ASAE & The Center's new vodcast
Catch ASAE & The Center's new vodcast: This Week in Associations.
This is the first of three segments on The Decision to Volunteer, a new study and book to be released at this Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Diego. This segment features study coauthor Beth Gazley, who highlights some of the interesting findings from the study, which gathered responses from 26,000 people.
The next two segments will feature the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Association of Secondary School Principals, two organization who participated in the study.
One of the main points Gazley makes is that many in associations may think that a primary reason that people volunteer for their professional association is for career advancement through networking, resume building, and the like. It turns out, the desire to give back to the profession is a stronger motivating factor. I'm curious how association execs feel about that information (agree or disagree?) and what it might mean to the types of volunteering assignments being developed. I'd love to hear any ideas, or any feedback on the content or the format from Acronym readers. Let us know what you think!
[Note: Posting updated to replace video player with link.]
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Comments
I have to wonder about the motivation point. I wonder if there is a difference between people who decide to volunteer for the first time, versus people who have been volunteering for awhile. I'd also wonder whether life stage affects that answer. Hopefully I'll find out when I read the book.
Posted by: Lindy Dreyer | June 23, 2008 6:46 PM
I really like this use of video, especially the short length. And the decision to use multiple short videos instead of just putting every concept into one long video. Looking forward to seeing what the research shows as I know what my personal and professional experience/perception are related to when and how volunteers participate.
Posted by: Cindy | June 25, 2008 10:36 AM
Thank you Cindy and Lindy -- appreciate your comments.
Lindy - interesting that the next segment, which features Peter O'Neil from the American Industrial Hygiene Association, talks a little about life stage of the volunteers. Of course, what Peter has to say is an interesting take, but it doesn't substitute for reading the study.
Posted by: Scott Briscoe | June 25, 2008 3:51 PM
Excellent clip - thanks. As one of the team from the Component Relations Section Council that reviewed the data and helped on the book I as very excited to see us talking and sharing the findings.
My take on the reason for volunteering is right on -- I do know that my members what to see some personal benefit but I also know that if we don't deliver an opportunity that makes a difference to the "greater good" these volunteers don't hang around. Also, have you noticed that those who are first and foremost looking for the personal gain tend to be in many ways not our best volunteers and too often ones that turn others away.
And interesting question that Lindy's posts because I believe that we're seeing the reason someone starts and the reason they continue are different ... hmmm sounds familiar from the Decision to Join....
A bunch of us are going to lead from informal conversations on the DTV study at Annual -- looking forward to it.
Posted by: Peggy Hoffman | June 27, 2008 4:34 PM