If I Get Hit by a Truss

by Michele Ober

While I was a middle school math teacher for only a few years, two principles have recently proven useful – develop your own “If I Get Hit by a Bus” book and “don’t reinvent the wheel.”

As a teacher I’d hear horror stories of new teachers reporting to school, being handed keys to the classroom and an attendance sheet, and struggling to get through their first weeks of school. During one of my many professional development days, I heard about the “If I Get Hit by a Bus” book, the guide to running your classroom from school policies and procedures to lesson plans to grading to classroom management. Regardless of any certification earned, a new teacher would indeed find a book like this helpful to get through the basics of the first few years of teaching while developing their own personal style.

When I came upon the volunteer management scene, I was certainly a novice. I had no professional training but had worked with the previous volunteer coordinator as a volunteer and knew of a few of her responsibilities. Some were written down, others not; none of which was in one central location. Over the past two years, I have learned, on my own, the various functions of volunteer management and have been trained in many others.

In 2009, I attended a 4-day Volunteer Management for the 21st Century course which incorporated the Competencies for Managers of Volunteers (Anne Schink and Larry Ullian, instructors). In this class session, I realized how important it is to organize a toolkit with best examples for the recruitment, training, retention, scheduling, evaluation, and recognition of volunteers.

While I now have a working binder which holds those examples I like best and I have a CD filled with best practices thanks to Anne and Larry, writing my “If I Get Hit by a Truss” book is still in the works. And I know I don’t have to reinvent the wheel!

While serving in AmeriCorps, I received a workbook “Developing and Managing Volunteers”, February 2006, one in FEMA’s professional development series. VolunteerMaine.org boasts a healthy resource center including the “Need to Know Basics” and the Competencies. At a recent VAMM conference, I was introduced to Jill Friedman Fixler and Sandie Eichberg’s philosophy and practice of collaborative volunteer engagement, redefining any organization’s relationship with volunteers. I also have affiliate examples available through Habitat International’s support center.

With so many resources, I feel confident by the end of the year my book will be complete or at least in working order. I look forward to increased productivity and comfort in my profession. I will also feel better knowing that the next volunteer coordinator will be better prepared when s/he is given keys to this office.

Michele Ober is the Volunteer Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity / 7 Rivers Maine. She is a guest blogger.