Category Archives: Professionalizing the Field
Meeting Agendas: Parts and Pieces
by Jane Haskell If I walk into a meeting and there is no agenda, I shudder. All sorts of assumptions fly into my mind about the upcoming meeting’s effectiveness or efficiency. Most of these assumptions are negative because I am … Continue reading
Posted in Facilitation, Professional Development, Professionalizing the Field
Tagged agendas, meetings
Leave a comment
Powerful Positions Descriptions Make a Difference
by Lori Tsuruda At first glance, a position description seem like a dry, bureaucratic exercise, assigning vague responsibilities ending with “Other tasks as needed,” but position descriptions are actually among the most powerful, clarifying tools that an organization can create. … Continue reading
Professional Associations
By Trudy Hamilton Maine is certainly a geographically diverse state. For many reasons we’ve not developed the network of AVA’s and DOVIA’s that other states have. We are blessed, however, by the fine example Karen Stephenson has set for the … Continue reading
3 Organizational Communication Trainings that Can Add Value; Part II: Newswriting
By Sarah Ryan, Ph.D. I’ve now offered tips for meeting and interviewing trainings. This month, the topic is newswriting. While print newspapers are dying out, news is proliferating. Successful organizations now produce pithy news content for Twitter, multi-media substance for … Continue reading
Supporting Youth Leadership
By Matt Robinson Let’s hear it for the staff and organizers of Maine Youth Action Network’s (MYAN) 27th Annual Peer Conference. I had the privilege of attending their conference this year on Veterans’ Day at the Augusta Civic Center. If … Continue reading
Middle Management
By Penny Kern A recent visit to energizeinc.com started me thinking about how many organizations have a “middle management” system. One organization I belonged who had a very strong volunteer middle management system but, over the years, I have seen … Continue reading
3 Organizational Communication Trainings that Can Add Value; Part II: Research Interviewing
By Sarah Ryan, Ph.D. Last time, I made a case for the value of Organizational Communication training for effective meetings. This month, the topic is interviewing. In my current line of work, this is the most important training I do. … Continue reading
Are You a Manger of Volunteers with 8 + Years of Experience? WE NEED YOUR HELP!
By Elizabeth Cole The Maine Commission for Community Service is gearing up for the 2010 Leadership Institute for highly experienced managers of volunteers (8 + years) and we want your input on this year’s theme. The Leadership Institute is a … Continue reading
What is a Pro Bono Volunteer?
By Anne B. Schink Managers of volunteers are busy people, especially today with tight budgets and increased pressure to bring on new volunteers. In most nonprofit organizations, serving on the Board is a leadership role; consultants provide short term expertise; … Continue reading
Re-energize with Professional Development
By Rochelle Runge With the opening of registration for the Blaine House Conference on Volunteerism it got me thinking about professional development in our field. It can be so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day that we forget … Continue reading
