Monthly Feature February 2008: Meet the Expert — Anne Schink
FEBRUARY 2008
Meet the Expert: Anne B. Schink, Program Officer,
Maine Commission for Community Service
Anne Schink joined the Maine Commission for Community Service in 1995. She serves as program, training, and disability officer for AmeriCorps programs.
Anne has many years of experience in organizational development and nonprofit and volunteer management, primarily through the League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood, and church and community groups.
Serving the Professional Development Needs of Program Directors:
Certificate in Volunteer Administration
Over the years AmeriCorps program directors in Maine have received a wide range of trainings — some provided directly to them and some offered at the annual Tri-State Conference. Many of these directors had served in this capacity for more than three years, so they were eager for more information on volunteer management. To meet this need, the Maine Commission for Community Service offered trainings such as "Best Practices in Human Resources Management," "Best Practices in Financial Management," and "Best Practices in Program Management and Project Design."
Still, we at the state commission level felt this wasn’t enough. We wanted to support the directors in broadening their knowledge and experience, and also wanted to have some kind of documentation or credential that provided recognition for all they had accomplished. Eventually we decided on the Certificate in Volunteer Administration through the Association for Volunteer Administration (currently sponsored by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Management or CCVA).
To achieve the goal of certification, we developed a community of practice with the AmeriCorps program directors, VISTA project coordinators, and state commission staff. With a group of about 12, we began the process of reading the three books required for the certificate and devoted a portion of every program director meeting to a discussion of a topic from one of the books. Each program director facilitated the presentation and discussion of the subject, which ranged from ethics to risk management. We all agreed that the most interesting, and perhaps the most challenging, was the discussion about ethics and philosophy. This may be indicative of the challenges inherent in the field of volunteer management and may also reflect the complexities of our current society.
During the year-long process, we also prepared for the annual certification exam. Program directors participated in a two-day retreat in a relaxed setting where we talked a lot about professional development, and we each began to craft our ‘personal philosophy of volunteerism’ and our ‘management narrative’ for the portfolio that is a requirement for certification.
The most interesting thing about this shared focus was the way it shifted the relationships among us from that of grantor and grantee to more of a peer-to-peer network. We helped each other prepare for the exam through discussion and coaching and, in the end, each of us gained confidence in our abilities as volunteer managers as well as a deeper appreciation for the role we need to play as leaders in the field of volunteer management.
Volunteer Management Competencies: A Tool for Professional Development
With the assistance of a consultant, the Maine Commission for Community Service developed a set of volunteer management competencies that reflect the range of skills, knowledge, and aptitudes required of AmeriCorps program directors. These competencies grew out of our knowledge of work being done across the country in leadership, management, and human resources, and were parallel to those required of volunteer managers in other nonprofit organizations. They include traits and characteristics ― qualities that are intrinsic to the individual and not necessarily acquired skills — as well as competencies in the specific areas of supervision and human resources, management and operations, and leadership. We further refined the competencies by indicating the level of skill, from novice to expert. Taken together, the competencies comprise a document that can be used in several ways: to record a program manager’s level of accomplishment; as a tool to conduct task analysis in program assessment; and as a means for creating a self-directed professional development plan.
Volunteer Management Competencies Handbook
Books Used in the Certification Course:
- Bradner, Jeanne H. Leading Volunteers for Results: Building Communities Today. Winnetka, IL: Conversation Press, Inc., 1999.
- Daniels Connors, Tracey (ed). The Volunteer Management Handbook. New York: Wiley Nonprofit Series, 1995.
- Ellis, Susan J. From the Top Down: The Executive Role in Volunteer Program Success. Philadelphia, PA: Energize, Inc., 1996.
Q&A:
Q: What do you feel is the most important role of leaders in the volunteer management field today?
A: I feel the most important part of a leadership role in the field of volunteer management is to articulate how important volunteers are to the success of nonprofit organizations at all levels of participation — from clerical support, to direct service, to expert consulting services, to leadership.
Q: What kinds of changes do you foresee in the volunteer management field in the years ahead?
A: The increasing professionalization of the field of volunteer management will raise the level of skill, knowledge, and competence of volunteer managers. The impact will be (1) that programs are run more effectively with lower attrition rates and (2) that we'll see a deeper commitment of volunteers to the mission and vision of organizations.
Q: What do you think are some of the greatest challenges in managing an AmeriCorps program? Any advice about how these difficulties can be overcome?
A: The biggest challenge that I see is the tension that often exists between funding new ideas and new programs while also recognizing and rewarding the contributions that established AmeriCorps programs make when they have time to be woven into the local community and to refine their service activities to meet ongoing community needs. For those of us within the AmeriCorps program family, the most obvious answer is to expand the funding available for AmeriCorps programs!
Another strategy is to provide 'just in time' training on all phases of program design and implementation, with peer coaching and mentoring for new programs by experienced programs. The new resources are excellent and we need to be sure that people use them and share them with others.
Related websites with information on professional issues in the field of volunteer administration:
Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration
Advances the profession and practice of volunteer resource management by certifying individuals who demonstrate knowledge and competence in the leadership of volunteers. Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) is an international credential awarded to practitioners with at least three years of experience who successfully complete an exam and written portfolio process. Originally developed by the Association for Volunteer Administration (AVA) several decades ago, the credentialing program is now sponsored by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration. See their website for details on dates throughout the year for new groups and qualifications.
Nonprofit Management Education: Current Offerings in University-based Programs
A summary of the educational opportunities in the U.S. for nonprofit management, including courses in volunteer management and discussion of academic issues.
The New York Association for Volunteer Administration
The NYAVA offers a three-day course called "Principles and Practices of Volunteer Management," which will take place on consecutive Thursdays in February (February 14, 21, and 28). The course is taught by Maria Casey, the director of volunteer resources of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York. Visit the website to access the course brochure and register for the class.
Bibliographic Records
- Volunteer Handbook: How to Organize and Manage a Successful Organization
- Best Practices for Volunteer Programs
- Leadership Skills for the New Age of Nonprofits: Keeping Volunteers Happy in a Changing World
- Leadership and Management of Volunteer Programs: A Guide for Volunteer Administrators
Effective Practices
