AHVRP Announces 2008 Award for Excellence Recipient
from AHVRP
AHVRP presented its most prestigious honor, The Award for Excellence, at the recent conference in Anaheim, Calif. This award is given in recognition of individuals who have demonstrated exemplary service and contribution to the Association and to the profession of healthcare volunteer management. The 2008 Award for Excellence was presented to Margie Harris, CAVS, CDVS. Margie has been the DVS for Morton Plant Mease Healthcare in Dunedin, Florida since 1986, and has been an active member of AHVRP for 30 years. Totally committed to advancing the practice of healthcare volunteer management, she has balanced her professional contribution on local, state and national levels while overseeing 2,100 volunteers across four not-for-profit hospital campuses. Margie serves as liaison to two separate Auxiliaries and functions as a consultant for six additional hospitals and Auxiliaries in her healthcare system. More

New Legislation Would Help Volunteers Offset Gas Prices
from Give Voice
Under federal law, paid employees can be reimbursed 58.5 cents per mile when driving their cars. But volunteers can only deduct 14 cents per mile. The GIVE Act of 2008, introduced on a bipartisan basis by U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and John Ensign and now co-sponsored by 13 other Senators, would eliminate the disincentives that prevent charitable volunteers from doing what they really want to do, which is to help the needy in their communities. Unfortunately, momentum is building behind an alternative that is inadequate: S. 3246 (the “Cardin/Snowe/Mikulski” bill), with its new companion bill, H.R. 6854, introduced in the House by Representatives Lewis and Ramstad. While this alternative approach would make many of the fixes in the GIVE Act, it would only raise the charitable mileage rate to 27 cents a mile, as opposed to the GIVE Act’s rate of 41 cents a mile. More

More Scrutiny For Hospital Volunteers?
from Topeka Capital-Journal
One Kansas town is wrestling with the idea of screening volunteers, requiring background checks and fingerprinting. The editorial board of the Topeka Capital-Journal considers the merits and disadvantages of this plan; will it have a chilling effect on volunteerism? More

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Barriers to Volunteering: Hidden Messages in Your Recruitment
from Energize Inc.
Have you been successful in recruiting volunteers in the past but now seem to have hit a wall of apathy? Are there populations you'd love to involve but who do not seem attracted to your organization? Maybe the problem lies in the hidden messages of your recruitment techniques. Consider the key elements of volunteer recruitment in this article and what image you are conveying to prospects. More

How to Delegate: You Can’t Do It All, That’s Why You Have Volunteers
from Lawson Consulting
Managers could greatly reduce their stress by practicing a critical management skill — delegation. The inability to delegate frequently has led to the downfall of many leaders — from presidents to first-line supervisors. This guide helps managers recognize the benefits of delegating, what and to whom one should delegate, and a systematic approach to the delegation process. More

Show Me the Money: Point-of-Sale Systems Can Make a Difference
from Gift Shop Magazine
The right point-of-sale software system can save you as much as five hours a day, and retail establishments can see an average of 15 percent of their gross annual sales as return on their POS investment. Each system is designed for a specific industry and size, and can offer thousands of features. Because so much hinges on this decision, it is essential for gift shop owners to find the optimal POS system. More

10 Ways to Reject the Recession and Make Your Business Thrive
from Stephanie Chandler
In a time when the lead news stories focus on business downsizing, the rising costs of gas and groceries and general economic turmoil, it is hard to avoid feeling the "recession depression." But as business owners we have two choices: we can let the media send us into panic mode or we can view the economic downturn as an opportunity. While some businesses are giving up and closing their doors, their competitors are seizing opportunities. Which side would you rather be on? Now is the time for you to rise above it and reject the recession. More