As a follow up to the "The Decision to Join," ASAE & The Center's research staff has developed "The Decision to Volunteer." Authored by Beth Gazley, PhD, and Monica Dignam, "Decision to Volunteer" will be released for sale on Saturday, August 16 at the 2008 ASAE & The Center Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.
In development of this research 26,305 association members were surveyed, 23 organizations worked in collaboration with the ASAE & The Center Industry and Market Research Department, and the Component Relations Section Council contributed the "Acting on the Findings" section at the end of Chapters 3 - 7.
The key findings of the study are:
*Association members are highly engaged people.
*Values drive volunteer choices.
*The power of the direct ask.
*A meaningful experience keeps them coming back.
*Involving the younger generations.
*The professional benefits of volunteerism.
*Recognizing the "ad hoc" volunteer.
*Organizational strategies can support or discourage volunteering.
For years, we have all had anecdotal evidence about volunteers and why they participate, but now we have a reference that quantifies and qualifies serious research. "Decision to Volunteer" not only provides qualitative analysis, it includes quantitative data presented in easy to read charts and graphs.
Chapter 9, "Reaching the Non-Volunteer" is one of the more important sections in my opinion, and it covers topics like Why Individuals Do Not Volunteer, Association Practices that Discourage Volunteers, and Lack of Follow Through (one of my personal pet peeves).
If I tell you anymore, I'll ruin the ending for you, so make sure you get a copy of "The Decision to Volunteer" -- it's a decision you won't regret.
I'm actually glad to see all this stuff, to see that this world offers creativity and ideas other than what my lonesome small town provides.
Posted by: Term Papers | Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 04:30 AM