volunteerplaintalk

Tag: volunteer management podcast

  • VPT podcast: Volunteers as Essential Workers, Part 2, an Interview with Dr. Paul Falkowski, PHD

    Volunteers as essential workers? Dr. Paul Falkowski, PHD lays out his vision for designating volunteers as essential workers. Think about this-volunteer firefighters run into burning buildings, save lives, yet we place risk above benefits when thinking about adults who are suffering from the effects of social isolation.

    In part 2, Paul Falkowski, PHD touches on:

    • The workloads of nursing home activity directors
    • How family members are pushing to be designated essential
    • The toll isolation takes on nursing home residents and the surprising statistics 
    • Risk vs. gain
    • Training for essential volunteers
    • Volunteer creativity
    • Quirky interview questions that reveal character
    • Is reimbursement an answer?
    • How creating individualized volunteer help can increase quality of life
    • Universal volunteer training
    • The need for volunteer managers to mobilize

    To connect with Paul and his efforts, please reach him at:

    Website: https://voluncheerleader.com/
    Email: paul@voluncheerleader.com
    Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/voluncheerleader
    Twitter:     @paulfalkowski1
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voluncheerleader
    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-p-falkowski-ph-d-2b15512/

    Listen on Buzzsprout here

    Listen on Spotify

    Listen on iHeart Radio

    Listen on Apple Podcasts

    Listen on Stitcher

    Listen on Google Podcasts

    Thank you Paul, for sharing your vision with us, and for your efforts to elevate volunteers and volunteer impact. And remember, “a Klingon does not run away from his battles.”

    -Meridian

  • VPT podcast espisode 17: Volunteers as Essential Workers, Part 1, the Beginning, an Interview with Dr. Paul Falkowski, PHD

    Volunteers as essential workers? In part one of a two part interview, Dr. Paul Falkowski discusses how he began his journey to designate volunteers as essential workers. Paul shares how he became a champion for volunteers in nursing homes through a nonprofit he built from the ground up. Paul discusses the importance of team, volunteer education and training, skin in the game, and navigating volunteer management challenges. In the next episode, he discusses his ambitious plan to designate volunteers as essential workers

    Listen on Buzzsprout here

    Listen on Spotify

    Listen on iHeart Radio

    Listen on Apple Podcasts

    Listen on Stitcher

    Listen on Google Podcasts

    Dr. Paul Falkowski is dedicated to serving the people who live and work in long-term care communities. Paul has a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Music and a Master’s degree in Gerontology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and went on to earn a doctorate in Gerontology also from the University of Nebraska.  He was first attracted to the field of aging through his volunteering in nursing homes providing musical entertainment. In 1993, he formed a nonprofit that recruited and trained some 700 volunteers for Omaha and Lincoln nursing homes over 26 years. In 2003, he contacted the Department of Gerontology at the UNO and was encouraged to pursue a Gerontology graduate certificate.  Eighteen years later, he teaches online courses for the Department of Gerontology, conducting research and consulting with nursing homes. He recently developed the course “Volunteer Management and Aging Services” and is working on publishing a study in which he connects volunteerism in long-term care and the nursing home’s quality of care measures. Also, he authored “Creating the Volun-Cheer Force: Rethinking the way we use volunteers in nursing homes” and formed VolunCheerLeader LLC to provide support to nursing home managers of volunteers. His passion for volunteerism and improving the care of older adults is unwavering.

    VolunCheerLeader website

    Thank you, Paul for sharing your inspirational journey and vision for the future with us. And for imagining, no, working tirelessly towards a world in which volunteers are essential workers.

    Be sure to catch episode 2, in which Paul lays out his vision for elevating volunteers.

    -Meridian

  • VPT podcast episode 16: Untapped Volunteer Resources: An Interview with Summer Neiss, K Kids Student Coordinator

    Hear the podcast on buzzsprout:

    Do we assume that engaging kids 9-12 is too much effort for the return on our investment? Are we missing an untapped potential? In this episode, Summer Neiss, librarian and student coordinator for the K Kids program at Mabel Rush Elementary school shares the passions, motivations, and untapped potential of youth volunteers. Summer discusses the upsides such as attracting the kids’ parents or guardians, thinking out of the box and cultivating future volunteers. 
    Points she shares are:
    Kids are natural helpers from toddler on.
    Kids who volunteer are highly motivated.
    Just like adult volunteers, kids are sustained by impact.
    Kids are socially motivated.
    Today’s kids are aware of the world.
    Kids have big ideas and love to brainstorm.
    Summer also shares her thoughts on bettering volunteer programs for kids such as:
    Where to find organizations to partner with.
    Why conversations about volunteer partnering are necessary.
    How kids’ parents or guardians would get involved.
    How little things can make big impact.
    How community good will is involved. 
    For more information on KKids visit: Kiwanis Kids

    Listen on Spotify

    Listen on iHeart Radio

    Listen on Apple Podcasts

    Listen on Stitcher

    Listen on Google Podcasts

    A huge thank you to Summer for sharing the work she is doing with her K Kids, for enlightening me on the untapped potential these young volunteers have to offer, and for instilling a sense of community in our future citizens.

    I know I came away feeling that the future is looking pretty bright.

    -Meridian

  • VPT podcast

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    VPT podcast
    Got Resilience? Yeah, you do

  • VPT Podcast: Resilience: Laura Rundell and I chat

    What is resilience? Are some volunteers resilient and others not so much? Why?

    Are Leaders of Volunteers resilient? (You know what I think, right?)

    In this episode, volunteer engagement expert Laura Rundell shares her thoughts and experiences on a variety of resilience topics including:

    • What exactly is resilience?
    • The filled up cope-o-meter
    • Examples of resilient volunteers
    • What resilience is not
    • Volunteer motivation
    • Do we confuse volunteers not being resilient with not being heard?
    • What does individual motivation have to do with resilience?
    • What goes on in a volunteer’s life may determine resilience
    • How do leaders of volunteers advocate for themselves? Describe themselves?
    • Drawing the line as a profession
    • The ripple effect we may never see
    • Advice for new leaders of volunteers  

    Listen here on your favorite site:

    Buzzsprout here

    Spotify here

    iHeart Radio here

    Apple podcasts here

    Stitcher here

    Google podcasts here

    We, leaders of volunteers are resilient creatures. We have to be. We also have to be innovative, persistent, creative, analytical and passionate.

    Hopeful resilience is in our DNA and is helping us cope.

    Thank you Laura, for sharing your wisdom, observations and hope for us and our profession. You are truly a resilient leader!

    -Meridian

  • VPT Podcast: Where do we go from here? Brittany McGarry has some answers

    Recently, (like 2 weeks ago) I had the opportunity to chat with Brittany McGarry, a volunteer engagement specialist at the MS Society about the effects of this unprecedented year. What have we learned and where do we go from here? In this VPT episode, Brittany shares her thoughts and suggestions for:

    • Where do we go in 2021?
    • How are volunteer managers viewed?
    • How to engage volunteers quickly.
    • How forced opportunities can help us navigate the future.
    • How a simple coffee hour changed everything.
    • What volunteers really want.
    • What volunteer retention is built upon.
    • Why complicated does not mean better.
    • How to use surveys to your advantage.
    • Why we shouldn’t provide quick volunteer assignments.
    • How volunteer journey mapping takes patience.
    • How elevating volunteers means letting go (in a good way)
    • Advice to leaders of volunteers

    .Brittany McGarry is a Volunteer Engagement Specialist with the National MS Society. With a background in Higher Education and her passion for volunteering, she stumbled into nonprofit work and found the perfect niche in this field. She serves as a Board Member with DOVIA Colorado and the Event Chair for the Colorado Conference on Volunteerism. She welcomes connections, brainstorming and opportunities and can be reached at brittany.mcgarry@gmail.com. 

    Listen Here:

    Buzzsprout here

    Spotify here

    iHeart Radio here

    Apple podcasts here

    Stitcher here

    Google podcasts here

    Thank you, Brittany for your honesty, for your flexibility and willingness to learn and for sharing your experiences with us. You inspire us to dig deeper, to try new things and to look forward. I’m motivated to make 2021 a better year. Appreciate you!

    -Meridian

  • VPT Podcast: Elisa Kosarin of Twenty Hats

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/605416/episodes/5987878

    or pick one of the podcast platforms on the left; Google, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify

    iHeartRadio

    I was fortunate to chat with Elisa Kosarin, CVA, who is one of our important thought leaders in volunteer engagement. Listen in as Elisa shares her insights on:

    • strategic planning and how fun fits in
    • how volunteer managers should aspire to move up into senior management
    • achieving buy-in and the seven kinds of power
    • the future of virtual volunteering
    • how volunteer managers are embracing and adapting traditional roles to virtual
    • how new looks at virtual roles may create more inclusion and diversity
    • how doing uncomfortable things makes you grow
    • work/life balance
    • leadership, vision and creativity
    • the first step to achieving your vision

    About Elisa:

    Elisa Kosarin, CVA, helps nonprofits deliver fully on their missions by strengthening their volunteer programs. Her work is driven by the conviction that volunteers who are supported and valued have the potential to transform their communities.

    Elisa consults, coaches, and trains on volunteer management best practices.  She blogs regularly on her Twenty Hats website, exploring the skills and practices that leaders of volunteers seek to build confidence elevate their programs.
    Elisa’s blog on strategic planning at CASA: 

    Thank you Elisa for all you do for the volunteer management community and for sharing your passion and wisdom with us.

    -Meridian

  • VPT podcast episode 11: High School Students, Samantha and Sydney create Balance Boxes

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/605416/episodes/4850183

    In this episode, Samantha and Sydney talk about starting their own organization and share their insights on:

    • making volunteering social through packing parties 
    • innovative ways to procure in-kind donations
    • how to use meaningful stats verses volunteer hours
    • using social media effectively
    • the importance of testimonials
    • utilizing networking 
    • using gamification to get the word out
    • how students’ view of volunteering has drastically changed
    • how students view leadership without “adults” in charge
    • how students view social responsibility
    • why creativity is critical to engaging students and the future of volunteering

    Please see Balance Boxes for more information and to donate: https://www.freetorunfoundation.org/balanceboxes
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balanceboxesnp/

    About Samantha and Sydney:
    Samantha Feinberg started Balance Boxes when she was a Sophomore at Deerfield High School (2020). She is very passionate about Balance Boxes and helping underserved children. Samantha explained that, “Sydney and I, developed this idea when the COVID-19 outbreak began. We were looking for a way to help youth in need and we had the time to brainstorm. We believed that Balance Boxes would benefit a plethora of children, both academically and socially.” Beyond Balance Boxes Samantha is involved in, Student Congress (Domestic Bills Research Captain), Human Rights Club, Model United Nations, Teens Stand Against Trafficking (Ambassador and Founder of IL chapter), The North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic Student Board (Founding Member and Event Chair), The Holocaust Teen Executive Committee-USHMM (Secretary), The IL Holocaust Memorial Museum Teen Board, Deerfield High School’s Israel Club, DECA, JUF’s Voices, Learn2Be Mathematics Tutor, Deerfield High School Genocide Commemoration Planning Day Committee, and Voters of Tomorrow (Legislative Outreach Coordinator). Samantha stated, “I am so excited to see the direction Balance Boxes takes me and how it makes a difference in many lives.”
    Sydney Holubow started Balance Boxes when she was a Junior at Deerfield High School (2020). She decided to become a founder of Balance Boxes because she felt a strong passion for giving back to the community. and people around her. Sydney said, “I lived in Chicago when I was younger and the wage gap is very apparent. Samantha and I strongly believe in giving children equal opportunities and we feel that Balance Boxes is a great way to give underprivileged children a great start.” Sydney Holubow is very passionate about STEM and has been on the planning committee of GirlCon Chicago for two years. GirlCon is a one-day tech conference created FOR high school girls in tech BY high school girls. Sydney is also am an advocate feminist. She started a local chapter of Girl Up at her school, uniting girls to change the world. Additionally, she does many other clubs at her school. Sydney is super excited to put her energy into Balance Boxes

    Thank you Sydney and Samantha for sharing your experiences and insights with us.

    -Meridian

  • VPT Podcast Episode 9: Interview with Jaylen Christie, Super Volunteer and PR Director

    A Preview of Jaylen’s Interview

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/605416/episodes/3832022

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/volunteer-plain-talk/id1481197705

    (Apple may take a full day to list a new episode)

    https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/meridian-swift/volunteerplaintalk

    Thank you Jaylen, for your infectious positivity, your wisdom and advice and for your commitment to making our community a better place. And a special thanks to your grandmother, mom and dad for instilling the volunteer spirit in you.

    -Meridian

    Coming soon: Volunteer Plain Talk podcast on Pandora and iHeart Radio.

  • VPT podcast episode 8: Adam Janes, CVA talks change and volunteer management leadership in these times

    a bite of episode 8

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/605416/episodes/3452935

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/volunteer-plain-talk/id1481197705

    https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/meridian-swift/volunteerplaintalk

    or listen to the podcast here

    Thank you Adam for your insight and humor and for sharing your experiences with us.

    Until next time, be well, be safe.

    -Meridian