April of 2020 will go down in history for the Coronavirus Pandemic its unprecedented effects on global society. The world-wide shared experience aspect of this whole ordeal is one of the things that gives me a sense of hope in the face of mass unemployment, illness, and death. Personally, I vacillate between despair and hopefulness … Continue reading The Shifting Sands of Spring, 2020
Author: jswofford
Examining Interview Questions
In the volunteer program in the institution in which I work every new volunteer begins their interactions with us with a brief phone interview. The phone call precedes the application and most other formal contact between the new candidate and the volunteer management team. There are a few reasons to do this. First, it gives … Continue reading Examining Interview Questions
Juggling, Plate Spinning, and Keeping Your Head
Sometimes I like to joke that the profession of volunteer management is like juggling or the old Vaudeville act of plate spinning. You've seen plate spinning, right? If you are not familiar with this stage act just Google the term and you can see all kinds of performances of people keeping a number of dinner … Continue reading Juggling, Plate Spinning, and Keeping Your Head
All Willing Hands?
Hello, welcome to my new blog, All Willing Hands. This is a space where I will muse poetic about volunteers, the concept of volunteerism, and my thoughts on the work of managing volunteers. My name is J and I work as a volunteer administrator at a science museum in the beautiful town of Portland, Oregon. … Continue reading All Willing Hands?
All Willing Hands 