Step Up, Step Out and Lend a Hand

Last week was National Volunteer Week. I hope you had an opportunity to do something, even if it was a little something. Volunteerism seems to be gaining more media attention these days. Perhaps some of the attention is driven by President Obama's volunteer initiative, United We Serve and perhaps the onset of the Pepsi Refresh Project or American Express' Members Project or Disney's Give a Day-Get a Day program has sparked the interest. Either way, it's a good thing.

For businesses, volunteering is usually the third preference among ways to give back. The first is donating cash by writing a check, second seems to be cause marketing, and then volunteering. A volunteer program should be in your mix of giving back for several reasons. It engages your team and is a business-wide effort, it offers you the opportunity to contribute when there are cash flow down cycles, and it puts a face to your business in the community. In addition, there are great benefits to the community, your business and team by volunteering. Here are a few:

Benefits to the Community/Cause:

• New access to resources
• Low cost solution to addressing needs
• Builds better business-nonprofit partnerships

Benefits to the Business:

• Enhanced image of a caring and committed company
• Networking opportunities
• Positive effect on employees

Setting up a volunteer program doesn't have to be hard. Keep it simple and enjoy the planning process of creating a caring business, a business that conveys "Hey, this is what we are committed to helping and being a part of the solution to a social problem."

Here is an article I was interviewed for Get What You Give: getting your employees involved in volunteer programs . In this article, I gave a few tips for getting a volunteer program up and running.

Listen, there is a lot of information out there on how to set up a business volunteer program. I am all about having it foster a spirit of camaraderie and community. Your volunteer program should absolutely look and be different than another business's program. How you do it, why you do it, what you decide to serve through your time is a part of the planning process which sets you apart and creates meaningful connections.

Employee Volunteer Programs are Great for Business & Community

Volunteerism is a great way for any size business to give back and an employee volunteer program is a must for several reasons. The most important reason is it gives you and your employees a stake in the business's giving and it can improve employee morale. Even if you are a solo-entrepreneur, a volunteer program is an excellent way to build relationships in your community (even if your business is online).

An employee volunteer program doesn't have to be complex and time consuming. But, it should be leveraged against other assets for giving, which determines how you build this program. The employee volunteer program needs to also have the systems in place for it to be successful and effective. If you are thinking about establishing an employee volunteer program or if you are a solo entrepreneur and want to include time as a way to give back, here are 6 easy steps to create and employee volunteer program.

1. Align volunteer activities with the business giving mission. Volunteering should not necessarily be done on the fly or without consideration. This is key to its effectiveness and benefits for your business. Take the time to select volunteer activities that closely align with your giving mission. Choosing activities that align with your giving mission generate the greatest benefits for the business, employees and the community.

2. Develop a volunteer program structure and policies. Written and communicated policies about volunteering keep the program focused and easy to manage. It lays the groundwork for what the business will do, how you will do it, and when to recognize employees for their volunteer time. Structures and policies keeps the process fair for everyone involved.

3. Leverage volunteer activities against other assets the business has to give. You need to know how much time you can afford to give back. Time is weighed against in-kind donations, cash contributions (including matching gift programs), loaned expertise, and more. A good tip to know when the economy has taken a downturn, pump up your volunteer program over other ways you give back.

4. Communicate your volunteer efforts. Communicating your giving program generates enthusiasm within the business and goodwill within the community. The results and efforts of your volunteerism are linked to public relation and marketing efforts both internally and externally.

5. Reward engaged employees. Nothing speaks louder to employees than appreciation for what they do. Establishing a recognition program inspires others and is a great way to say 'thank you' for their contribution to the overall business giving program.

6. Measure and evaluate. You don't know how successful your volunteer program is unless you take the time to evaluate it. Yes, volunteering is all good, but you must evaluate the program as it's the only way true success can be determined. One area to measure is employee satisfaction with the program.

If you think you don't have the time to volunteer, know this for sure - you will never have enough time. Volunteering is a rich and rewarding way to give back. In the last chapter of my book, Donna Finocchiaro is a professional organizer and owner of Organized East of the River. She never thought she had enough time, but she makes the time. In her chapter, she describes the satisfaction and benefits of volunteering through her business.

Copyright © 2009. Maggie F. Keenan, Ed.D. All rights reserved.

Make A Difference Day

While October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness month, it could also be Volunteer month. Make A Difference Day is a national day of volunteerism across America. Held this year on October 24th, this national day of volunteerism is sweeping cities and mayors are stepping up to support it through city-wide volunteer efforts.

Organized by USA Weekend and HandsOn Network, Make A Difference Day is held on the fourth Sunday of October each year. There are oodles of volunteer activities in your own community organized through your local HandsOn Network. So finding something to do is not a problem. Making the time is the priority here.

You can volunteer through your business, with a group of friends or make it a family outing. Chose an activity that inspires you and I promise you will feel richly rewarded at the end of the day. The opportunity to grow your business through volunteering, expand networks and build relationships, plus make a difference for a cause and lives is a WOW thing.

If you participate in Make A Difference Day through your business, then I want to hear from you! I will gladly feature your story on this blog. You never know just how much you can inspire someone else to do the same.

You Can Give Peace of Mind for Pet Owners

In yesterday's local newspaper there was an article that grabbed me. Maybe because it had to do with pets. Cat lover here. And, it had to do with individuals under hospice care and it is everything for me to share this with you in the hopes that you may desire to help.

In Columbus, GA the local hospice has extended a new program. The staff recognized that many of their patients are also pet owners but are no longer able to either physically or financially care to the daily needs of their loving pet companions. And it is hard to grasp what a pet must know when their owner is either no longer around or is no longer able to walk, feed or bathe them; and for a pet owner to be assured their furry companions are being cared for is a comfort.

Columbus Hospice in Columbus, GA received a $5,000 grant from the Banfield Charitable Trust for a new program called, Pet Peace of Mind. The program coordinates volunteers willing to make sure that the pets of those under the care at Columbus Hospice pick up pet food and cat litter, walk, feed and perform routine pet duties for the owner, they'll take pets to get groomed and take to the vet for check-ups, shots or in case of a pet emergency. Local veterinarians are helping out with this program as well offering discounted fees and pet grooming businesses are on board donating their services.

A great program, right? You maybe asking, "What can I do to help since I don't live in Columbus, GA?" Two things for you to consider:

1). Make an outright donation directly to the Pet Peace of Mind program at Columbus Hospice.
2). Host a Cause of Cocktail party and auction items. Donate the funds to Columbus Hospice.

If your local hospice does not have a similar program, but they have a Volunteer program, you can offer to:

1). Sponsor therapy pet visit an individual in any hospice, if they cannot see their own pets.
2). Volunteer to buy and deliver dog food, cat food or litter to an individual under hospice care at their home.
3). Host a Business Network Social to raise funds or any other idea but have a goal amount in mind as it motivates people to raise money.

The idea is to get creative about giving back in a unique way for you and your business. While the above ideas are not particularly 'out of the box', it is a way to get started.

Here is a video of Moments with Baxter. While Baxter is a Pet Therapy Dog for Hospice Care, it just may move your compassion and to tears.

Moments with Baxter http://tinyurl.com/ybttwzo

Get Fit While Running & with Fido

A little something you may not know about me (because I make it a point not to blog about me, my life, etc... My life is not that interesting and besides I don't hold myself to a position that I think others would really care anyway) I am a long distance runner and have been since the age of 11. I run nearly every day, sometimes double work outs depending if I am training for a particular race. But, I am not a group runner, never have been. Just me, the miles, and an empty road (sort of). My weekly mileage has fluctuated from 40 to 75 miles a week, with once reaching 111. My pr for a 5K is 17:52; 10K is 38:39; 10 miler 64:?? and the 1/2 marathon 1:17 (way back when).

Just yesterday, while on a monthly call with a great group of women business owners, a question was asked... and I responded, "Well, I am a runner first and foremost. My days are scheduled around my runs." After the call I came across post on Run the Planet, a great online resource for runners of all levels. The article was about Get Fit with Fido. This Seattle-based program connects runners and walkers with a dog that is available for adoption. The Get Fit with Fido dog running team is recognized throughout Seattle, as they run in bright yellow running gear, with happy dogs at their sides wearing "I'm available for adoption" banners.

About the Get Fit with Fido program:

Every Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm, and Saturday morning at 9:00 am, Get Fit with Fido team members run adoptable dogs from the shelter to Myrtle Edwards Park in Seattle. The distance ranges from 2 to 4 miles depending on the physical condition of the runners and dogs. Weather is also a factor. The team does not run during thunderstorms, or when the roads are icy. The dogs wear banners indicating that they are available for adoption. Generally we have 6 to 14 runners each session.

These are the primary goals of the program:

• Vigorously exercise dogs that are confined to kennels for long periods of time
• Find loving homes for shelter dogs
• Increase public awareness of the shelter and let people know that adoptable dogs are not routinely "put to sleep"
• Recruit volunteers for various programs at the shelter
• Encourage runners and joggers to adopt dogs for companionship and safety
  (Source: Get Fit with Fido)

According to Alan Ward, the German Shepherd/Dachshund mix who can write and is VP Administrative Services a the local Community College, "There have been a lot of positive outcomes as a result of this program. One of them of course is that hundreds of wonderful dogs have found loving homes. Another is the "SAS' annual Furry 5K", a spin-off of the program, where 2500 runners/walkers, 1000 dogs, and 1 very brave cat participate in a five kilometers event each June to, raise money for the Help the Animals Fund. This fund provides veterinary care for sick and injured animals at the shelter. There is now a Fido racing team, where team members and dogs participate in local races, and a Tiger Mountain group that takes dogs hiking on a local mountain on Sunday mornings." (Source: Run the Planet)

This is one cool way to volunteer, to get moving and do something good for yourself and a dog awaiting adoption. I love this program and if I lived in Seattle, this is one running group I'd join.

Kick-Off for United We Serve

Today marks the official kick off of United We Serve. This is a nationwide campaign calling all Americans, young and old to volunteer this summer and be a part of rebuilding America.

President Obama is challenging everyone, individuals, community organizations, churches, businesses, corporations, foundations and government to be a part of this effort.

Even First Lady Michele Obama is rolling up her sleeves. Listen to her message now.

2 Scoops for Volunteerism??

July is National Ice Cream Month. Mmmmm, this is good to know! And, Baskin-Robbins is partnering with DoSomething.org on a summer campaign called, "I Serve, You Serve" to encourage teens to get involved in their communities.

Teens who sign up to volunteer through DoSomething.org/Serve will get a coupon for a free vanilla soft-serve cone from July 13-17. The campaign slogan is "Get something good for doing something good." Okay, kids get an allowance for doing chores. Now we have to reward them for volunteering, for an act of kindness. Come'on! I am not thinking kids are going to volunteer for an ice cream cone. The campaign name is cute but appears short on being compelling.

The act of rewarding kids for volunteerism beyond the thank you and gratitude they should feel for helping out someone is not necessary. What kind of message does this send? The whole idea of volunteering is to give back and help out without there being a bargaining chip. If we are going to engage kids in community service through schools and teach them the value of volunteerism then it strikes me that we all have a part in sharing the same message and enticing them with ice cream to volunteer doesn't quite align with that message.

Look Good, Doing Good

Kenneth Cole is taking his designs to the ultimate "A-wear-ness". His company is donating 100% of net proceeds from the sale of AWEARNESS merchandise to the AWEARNESS Fund - a not-for-profit entity that supports, encourages and empowers acts of service, volunteerism and social change. To find out more, please visit their ABOUT page.

As a long time lover of Kenneth Cole fashion, I find his new philanthropic entity 'smashing daaaling' and extremely well branded. Just the name, Awearness, how simple, clever and closely aligned with fashion is that? Right on. Plus, by keeping the Kenneth Cole Company giving focused on this new philanthropic fund, the Awearness Fund, it builds even greater brand awareness for his company name and merchandise. Not that Kenneth Cole needed a boost to his brand, but this is a great way to communicate that he and his company stand for something more than the bottom-line. Kuddos. I love this whole intiative and will without reserve promote it where I can.

His company is partnering with Volunteer Match (one of my favorite organizations and one I direct clients to all the time) to encourage social change on issues such as AIDS, homelessness and more. The purpose of the initiative is to promote awareness and advance volunteerism and service, and raise funds, all in an effort to make a difference.

You can read more about this partnership here.