volunteerplaintalk

Category: volunteer management podcast

  • Volunteer Plain Talk special episode, a chat with Rob Jackson about the virus crisis

    In this special episode of Volunteer Plain Talk Podcast, (recorded Monday March 23) Rob Jackson of Rob Jackson Consulting Ltd. located in the UK, and Meridian chat about coping, challenges and opportunities in uncertain times. Rob offers his thoughts and advice including: (also available on Stitcher, Apple, Spotify)

    • “There’s a moment here,” for thought leadership
    • Connecting and venting vs. isolation
    • Readying our profession for what’s next
    • Miss Piggy’s quote
    • The abundance of information volunteer managers will have to share
    • Harnessing the community spirit and is this like an alien invasion movie?
    • Finding comfort
    • The good that can come from tough times
    • Resources-we are not alone

    You can connect with Rob by emailing him at rob@robjacksonconsulting.com or by visiting his website: Please sign up for Rob’s blog, it’s essential reading: http://www.robjacksonconsulting.com/ He is also available on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robjackson74/ and on twitter at https://twitter.com/RobJConsulting

    Resource-rich websites for Leaders of Volunteers:

    If I missed any resources, please let me know so I can include them and please subscribe to these websites as they are rich in all sorts of resources for volunteer managers.

    Huge thank you to Rob Jackson for jumping on this podcast at short notice. You are amazing, knowledgeable, infectiously funny, dedicated and forward-thinking. Sometimes, I just have to think, “What would Rob do?” 🙂

    Be safe, be well, stay connected.

    -Meridian

  • Volunteering and Gen Alpha, Mental Health, Recruitment and Happiness: Podcast Ep 3

    Volunteering and Gen Alpha, Mental Health, Recruitment and Happiness: Podcast Ep 3

    Volunteer Plain Talk Podcast episode 3 features an interview with Dr. Jesse Bolinger, author of the new book, “Calling All Volunteers which is based on his research into volunteer motivations and needs.” We discuss modern volunteer recruitment, the Happiness project, how generation Alpha will eventually change volunteering, why millennials are being compared to the WWII generation and how mental health, work and education are tools to get to know our volunteers.

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/605416/episodes/2120331-episode-3-interview-with-dr-jesse-bolinger

    Dr. Bolinger can be contacted at his facebook page or at his linkedin page and is in the process of creating a project that encourages changes to volunteer management through conversations with organizational leadership.

    Thanks for listening.

    -Meridian.

  • Volunteer Plain Talk Episode 1

    Volunteer Plain Talk Episode 1


    Welcome to the Volunteer Plain Talk podcast! In this first episode, Mark W. Smith, CVA discusses working with challenging volunteers, professional credentialing, innovative ways to show volunteer value, roles for retired volunteers and why we need to “eat the frog” on Monday morning. A big thank you to Mark for your wisdom!

    Volunteer Plain Talk podcast on Buzzsprout.

    VolunteerPlainTalk podcast on Stitcher

    VolunteerPlainTalk podcast on Spotify

    Would love it if you would consider subscribing. As new outlets are added, I will include the links. Currently, the podcast is live on Buzzsprout, Spotify and Stitcher. Apple and Google Podcasts are in the works. Please let me know what you think, what you would like to hear discussed, etc. If you would like to be a guest, I’d love to hear from you. The contact form can be found in the above menu.

    Let’s talk more with about our profession and reach out to one another. I hope you get something helpful from the podcast. If nothing else, know that you are not alone in your challenges and hopes for the future.

    -Meridian

  • Volunteer Plain Talk Podcast

    Volunteer Plain Talk Podcast

    Volunteer Plain Talk, the podcast is coming! I’m crazy excited because the new Volunteer Plain Talk podcast will launch next Wednesday, September 25th (barring any unforeseen barriers–yep, we leaders of volunteers are always prepared for the unexpected). It’s in the final stages of production right now. I think podcasting is a perfect medium for discussing all things volunteer management and I hope you think so too. The first episode features an interview with awesome Mark. W. Smith, the Volunteer Resources Manager at Project Angel Heart in Denver Colorado (and a huge thank you to Mark; he is not only funny, but full of heart and wisdom too).

    Mark is a volunteer engagement professional with over 15 years of experience and has worked with volunteers in arts and culture, senior services, and nutrition. Currently, Mark serves on the executive committee and as a board member for AL!VE, (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement) and is in his seventh year as the Volunteer Resources Manager at Project Angel Heart, a nutrition organization that prepares and delivers nutritious meals to individuals living with a life threatening illness in the Denver metro area. In 2018, Mark was chosen as a keynote speaker and session presenter for the Colorado Conference on Volunteerism. In 2016, Mark received his Certified Volunteer Administration (CVA) certification and completed the Points of Light Foundation’s Volunteer Management Training Series (VMTS) course. Mark served nine years on the Denver DOVIA (now DOVIA Colorado) board of directors, three years on the Colorado Conference on Volunteerism steering committee, and three years on the National Philanthropy Day in Colorado steering committee.

    Some highlights from our interview include:

    • hey, that volunteer left her post!
    • what rungs on the ladder do volunteer managers work from?
    • eating the frog on Monday.
    • everyday burnout.
    • advancing the profession.

    Next week I’ll publish the places to find the podcast and I hope you’ll consider subscribing. Please listen in as Mark and I celebrate volunteers, volunteer programs and all of you out there who are great leaders of volunteers.

    -Meridian