Volunteer Recognition with AHVRP
from AHVRP
"Volunteers - The Heart and Soul of Healthcare." Not just a theme but our reality that's worthy of celebration! Plan now to honor the countless number of volunteers that aid us in meeting the healthcare needs of our nation. Be sure to set aside some time during National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, 2009 to give special acknowledgement to those who so freely and unselfishly give with such compassion and kindness. An online catalog of Jim Coleman products will be available early next week. Watch for a special notice from AHVRP on how you can order!

Seeking ideas for recognition? Remember AHVRP's "Blue Print for Recognition - Recognition Toolkit for Leaders of Volunteers". This toolkit was created to assist volunteer leaders in recognizing volunteers within their organizations. Recognition enables us to privately or publicly applaud the efforts of the special people who give to serve our organizations each and every day. Use AHVRP's "Blueprint for Recognition" as a guide for discovering ways to honor our nation's Healthcare Volunteers. More

Don't Waste Their Precious Time
from Charity Village
While it's true that volunteers can save you money, it's also true that money can save you volunteers. Too often, volunteers end up doing tasks that could have been done more effectively by companies that have special equipment to do boring rote jobs quickly, efficiently, and cheaply. Managing scant resources is a challenge to all voluntary organizations, but resources include more than money. More

Five Mistakes to Avoid When Acquiring Software
from TechSoup
Software buying and licensing can be a daunting subject for the uninitiated, but Zac Mutrux, a San Francisco-based technology consultant with years of experience advising nonprofits, did a great job simplifying this subject during our latest TechSoup Talks! webinar, 5 Mistakes to Avoid when Acquiring Software. This article paraphrases his excellent presentation. More

Thriving in the Downturn
from Forbes
It's plenty tough out there. All the more so for small businesses, which run on gumption and grit during the best of times and must embrace any imaginative means just to survive in the worst. In the following stories you'll meet a half-dozen remarkable entrepreneurs who are prospering in the depths of recession by offering unique luxury goods and services. Can these lessons be applied to your business? More

Smart Leaders: Crystal Clear
from Smart Business Magazine
When Holly J. Mitchell took over as CEO of Crystal Stairs Inc. in 2003, she realized the organization needed to evolve. Smart Business spoke with Mitchell about how to turn your employees into leaders and how to focus your organization on performance. More

2009 AHVRP Annual Conference Distinguishing Our Profession, Discovering Our Spirit Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa Phoenix, AZ August 27-30, 2009 Website: www.todaysvolunteer.org

Using Humor in Marketing
from Entrepreneur
Humor can be marketing gold if done right. If done wrong, it can make a business look desperate or mean. But even if customers think your unfunny marketing is a joke, some may award you points for giving humor a shot. So maximize your odds of coming out of a humorous campaign a winner by following these rules. More