Community. Beth Steinhorn and I are among 43 contributing authors who were invited to share our expertise on topics ranging from governance, fundraising, and administration to marketing, planning, and – in our case – volunteer engagement.

This past week, the Corporation for National & Community Service released its “Volunteering In America” report and data, summarizing some of the top volunteerism trends for 2009. We, along with many, have been eagerly awaiting this report both to see if our observations in communities across the country bear out nationally and to set our strategic compasses for the coming year in order to leverage these trends for the benefit of our client organizations.

One of the benefits of travelling the continent for conferences, consultations, and workshops is that I get to meet so many dedicated professionals, passionately engaging volunteers to help make the world a better place. Just last month, I was at the National Council on Aging conference in Chicago and met Jenni Frumer, who is one of those dedicated and passionate professionals. Jenni is Associate Executive Director of the Alpert Jewish Family & Children’s Service in West Palm Beach, Florida and she is doing some impressive and innovative work with volunteers and older adults.