The recent allegations of lewd conduct by a Saddleback Church youth leader is yet another example of how child abuse in America is an issue of concern.
Stories about child abuse of minors seems to be a regular topic on the evening news with one disturbing allegation after another.
Churches are no exception to these accusations and should take steps to create a safe place for their children and youth. Read the Full Article →
Many churches rely heavily on volunteer labor because they don’t have the resources to pay staff for all of the work that needs to be done.
Effective management of this valuable labor force is critical to an organization’s ability to fulfill its mission.
Churches need to have systems and processes in place to oversee and manage volunteers to ensure two things: 1. Read the Full Article →
Effective volunteer management involves good communication and coordination of job duties.
Like employees, it is important for volunteers to have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and given the training and tools to perform job tasks.
A well-run volunteer program will include a streamlined process to recruit, place and train volunteers in a role that best matches their personality, interests and skill-set. Read the Full Article →
I recently had a manicure and pedicure by a delightful woman.
We will call her Rachel to protect her anonymity.
When Rachel learned what I did for a living she shared an interesting story with me.
Rachel tearfully shared that she had been fired as a children’s ministry volunteer because of a picture that she was tagged in that was posted on Facebook. Read the Full Article →
Church volunteers are the labor engine of a church and without them most churches would not be able to support the services they provide.
Volunteers donate thousands of hours each year to sustain the functions of the church and need to be managed well to ensure continued loyalty.
Volunteer oversight requires flexibility, patience and creativity in planning and scheduling.
Managing church volunteers can be challenging because they are volunteers – free labor! Read the Full Article →
What would the church do without volunteers! They provide free labor that churches depend on.
The secret to recruiting and retaining great volunteers, is to keep them engaged.
Volunteer engagement requires a strategy that is based on the organizations’ ability to make them feel like what they do adds value, helps fulfill the mission and that they make a difference.
Organizations that do a good job of engaging their volunteers find that the volunteers are excited about what they do and give more than is asked of them. Read the Full Article →
Training and developing people is one of the most important responsibilities managers have, and training volunteers is no different.
It is the organization’s responsibility to make sure volunteers have the tools and training to carry out required tasks confidently.
These training experiences are what separates great organizations from the rest.
Training is the foundation for creating a culture of quality – something all organizations should strive for. Read the Full Article →
The volunteer application process is an important part of the volunteer experience because it speaks to the credibility of the organization.
An efficient process keeps the application information organized and makes volunteers feel confident about getting involved.
There are many pieces to the application process and each step should be part of an overall process that prepares for the next step. Read the Full Article →
Interviewing is an important part of the volunteer application process and is an integral part of volunteer screening.
A personal interview is one of the best ways to get to know an applicant and can help to ensure that the volunteer is matched to the best job for their skill set, interests and personality.
Another advantage of interviewing volunteer candidates is that it helps the organization get to know the volunteer. Read the Full Article →
Planning events to thank and show appreciation to volunteers can be fun and rewarding.
The trick is to be organized in the planning and strategic in the delivery.
Whether you are planning a training event, an appreciation dinner, new volunteer orientation or a volunteer recruitment fair – the planning model should be the same and include the same basic elements.
