It Starts With You...The Volunteer Administrator
Jeanne H. Bradner via Energize
We know how important our profession is. Yet we are often frustrated in trying to communicate its significance to our bosses, our board chairs, our funders, the not-for-profit and government community and, even, our families and friends. How we cringe when someone says, "we ought to start a volunteer program" and turns to someone on staff and says, "in your spare time, won't you look after the volunteers?"More

Developing Volunteer Job Descriptions
World Volunteer Web
A written job description is the most important criteria in volunteer program management. A job description should be prepared for every volunteer position, no matter how big or small. The advantage of written job description is that the duties, expectations and responsibilities of both the volunteer and the organization are outlined clearly. Knowing the requirements of individual volunteer jobs in advance simplifies the selection/recruitment and management of volunteers.More

MLK Holiday is Becoming Day of Service
The Davidson County Dispatch
Martin Luther King Jr. Day events feature those that promote and facilitate leadership, motivational speeches, breakfasts and banquets, dances, dinners, choirs singing gospel music, forums, health fairs, parades and memorial services in Davidson County, N.C., and other communities just like it across the country. But a new trend has begun to emerge in the past several years: making Martin Luther King Jr. Day into a day of volunteerism and service.More

How to Choose a Successor
Inc.
Practically as soon as a small or mid-sized business is successful enough to have a future, the business owners needs to start thinking about developing a plan for who will succeed them. In a public corporation, the board of directors has a fiduciary duty to the shareholders to develop and implement a succession plan. Volunteer programs aren't exempt. Should you be planning now?More

Add On Sales
Ed Rigsbee's Effective Executive
There is a reason why McDonald's enjoyed total revenues of $23.5 billion in 2008. Could it be that there are more than 31,000 McDonald's restaurants around the world in 118 countries? That is partly the reason, however I believe the fact that they sell 9 million pounds of their delicious French fries per day is an even more important element. What they really do well is ask, "Would you like fries with that?"More

Merchandising for Sales and Profits: Promoting Impulse Sales
Donna Geary via The Sideroad
The presentation of your store's merchandise will either serve to reinforce the customer's confidence in the product choice or cause them to second-guess their need to buy. In a split second, a sale is either realized or lost. More

Valentine's Day Displays for Unromantic Products
Shari Waters via About.com
According to the National Retail Federation, the average consumer will spend around $100.00 on Valentine's Day this year. Candy, cards, jewelry, and flowers are always holiday favorites, but retailers who don't stock those items can still get a piece of Valentine spending. It just takes a little creativity. No matter what type of products you sell, you can create an attractive display.More