Suggested Reads and Resources for Volunteer Managers

Each week I scan through dozens of interesting blog posts and newsletters for content relevant to volunteer management.  There is a lot of new and innovative thinking out there on volunteer management and I’d like to take some time each week to share with you the resources and articles that I find most relevant or compelling.  So here’s my first round of suggested reads and resources:

I recently came across a new resource available to volunteer managers:

OurSharedResources.org is a new service for those who work in the field of supporting and managing volunteers.  And it’s free!  Via OurSharedResources.Org, anyone can share resources with other volunteer managers.

I frequently visit the following websites and subscribe to their respective newsletters- each is jam-packed full with resources and the latest thinking on volunteer management:

EnergizeInc.org- IMHO, this website is the most comprehensive and thorough resource available for volunteer managers.  You can access podcasts from Susan Ellis, learn about and sign up for Everyone Ready- an online training for individuals, organizations and corporations to learn about volunteer management, scan through the volumes of free articles and resources available in the Resource Library.  You can also subscribe to e-Volunteerism-the Electronic Journal of the Volunteer Community (this is not a free subscription, but is in well worth the subscription rate)!

People First – Total Solutions E-Newsletter: For a more international perspective on Volunteer Management (not surprisingly, issues and challenges faced by volunteer managers internationally are not that different).  Martin Cowling is the primary contributor to this e-newsletter.  Martin came through Seattle in September to deliver a Recession Proofing training for local volunteer managers.  He was great.  His newsletter is great too!  And it was People First that alerted me to the OurSharedResources.org .  Check out People First at http://www.pfts.com.au/

Volunteer Power News: Tom McKee’s Volunteer Power E-zine.  In the November Issue #79, Tom addresses an issue volunteer managers know so well: How to Lead from the Middle of an Organization When You Have Little or No Control. To subscribe Volunteer Power News visit http://www.volunteerpower.com/subscribe/

VolunteerToday.com- The Online Gazette for Volunteerism. VolunteerToday.com’s mission: to provide free of charge information on the engagement of volunteers through (1) pertinent information on recruiting and engaging volunteers; (2) information and promotion on professional development opportunities for those who work to engage volunteers. You can subscribe to VT News for monthly notifications of the most recent Volunteer Today Issue.  Subscribe at http://www.volunteertoday.com/

What are you reading?  What online resources do you find most helpful as a volunteer manager?