In this episode, Mark and Meridian discuss staff buy-in, advice for new volunteer managers, working with challenging volunteers, burnout, credentialing and volunteers with dementia. Mark offers an innovative way to show volunteer value and a great way to transform retiring volunteers into organization advocates. 

Episode 1: Interview with Mark W. Smith, CVA

Designed for today's leaders of volunteers, Volunteer Plain Talk's Meridian Swift discusses trends and best practices in volunteer engagement and impact. Guests, who come from all sectors and all parts of the world, share innovative ideas and tips for engaging today's volunteers and defining volunteer impact.

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In the conclusion to part 1, Wes, who began his new job as manager of volunteer services in December 2019 and as the new head of volunteer services, had to almost immediately send volunteers, ones he didn't get to know well, home. In part 2 of this interview, Wes chats about his experiences, including:Difficult conversationsThe hardest thing he's had to do as a volunteer manager. (and it's not what you might expect)Rounding on volunteers, building that relationshipDiversity and InclusionExample of intergenerational successThat "third place" where volunteers are free to bond with one anotherAfter the past two years, where is volunteerism headed?Technology-what can it do for us?Clear desk, clear mindWhat Wes would love to see "in a perfect world"What volunteer managers really wantWhy we need each otherAre our problems so different from one another's?Wes' bio:
I was born and grew up in the panhandle of Florida, just north of some of the most beautiful beaches in world. My first job at local radio station found me while in high school. (Believe me, as a shy kid, radio was the last thing I expected to work in!). After 13 years, I transitioned into my first volunteer leadership position at a small hospital on Florida's gulf coast. It was there my love for this field truly took off. I moved into nonprofit multi-state event volunteerism for a short while before finding my current position with a large health system covering Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Here, I manage the volunteer programs for four hospitals, including the system's flagship medical center and only children's hospital. The job didn't start out the way I planned, with the COVID-19 pandemic beginning shortly after. Nevertheless, it has been an experience full of possibilities and new and exciting challenges to overcome. I like to consider myself a "helper to the helpers," serving those who give so selflessly of their time and energy to move our mission forward. I can't wait to see what lies ahead for volunteerism, not just in my small corner of the world, but for all of us who are fortunate enough to call this field home. If you have any questions or would just like to connect, my email is rwesrichardson@gmail.com. 



Episode 22: Part 2: An Interview with Wes Richardson, Manager of Volunteer Services

Wes began his new job as manager of volunteer services in December 2019 and as the new head of volunteer services, had to almost immediately send volunteers, ones he didn't get to know well, home. In part 1 of this interview, Wes chats about his experiences, including:That initial shock.The suspension and not knowing what would ultimately happen.How do you introduce yourself and say, "Hi, BTW, stay home."Nurturing the personalities you've not gotten to know yet.Am I the bad guy?Involve the volunteers in everything you can, like training.Make volunteers feel like they're still here.How a former career may have helped-what skills transferred over.A forced rebuild.New protocols.Eliminate roles or find adjacent roles.Change management.Volunteers "aging out."The challenging conversations-sandwich anyone?Wes' bio:
I was born and grew up in the panhandle of Florida, just north of some of the most beautiful beaches in world. My first job at local radio station found me while in high school. (Believe me, as a shy kid, radio was the last thing I expected to work in!). After 13 years, I transitioned into my first volunteer leadership position at a small hospital on Florida's gulf coast. It was there my love for this field truly took off. I moved into nonprofit multi-state event volunteerism for a short while before finding my current position with a large health system covering Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Here, I manage the volunteer programs for four hospitals, including the system's flagship medical center and only children's hospital. The job didn't start out the way I planned, with the COVID-19 pandemic beginning shortly after. Nevertheless, it has been an experience full of possibilities and new and exciting challenges to overcome. I like to consider myself a "helper to the helpers," serving those who give so selflessly of their time and energy to move our mission forward. I can't wait to see what lies ahead for volunteerism, not just in my small corner of the world, but for all of us who are fortunate enough to call this field home. If you have any questions or would just like to connect, my email is rwesrichardson@gmail.com. 


Episode 21: A New Job and Covid hits: An Interview with Wes Richardson, Manager of Volunteer Services Part 1

In this second part of my conversation with Laura Rundell, we chat about:Inspirational volunteers who support people knowing they cannot change circumstances.Volunteer appreciation-do we need a luncheon or even a week? Where should our focus be?Evolving volunteer recognition.Team nomination vs. volunteer of the year.No one, including staff gets there on their own.Person of the year? What's the point?Volunteer voice of descent-why we should listen.Grumpy volunteers-just grumpy, or do they have something to teach us?When introducing change, get those grumpy volunteers on board first.Standing up for volunteers.Recognizing we are a profession.The nonprofit smoke alarm.Respect for volunteer program means respect for ourselves.Turnover due to poor culture.Dare we talk salary?Work/Life balance-yes, we must have one.Laura Rundell has been in the field of Volunteer Engagement for over 20 years, working at organizations of varied sizes and missions. She has worked at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA; LifeBridge Community Services in Bridgeport, CT, and currently works for the Friends Program in Concord, NH. She received her CVA in 2013, has led workshops on performance reviews for volunteers, and written guest blogs for 20 Hats and Volunteerplaintalk. She received her BA in political science from Earlham College and her MA in History from Northeastern University. You can find Laura at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-rundell-960a13b6/

Episode 20: Catching Up with Laura Rundell a Year Later Part 2

Laura Rundell and I chatted last year about resilience in episode 15. In this episode, Laura and I get back together and chat about today's volunteering landscape. What has changed? What is the same? Laura discusses:

Are volunteers returning?Change means an uptick in needsPaid staff are scarcePre-pandemic models vs. post pandemic modelsWhere does the program go moving forward?Navigating a shifting landscapeGetting volunteer buy-in upfrontMaking volunteer roles definableWhat is sustainable-can we do everything?Changing roles to fit today's realityChampioning a new normalRisk management and ethicsCommunication to prevent the volunteer churn

Laura Rundell has been in the field of Volunteer Engagement for over 20 years, working at organizations of varied sizes and missions. She has worked at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA; LifeBridge Community Services in Bridgeport, CT, and currently works for the Friends Program in Concord, NH. She received her CVA in 2013, has led workshops on performance reviews for volunteers, and written guest blogs for 20 Hats and Volunteerplaintalk. She received her BA in political science from Earlham College and her MA in History from Northeastern University. You can find Laura at Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-rundell-960a13b6/

Episode 19: Laura Rundell, One Year Later, Part 1

In part 2, Paul Falkowski, PHD discusses his vision for designating volunteers as essential workers. He touches on:The workloads of nursing home activity directorsHow family members are pushing to be designated essentialThe toll isolation takes on nursing home residents and the surprising statistics Risk vs. gainTraining for essential volunteersVolunteer creativityQuirky interview questions that reveal characterIs reimbursement an answer?How creating individualized volunteer help can increase quality of lifeUniversal volunteer trainingThe need for volunteer managers to mobilizeTo 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/

Episode 1: Interview with Mark W. Smith, CVA

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