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    The Jayne Blog, updated regularly provides notices on when this site is updated, as well as announcements and new resources. The RSS feed address for the Jayne Blog:
    http://blogs.forumer.com/rss.php?u=jcravens
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    Subscribe to Tech4Impact, my free monthly email newsletter to help nonprofits / NGOs / civil society get the most out of computer and Internet technology.

     
    Want updates on your cell phone whenever I send Tech4Impact or update my primary blog? Follow me on Twitter at @jcravens42. You may also become my fan on Facebook.

     
    My blog on MySpace (every user gets one) focuses specifically on volunteerism / civic engagement for MySpace users (most are in their teens or 20s).
    The RSS feed address for My blog on MySpace:
    http://blog.myspace.com/blog/rss.cfm?friendID=38885498
    Or, click on the RSS reader icon you use:
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    I regularly delete some pages off the Coyote Communications web site that I feel are outdated and easily replaceable by much more complete and more up-to-date resources provided by someone else. If there is a page that's been deleted and you really miss that page, simply go to www.archive.org and type in the URL of the page you want.

     
    Launched on 4.January.1996, the Coyote Communications site is designed to be quick to download and accessible by most Internet users, regardless of browser type, operating system software, computer type, monitor type, or Internet connection speed. Why leave anyone out?

     
    contact me

     

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    Subscribe to my blog and know when this web site is updated, new resources are launched, etc.

    July 26, 2010

     
    July 12, 2010  
    July 1, 2010
    • NEW:
      Using Third Party Web Sites Like VolunteerMatch to Recruit Volunteers
      There are lots and lots of web sites out there to help your organization recruit volunteers. You don't have to use them all, but you do need to make sure you use them correctly in order to get the maximum response to your posts.

    • UPDATED:
      Outreach Via the Internet for Mission-Based Organizations
      It's more than just putting up a Web site; it involves finding and posting to appropriate Internet discussion groups, sending emails to current and potential customers, using online social networking, perhaps even starting your own online community.... it's pro-active, interactive and ongoing. It needs to be nurtured and fully supported, just as with all your public interactions. Online outreach and online service delivery should accurately reflect your agency's mission and culture.
     
    June 30, 2010

    I've launched some new pages on my web site, designed for those who aren't volunteer managers, and aren't professional nonprofit staff -- rather, these new pages are for individuals, particularly young people, who want to do some good, or need community service hours, or want to fund a volunteering trip abroad, but aren't sure where to or how to get started:

    You will notice two big differences about these pages from the rest of my web site:
    1. Most of my web site is focused on people who work with or for nonprofit organizations and NGOs, particularly those who outreach to or engage with the community (communications managers, PR and marketing managers, volunteer managers, program managers, etc.), and is focused on promoting my areas of expertise. By contrast, these new pages are focused on individuals, particularly young people, who want to do some good, or need community service hours, but aren't sure where to or how to get started. If the Community Service section of Yahoo had an FAQs section, this is what it should say.

    2. The majority of my web site, which is focused on those who are formally affiliated with nonprofits and NGOs, are ad-free. This new section of my web site is not.


    By clicking on any of the ads on these pages, you help me raise funds to maintain my entire web site (web hosting, domain name ownership and, ofcourse, my time). Also, I'm not responsible for the advertising that appears on these pages (ads are Google's decision).

     
    UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS

    Read more about the training I can provide your organization. Bookings taken up to one year in advance. My schedule fills up quickly.

     
    April 1, 2010

     
    February 25, 2010
    • I have written about my volunteering experiences with BPEACE (Busines Council for Peace), a UNIFEM partner and non-profit organization that mobilizes business professionals as volunteers to help entrepreneurs in countries emerging from war, like Rwanda and Afghanistan, to expand local businesses and create employment (and thereby build a peaceful, properpus future). I hope that this testimonial will both recruit new volunteers for BPEACE, as well as to illustrate yet another example of online volunteering/virtual volunteering.

     
    February 9, 2010
    • Women's Access to Public Internet Access in Transitional and Developing Countries
      Home and family obligations, lack of transportation, low-literacy and perceived lack of value keep many women and girls from accessing public Internet access points in developing and transitional countries. But there's another factor that is rarely talked about: in developing and transitional countries in particular, many of these public access points can be male-dominated, with mostly male users and few -- or no -- female users, and for many women, particularly women in developing countries, this makes the public access point off-limits to them. This new web page advocates for women-only Internet centers, or women-only hours at such, and offers resources to support such efforts.

     
    February 1, 2010
    • Keeping Volunteer Information Up-to-Date
      Keeping track of volunteer information is a challenge. At minimum, an organization has to keep track of volunteers' up-to-date email address and phone number. Organizations also need volunteers to report what they are doing as volunteers and how many hours they are contributing -- each day, each week or each month. Having this information for volunteers is vital to the sustainability of volunteer involvement. This page offers suggestions on how to keep volunteer information up-to-date, with the goal of getting the information your organization needs with minimal effort on your part.

    • Recruiting Local Volunteers To Increase Diversity Among the Ranks
      Having plenty of volunteers usually isn't enough to say a volunteering program is successful. Another indicator of success is if your volunteers represent a variety of ages, education-levels, economic levels and other demographics, or are a reflection of your local community. Most organizations don't want volunteers to be a homogeneous group; they want to reach a variety of people as volunteers (and donors and other supporters, for that matter). This resource will help you think about how to recruit for diversity, or to reach a specific demographic.

     
    January 4, 2010

    Happy New Year! Employ me!

    Want to know when this site is updated? Whether you are a fan of my work or a stalker, it's oh-so-easy to stay up-to-date with me and my web site:

     
    December 16, 2009:
      In March 2010, I'll be making my first trip "down under", to lead an intense, onsite retreat in Adelaide Hills, Australia for experienced volunteer managers. The focus will be on how volunteer managers can stay relevant "in a world where the challenges facing volunteering are becoming more complex every day" and how "to create volunteering environments in which volunteers can flourish and be most effective." Read more about my workshops/training/teaching, as well as my other consulting services.

     
    November 24, 2009:
      As I blogged about earlier, the world's largest online volunteering endeavor, otherwise known as Wikipedia, is engaging in a year-long process to develop a strategic plan for the Wikimedia movement. Specifically, Wikimedia is trying to understand where it is now, where it wants to be in five years, and how Wikimedia could get there from here.

      (Wikipedia is the highest profile activity of Wikimedia, but not the only one. Have a look at all the Wikimedia projects to learn more.)

      I am volunteering as part of the process; I started by adding myself to the Wikimedia expert database. I did this to allow task forces and other volunteers to reach me with questions, which I can respond to as I have time. However, I ended up instead being asked to join a Wikimedia task force - specifically, the Community Health Task Force. A larger time commitment than I was looking for... but I've been able to contribute probably eight hours total, over two days, and as a volunteer manager myself, based on my own experience, I think that's a lot. I've summarized my own recommendations here (note that one of them is my own proposal regarding volunteer recognition).

      Participate! Comment on those proposals! Here are my favorite proposals and from there, you can find and read even more. If you don't know how to comment, contact me and I will walk you through it.

      What I like about the process:

      • I'm always interested in seeing first hand what's happening regarding online volunteering. Participating in this process (as well as others) keeps me sharp in my abilities to provide advice to others regarding online volunteering.

      • Finally, people are calling Wikimedia contributors what they are: VOLUNTEERS. It's so nice to see that many Wikimedia contributors are embracing that word. I would like to see Wikimedia do so in its own communications. The Wikipedia entry for itself never mentions online volunteering and doesn't link to the Wikipedia entry for virtual volunteering, even though, as I already said, Wikipedia is the world's largest online volunteering endeavor anywhere. The page is protected so that, unlike most other pages, anyone can't edit the page. So if you have a Wikipedia account, please go to the talk page for the Wikipedia entry and note that you think there should be a link from the page to the Wikipedia entry for virtual volunteering.

      • Getting a notice via email that I need to go look at our task force page or my own pages.

      What I don't like about the process:

      • I would have like a very clearly-defined task description of what it is I'm supposed to be doing as a Wikipedia contributor. I was so lost at first I avoided reading updates. I'm one of those online volunteers that needs very specific directions for some jobs: do this, then do this, then do this, and finally do this.

      • I think there should be a way for non-wiki-savvy users to contribute. Something easier to use, ala YahooGroups or GoogleGroups.

      But that's it, really. I love it when an organization invites volunteers to contribute to strategic plans, and I love it when they provide an online way to do so. It's always a good thing to do. No matter what happens, Wikimedia can at least say, "Wow, we have a LOT of community members/volunteers who REALLY care about our future!" Can your nonprofit say that?

      A year from now, I will be intensely interested to see which of these recommendations are implemented, and how.

     
    November 20, 2009:
      I'll be in Belgrade, Serbia to lead workshops for EducationUSA. From their web site:
      EducationUSA is a global network of more than 400 advising centers supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries by promoting personal, professional, and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad, as well as by presenting U.S. history, society, art and culture in all of its diversity to overseas audiences. The foreign students of yesterday are becoming the world leaders today.
      I'll be doing intensive workshops to get local staff from the area's Educational Centers up-to-speed on demonstrating both financial and program credibility and transparency: how to create and communicate a realistic budget, writing a program proposal, and communications activities to build credibility with current and potential partners. It's an agenda I could easily spend a WEEK on, truly.

      I'll arrive in Belgrade Dec. 6, and depart Dec. 12. If you are in Belgrade in that time and would like to meet, please email me. Please tell me who you are, the organization you represent, and why you would like to meet.

      More about my training and consulting services. Please note I am not taking any new consulting jobs for the rest of 2009, through January 2010.
     
    November 12, 2009:
    • Preservation of Pioneering Effort Re: Volunteers & ICT
      The United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS) was a global volunteer initiative to help bridge the digital divide. UNITeS both supported volunteers applying information and communications technologies for development (ICT4D) and promoted volunteerism as a fundamental element of successful ICT4D initiatives. UNITeS was launched in 2000 by then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and was hosted by the United Nations Volunteers programme. UNITeS was active until 2005. As of November 2009, all UNITeS web site materials were taken down from the orignal site. Because many UNITeS materials continue to be in demand, and to continue both the spirit of the initiative as defined by Kofi Annan and as realized by UNV's former head, Sharon Capeling-Alakija, I am now hosting some of them here on my own web site, including Handheld computer technologies in community service/volunteering/advocacy.

     
    October 8, 2009:
    • Want Cell Phone Updates Re: My Online Activities?
      Love updates on your cell phone? I now send out Tweets whenever I send Tech4Impact, as well as when I update my primary blog, update a blog elsewhere, or am in the news. Follow me on Twitter at @jcravens42.

     
    August 22, 2009:  
    August 13, 2009:
    • Now based in the Portland, Oregon area
      Had a fantastic road trip from Louisville, Kentucky to Portland, Oregon, seeing Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington state along the way. I have two consulting gigs going on and am pretty much booked solid through mid-September 2009. Subscribe to My Blog via RSS, subscribe to my email newsletter, Tech4Impact, or view my calendarfor updates on my availability.

    • Thank you, 700-plus subscribers to Tech4Impact
      Not sure why, but numbers for my email newsletter, Tech4Impact, are rising. Thank you, new subscribers! I tried to get rid of it once and replace it entirely with my blog (which you can subscribe to via use RSS), and the outcry was swift and definitive: no way!. Tech4Impact provides information to help nonprofits, non-governmental organizations/NGOs, civil society organizations, public sector agencies, and schools to use computer and Internet technology to benefit individuals, communities and the environment. Tech4Impact is less about techno-jargon and more about the human factors in using tech successfully. To sign up to receive Tech4Impact by email, send a BLANK e-mail to:
        tech4impact-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
      or, visit: the Tech4impact YahooGroup

     
    July 12, 2009:
    • Moving to Portland; Update on Consulting Availability
      It's been a fun time in Louisville and getting re-acquainted with living in the USA since April, but it's time to head out to a more permanent home: I'll hit the road the last week of July to move to Portland, Oregon and spend most of August getting settled there. As I already have two consulting gigs going on, that means I'm booked solid through mid-September 2009. Subscribe to My Blog via RSS or subscribe to my email newsletter, Tech4Impact, for updates on my location and availability.

     
    July 7, 2009:
    • Microblogging and Volunteers
      Microblogging means sending text messages of less than 140 characters to several cell phones and/or via the Internet to subscribers. Users can receive microblogs as emails, as updates in their RSS readers or as updates on a particular web page -- the same for regular, old-school blogging. But microblogging works best for nonprofits when they think about such as short messages going to subscribers via cell phones - that application is what truly makes the phenomena unique, and truly sets it apart from other tech tools. This resource will help nonprofits explore microblogging and use it effectively with volunteers.

    • New Resources Added Almost DAILY at My Blog
      New resources are added regularly to My Blog, and all resources added to my web site are announced on My Blog. You can stay up-to-date about these by either subscribing to my blog via RSS, or, subscribing to my email newsletter, Tech4Impact.

     
    May 27, 2009:
      July 16: Presenting in Louisville re: Online Volunteering
      On July 16, I will present onsite for the first time ever in my home state in Kentucky! I'm living in Kentucky through most of July (first time I've lived in my home state in more than 20 years!) and I'm so excited to get to help nonprofits in my home state in-person during this brief stay. I will present a two-hour workshop about online volunteering/virtual volunteering at the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNPE) on 323 West Broadway, Ste 501 in Louisville. The presentation will begin promptly at 9 a.m. Visit the online CNPE training calendar or call 502 315-2673 to register for the class. Costs are $55.00 for members of CNPE and $75.00 for non-members (however, please note that this money goes to CNPE, not me -- I'm doing this pro bono). Space is limited. I hope people as far away as Evansville, Indiana, Cincinnati, Ohio, Nashville, Tennessee, and Bowling Green, Lexington, Frankfort and Henderson, Kentucky, will make the drive for this workshop - it will be worth it! This is not a technology workshop; this is a workshop about working with humans! More information about my training and consulting. Note that I'm also available for online presentations as well. And view my availability. My schedule is filling up quickly.

      I'm Looking for a Full-Time, Permanent Position!
      Consulting on and off for the last 15 years, and full time for the last four years, has been interesting and fun, and I have two consulting jobs to keep me busy all summer. However, I'm ready to give up consulting for a full-time job. What would be the perfect opportunity? Read my blog for more details.

     
    April 17, 2009:
      Free live online event: working with tech volunteers
      On Thursday, April 23, I will present a free, live webinar for TechSoup on how to effectively involve volunteers in computer and Internet related tasks at your organization. The webinar will focus on ways nonprofit organizations can identify such tech-related assignments, ways support volunteers in these assignments, and, ofcourse, methods to recruit and screen such volunteers. Nonprofit staff members can feel a sense of both awe and fear about tech volunteers, and this can lead to misunderstandings and frustrations on the part of both parties. This webinar will help nonprofit staff stay in control of tech volunteering tasks so that the finished assignment meets the nonprofits' needs and the tech volunteer has a satisfying experience. You will hear my voice live via your computer and see a slide presentation, then you can text your questions via webinar platform, and listen to my answers. The webinar is at 11 a.m. Pacific USA time, 2 p.m. East Coast USA time, and 8 p.m. Central Europe time. See times around the globe (specifically the meeting planner) for other times worldwide. Sign up for the live webinar here.

      Back Livin' in America
      After more than eight years as a broad abroad, I'm now back in the USA, living temporarily in Louisville, Kentucky. I'm available for consulting, including teaching and presentations, onsite or online (view my public calendar to see when I am booked and when I am available), but my goal is to find a full-time position at a nonprofit, government agency or university setting by the end of 2009. More about me.

     
    March 18, 2009:  
    March 8, 2009:
    • Promoting your volunteering program internally
      Too often, the first position cut at an organization facing financial difficulties is the volunteer coordinator. Most people in these positions, I'm sorry to say, do a poor job of making sure that every staff member at their organization knows the time and expertise they bring to the position, and the essential nature of their role in recruiting and supporting volunteers. The volunteer coordinator should make sure he or she is seen as also absolutely essential to the organization. This page talks about how a volunteer coordinator can make sure the board, all paid staff and all volunteers at an organization know the essential value of not only volunteers, but also the volunteer coordinator.

    • Your Choice: Subscribe to My Blog, or, Subscribe to My Email Newsletter
      New resources are added regularly to this web site. You can stay up-to-date about these, as well as getting updates about resources from other organizations that have caught my eye, by either subscribing to my blog via RSS, or, subscribing to my email newsletter, Tech4Impact.

     
    February 26, 2009:
    • UPDATED: Myths About Online Volunteering (Virtual Volunteering)
      I launched a page listing "10 Myths About Online Volunteering" back in June 2005. Now, more than three years later, the page is up to 15 myths regarding online volunteering/virtual volunteering. I gather these myths from comments sent to me by email or brought up at workshops, by articles or blogs I read, or from conversations with people.

    • Talk to my colleagues!
      You can use an online profile/account that you ALREADY have, via Google, Yahoo, AIM or OpenID, to network with others and to post messages on my web site and talk to my colleagues. No need to create yet another online profile in order to participate! You can create an online conversation about whatever you read on my web site or in Tech4Impact or on my blog or a recent presentation I've made. Or you can talk about your own work and invite collaboration from others.

    • The Early Days of Nonprofits & the Internet
      I'm a bit annoyed at some of the things I've been reading online lately about nonprofits and the Internet, as though nonprofits started using the 'Net only a few years ago. I'm also annoyed by all the claims that nonprofits are doing things now with the Internet that they NEVER did before. Many nonprofits were far ahead of their time regarding use of the Internet, even farther ahead of most businesses at the time. So I'm attempting to set the record straight: I've prepared a web page that talks about the early history of nonprofits and the Internet, through 1995. It's a constant work-in-progress, and additional information is welcomed.
     
    February 21, 2009:
      Early History of Nonprofits & the Internet
      I'm a bit annoyed by all the current claims that nonprofits are doing things now with the Internet that they NEVER did before: they are not. The Internet has always been about people and organizations networking with each other, sharing ideas and comments, and collaborating online. It has always been interactive and dynamic. And there were many nonprofit organizations who "got" it early -- earlier than many for-profit companies. So I'm attempting to set the record straight: I've prepared a web page that talks about the early history of nonprofits and the Internet. It focuses on 1995 and previous years. It talks a little about what nonprofits were using the cyberspace for as well at that time and lists the names of key people and organizations who helped get nonprofit organizations using the Internet in substantial numbers in 1995 and before. Edits and additions are welcomed.
     
    February 12, 2009:
      Talk With Other Coyote Communications Users!
      You can use an online profile/account that you ALREADY have, via Google, Yahoo, AIM or OpenID, to network with others and to post messages on this web site. No need to create yet another online profile in order to participate! You can create an online conversation about whatever you read on this web site or my blog or a recent presentation. Join the conversation.
     
    Last Presentation in Germany?

    On Monday, 16.February.2009, I will present a full day, in-depth seminar on online volunteering in Berlin for the Akademie für Ehrenamtlichkeit Deutschland (www.ehrenamt.de). The seminar will be in English, with German translation. The seminar is from 9 am to 4:30 pm.

    The seminar will cover:

      - an introduction to online volunteering
      - myths about online volunteering
      - elements for success in working with volunteers online
      - basic and advanced tools for working with volunteers online
      - introducing online volunteering to your organization
      - integrating the Internet into ALL volunteer support and management
      - online culture
      - safety and confidentiality
      - creating online volunteer assignments/opportunities
      - screening and matching volunteers to online assignments
      - accessibility and online volunteering
      - recruiting online volunteers

    Attendees should already understand the basics of volunteer management, and have experience working with traditional volunteers.

    Paid staff members admission is 75 €,
    Volunteers (unpaid staff) admission is 60 €,
    Drinks and a small snack are included

    Space is limited. To register contact the Akademie für Ehrenamtlichkeit Deutschland
    Tel. [030]275 49 38
    E-Mail: anmeldung@ehrenamt.de

     
    January 5, 2009:

    • Your NYE Resolution for 2009: Using RSS
      This is it! 2009! The year you reduce the amount of email you receive, organize all the web sites and blogs you need to read regularly, and make media monitoring a breeze. This is the year you start using RSS!

    • View my public calendar to see when I am booked and when I am available for presentations, including online presentations. Consider creating your own public calendar to share your organization's events with the public, share important dates with your volunteers or clients, etc. -- there are all sorts of ways you can share your work with others online (your calendar, files, databases, online polls, and more); with free tools, you can get started right away.

    • Subscribe to the Tech4Impact Newsletter
      Almost eight years and still going strong: my free monthly email newsletter Tech4Impact provides information to help nonprofits, non-governmental organizations/NGOs, civil society organizations, public sector agencies, and schools to use computer and Internet technology to benefit individuals, communities and the environment. Tech4Impact is less about techno-jargon and more about the human factors in using tech successfully. The email newsletter also provides updates regarding the Coyote Communications web site relating to nonprofits and technology (for those of you who don't use RSS to subscribe to my blog. To sign up to receive Tech4Impact by email, send a BLANK e-mail to:
        tech4impact-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
      or, visit: the Tech4impact YahooGroup

     
    December 9, 2008:
    • Building Staff Capacities to Communicate and to Present
      Marketing and public relations is never just one person's responsibility at an organization, regardless of everyone's job titles; everyone at an organization will interact with other staff, partner organizations, potential supporters and the general public at some point. Therefore, everyone needs to be able to talk or to write clearly about his or her own work and that of the organization overall. This new resource describes various activities I undertook to improve the communication capacities of Afghan government staff. This resource links to various slide presentations and materials used for this endeavor in Afghanistan that can be adapted by others in different countries and situations. Included is a workshop on helping women in strict relgious cultures to cultivate their presentation and public speaking skills, a workshop and tip sheet to help staff write better reports, and a slide presentation to help staff take photos in the field that will serve a variety of communications and reporting purposes.

    • View my public calendar to see when I am booked and when I am available for presentations, including online presentations.

     
    December 3, 2008:  
    November 25, 2008:
    • Evaluating Online Activities: Online Action Should Create & Support Offline Action
      Hundreds of "friends" on an online social networking site. Thousands of subscribers to an email newsletter. Dozens of attendees to a virtual event. Those are impressive numbers on the surface, but if they don't translate into more volunteers, repeat volunteers, new donors, repeat donors, more clients, repeat clients, legislation, or public pressure, they are just that: numbers. For online activities to translate into something tangible, online action must create and support offline action. What could this look like? This resource can help organizations plan strategically about online activities so that they lead to something tangible - not just numbers.

     
    October 28, 2008: Back to the Office
      An upside of the current economic situation is that there are more people with a lot of computer and Internet expertise who have time to volunteer for short-term assignments with mission-based organizations (nonprofits, non-governmental organizations/NGOs, schools, etc.). As people who have been laid off are looking for a job, including people with tech expertise, they often are very open to undertaking special volunteering assignments with nonprofits that utilize their expertise, in order to keep their skills sharp, to further build up their CV, and to network with others. But most organizations have trouble identifying such short-term tech volunteer projects. I have just updated my long list of one-time, short-term projects that nonprofit organizations and others can offer to tech volunteers. These short-term assignments might takes a few days, a couple of weeks or a couple of months to complete. Each have a definite start date and end date, and do not require a volunteer to make an ongoing, long-term commitment to the organization. These qualities make such volunteering opportunities exactly what so many tech expertise volunteers are looking for.
     
    ANNOUNCEMENT: Leaving Europe; Moving Back to USA in April 2009  
    October 1, 2008: Back to the Office
      I'm back in the office, back in front of the computer (and, hopefully, it will keep working), and plowing through email after more than a month away and several months of tech problems. Blogging has also resumed.

     
    Trying to Reach Me in September?
      I will be away from Internet access for most of the month of September. I will read and respond to all messages when I return, probably starting October 1. I will not be reading nor responding to email or phone calls in September.

     
    August 1, 2008
      Sharing Your Work With Volunteers (and Others) Online
      This resource reviews how (and why) to share your work -- your calendar, files, databases, online polls, and more, with volunteers, remote staff and other groups -- as part of your work for a nonprofit/NGOs/civil society organization. It's easier than you think! And with free tools, you can get started right away.

      Did You Contact Me between January 1 & June 1, 2008?
      I had a catastrophic data loss in early June. While some data has been recovered, I lost all of my emails, and any attachments, between January 1 & June 1, 2008. If you contacted me in that time, or if we corresponded in that time and planned some activity, and you are now wondering why you haven't heard back from me, please contact me ASAP.

     
    June 5, 2008  
    May 29, 2008
    • Me, Live From Germany, Presenting in Australia!
      The online presentation for the folks "down under" was a success! See screenshots from this online presentation to the Northern Volunteer Managers Forum (for volunteer managers in the Northern suburbs of Adelaide) and learn more about how I can present online, live, for YOUR organization.

     
    March 13, 2008
    • Update: Research On (or relating to) Online Volunteering
      Though the practice of online volunteering (also known as virtual volunteering) has been around for more than 30 years (it is a practice that could be found on the systems that pre-dated the Internet), there's relatively little research about it. I've tried to compile and maintain a list of all of the research available about online volunteering -- publicly-available studies and evaluation reports regarding online volunteering, online activists, online civic engagement, online civil society, and online mentoring (not PR pieces but, rather, reviews and research that more than mention these subjects). In addition, this page now includes a list of various research documents and articles relating to telecommuting, virtual teams and Internet culture that were used to produce resources at the Virtual Volunteering Project and remain highly relevant to anyone interested in studying online volunteering in-depth. The page also still includes a list of possible angles for researching online volunteering, primarily to benefit practitioners (those involving online volunteers, or want to).

     
    February 25, 2008  
    February 17, 2008  
    February 6, 2008  
    January 23, 2008
    • I'm updating my Blog regularly, with notices about when my web site is updated, as well resources or announcements I want to pass on to others and my availability for consulting. The blog provides a way for readers to post comments as well. Also, you can use Technorati to monitor my most recent activities online -- or anyone else's. Just click on my name: .

    • I finally got my Nabaztag working. Her name is juanabunny. If you have a Nabaztag, drop me a line on the network. If you don't, then you have no idea what I'm talking about and, truly, it's just a geek toy -- no worries.

     
    January 6, 2008
      Happy New Year! I am in the middle of transitioning from my beloved lime clamshell iBook running OS 9.2.2, to a MacBook running OS X. Part of that transition is figuring out what the software on my MacBook isn't just a demo and what such is actually for. I have a page that lists everything I used my iBook for, all of the software I was using on the iBook, and what I have upgraded to or switched to for the MacBook, if anything yet. Please note that in several cases I am still looking for suggestions, and yours would be welcomed. And if, after looking at the list, you think there's a better choice for a particular function, please let me know.

       

    December 19, 2007
    • Me in the USA, May 2008
      Looks like I'll be speaking at a private conference in Chicago May 15. Around May 18, I'll fly down to Austin, Texas for several days. I'm available for leading other workshops and consulting in the USA during that time, so if you are interested, please contact me (my schedule fills up quickly .

     
    October 24, 2007
    • Simplifying Life with RSS
      RSS... another hip tech acronym to learn. What is it and why should your nonprofit / NGO / government office care? This latest resource describes RSS in very simple terms, to show how it can make media monitoring easier and reduce clutter in your email inbox.

     
    September 23, 2007
    • See You in November:
      I'll be presenting at the Institute for Advanced Volunteer Management (IAVM) 2007 Residential program, November 14 - 16 at the Paramount Imperial Hotel, North Promenade Blackpool, England. This three-day retreat presents 45 workshops by a variety of trainers; mine will focus on online volunteering and using the Internet to support volunteers. SEATING IS LIMITED. More information about the IAVM Residential.

    • Volunteer Management Software Index - UPDATED
      Some of the most frequently-asked questions to me are about volunteer management software: what's available, how different packages compare with each other, the cost of each, the features of each, and on and on. I do not have the resources to create a comparison of the different volunteer management software out there. But I do provide a list of all of the volunteer management software geared towards nonprofit organizations (as opposed to corporate volunteering programs) that I know about, or nonprofit-related software/community relationship management software that has substantial volunteer management functions. There are more than 30 software options available. I believe my list is the most comprehensive list available anywhere.

     
    September 1, 2007
    • Advice for Taking Photos in the Developing World
      While working in Kabul, Afghanistan for most of this year, I developed a MS Powerpoint for staff on taking photos in the field. I relied heavily on all staff, particular Afghan staff, no matter what their job titles, to take photos whenever possible at events and workshops and during project site visits. This is because many staff are prohibited from traveling to certain parts of Afghanistan; international staff are sometimes prohibited from leaving Kabul altogether. This presentation/training touches on both the kinds of photos needed and how to take photos in a culturally-sensitive manner. This presentation is focused on a specific program and a specific country (Afghanistan), but maybe by changing the photos and a bit of text, it could work for you?

    • Questions to Ask for a Major Report from the Developing World
      Most people who write reports about their projects in the developing world rely heavily on field staff to provide information. Often, however, field staff aren't expert report writers (that includes native English speakers), and struggle to provide meaningful, timely information in a coherent written form. Many report writers get around this by interviewing field staff about their work, so that needed information is provided through answers to questions. This method can also build the capacity of field staff to provide written information themselves. This is a list of questions I used to interview staff at an initiative in Afghanistan that was focused on rural projects. I based these questions on previous monthly and quarterly reports, suggestions from donors, the initiatives stated objectives, and my own need for information that could lead to stories in which the press might be interested.

    • UPDATED: Basic Fund-Raising for Small NGOs serving the developing world
      This free document provides very basic guidelines for small NGOs in the developing world regarding fund-raising, and points to other online resources. By small NGOs, I mean organizations that may have only one paid staff member, or are run entirely by volunteers; and may not have official recognition by the government. When I began offering this more than a year ago, this document was 15 pages long; now, it's 23 pages long.

     
    August 22, 2007

      Back from Afghanistan for Good
      I returned last night. Quite an adventure. So much to say... more soon.

     
    As of February 20, 2007

    • Electronic Waste is EVERYONE'S Responsibility
      When computers, stereos, VCRs, iPods, walkmans, video games, software, and cell phones are put into land fills, they leak poisons and heavy metals into the ground, endangering our lives and the health of our planet. With 48.5 million computers discarded each year, the USA is a particularly poor recycler and global citizen, exporting its hazardous electronic waste to developing countries, often illegally, and with horrific impacts on human health and the environment in these countries. This page will help your organization dispose of its electronic waste in an environmentally-friendly manner.

     
    As of February 6, 2007
    • Me in Afghanistan, late Feb.-Aug. 2007
      Yes, you read that right. I'm off to Afghanistan, to serve as Communication and Reporting Advisor for the United Nation's National Area-Based Development Programme (NABDP), part of UNDP. And, yes, this changes significantly my availability for consulting assignments.

    • In both 2005 and 2006, every Tech4Impact issue included a brand new topic, never-before presented in a previous issue. In 2007, even more brand new topics and resources will be presented! To subscribe, send a blank email to:
      tech4impact-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
      or, visit: tech4impact yahoogroup

     
    As of January 16, 2007
    • Listing of Volunteer Management Software
      Some of the most frequently-asked questions to me are about volunteer management software: what's available, how different packages compare with each other, the cost of each, the features of each, and on and on. I do not have the resources to create a comparison of the different volunteer management software out there. But I do provide a list of all of such software, or nonprofit-related software/community relationship management software that has substantial volunteer management functions, that I know about. I believe it is the most comprehensive list available anywhere. I also offer criteria to help organizations choose volunteer management software, and to help someone who might want to create a comparison of such software.

     
    As of January 11, 2007
      Volunteering, Civic Engagement & MySpace
      For a few months now, I've been fiddlin' with MySpace to see how young people were using the site for activities relating to volunteerism / civic engagement -- if at all. There is, indeed, information here and there from individual users, some of it quite inspiring, but there's no overall guidance or encouragement for users on this subject. So, I decided to use my blog on MySpace (every user gets one) to focus specifically on volunteerism / civic engagement for MySpace users -- most of whom are in their teens and 20s. Please note that this MySpace blog does NOT replace my main blog.

      Also see Nonprofit Organizations and Online Social Networking (OSN): Advice and Commentary, which offers a realistic set of possibilities and considerations for nonprofits regarding OSN platforms like LinkedIn, Friendster, Facebook, MySpace and Care2.

     
    As of January 3, 2007
      Real-Time Communications With Volunteers
      A growing number of nonprofit/civil society organizations are using real-time communications tools -- including video conferencing, online phone calls, chats and instant messaging -- to hold online meetings with volunteers, to allow volunteers to interact with staff, clients, or each other, or to involve volunteers in a live, online, real-time event. Using Real-Time Communications With Volunteers provides more information on using these real-time computer, audio and video tools with volunteers -- what the various tools are, how agencies are using them to interact with volunteers, and tips to encourage and maintain participation in synchronous communications.

     
    As of November 20, 2006  
    As of November 2, 2006
    • Community Relations, With & Without Technology
      This section of the Coyote Communications web site has been greatly updated. It offers a range of advice and examples regarding community (public media, volunteer, donor, government, etc.) relations, both with and without technology. The advice is focused on nonprofit staff (paid and volunteer) who aren't the most tech-savvy people in the world, and who don't have intensive training in media relations or using tech-related tools, but are expected to master these activities as part of their jobs. It's also focused on those who need to think about and explore emerging technologies as part of their outreach efforts, but who need advice written in very human, accessible, non-technical language.

     
    As of October 1, 2006
    • Recognizing Online Volunteers & Using the Internet to Honor ALL Volunteers
      Recognition helps volunteers stay committed to your organization, and gets the attention of potential volunteers -- and donors -- as well. Organizations need to fully recognize the efforts of remote, online volunteers, as well as those onsite, and not differentiate the value of these two forms of service. Organizations should also incorporate use of the Internet to recognize the efforts of ALL volunteers, both online and onsite. With cyberspace, it's never been easier to show volunteers -- and the world -- that volunteers are a key part of your organization's successes. This new resource provides a long list of suggestions for both honoring online volunteers and using the Internet to recognize ALL volunteers that contribute to your organization.

     
    As of August 1, 2006  
    As of June 7, 2006
    • Stages of Maturity in Nonprofit Orgs Using Online Services
      What does a networking technology-savvy nonprofit organization look like? To help nonprofits think about networking tech standards they should pursue, and possible goals for the future, I've created this assessment of the states of maturity for a nonprofit organization's use of networking/online technologies.

    • Handling Online Criticism
      Online criticism of a nonprofit organization, even by its own supporters, is inevitable. It may be about an organization's new logo or new mission statement, the lack of parking, or that the volunteer orientation being too long. It may be substantial questions regarding an organization's business practices and perceived lack of transparency. How a nonprofit organization handles online criticism speaks volumes about that organization, for weeks, months, and maybe even years to come. There's no way to avoid it, but there are ways to address criticism that can help an organization to be perceived as even more trustworthy and worth supporting.

    • NetSquared and the New Wave of Online Volunteering
      Tiny nonprofit organizations with very little staff are doing extraordinary things with volunteers, and making their volunteers feel included and energized, not with pins and t-shirts but through greater and more-meaningful involvement. This conference provided endless examples of such, and I summarize them here.

     
    As of May 9, 2006
    • Nonprofit Organizations and Online Social Networking (OSN): Advice and Commentary
      OSN is buzz phrase used to describe special web-based online communities that are accessible only for community members, like LinkedIn, Friendster,
    • Facebook, MySpace and Care2. Is there a value for nonprofit organizations to engage in OSN platforms? This resource offers a realistic set of possibilities and considerations.

    • Volunteering To Help After Major Disasters
      Whenever a disaster strikes, hundreds -- even thousands -- of citizens in the USA start contacting various organizations in an effort to try to volunteer onsite at the disaster site. But what many of these people don't realize is that spontaneous volunteers with no training and no affiliation can actually cause more problems than they alleviate in a disaster situation, particularly regarding disaster locations far from their home. If you want to be a part of the mobilization for a future disaster, here are tips to help you get into "the system," get training, and be in a position to make a real difference.

    • Reality Check: Volunteering Abroad (especially for citizens of the USA)
      Times have changed drastically in the last 30 years regarding Americans and other "westerners" volunteering in other countries. The emphasis in local relief and development efforts is to empower local people, and to hire local people, whenever possible, to address their own issues, build their own capacities, and give them employment. This strategy is much more beneficial to local communities than to bring in an outside volunteer. That said -- the days of international volunteers are NOT numbered: there will always be a need for international volunteers, either to fill gaps in knowledge and service in a local situation, or because a more neutral observer/contributor is required. This new page provides tips on gaining the skills and experience that are critically needed to volunteer overseas.

    • My Upcoming Travel Schedule
      I'll be in San Francisco, California, May 29 - June 4 (leaving on June 5), for the NetSquared Conference, and then I'll be in Washington, DC: July 7 - 17 to present at the UICC World Cancer Congress regarding emerging trends and innovations in volunteer management. If you would like to meet with me while I'm in either city, or arrange a workshop at your site regarding one of my areas of expertise, please contact me with your ideas. And please note that my schedule on USA trips fills up very quickly!

     
    As of April 12, 2006  
    As of January 25, 2006
    • Why Should the Poor Volunteer? It's Time To Re-Think the Answer
      Editorial: When volunteering is so often presented just one way -- as a state-sanctioned free labor activity -- reluctance and even hostility by the unemployed, the cash-strapped and the disenfranchised are completely justified. If governments and donors want volunteerism campaigns in poor communities to lead to more volunteering, they must radically update their message.

    • In 2005, every Tech4Impact issue included a brand new topic, never-before been presented in the almost five years I've been publishing this monthly email newsletter. In 2006, even more brand new topics and resources will be presented! By subscribing, you can read all of the 2005 issues of Tech4Impact. To subscribe, send a blank email to:
      tech4impact-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
      or, visit: tech4impact yahoogroup

      Tech4Impact will continue its focus on helping mission-based organizations to use computer and Internet technologies to benefit people, communities and the environment. Resources for those using lower-end computers and older versions of software will get particular emphasis, acknowledging that mission-based organizations often do not have access to the latest and greatest tech. And Tech4Impact will continue to be presented in as much non-"techie" language as possible.

     
    As of January 2, 2006
    • Vetting Organizations in Other Countries
      One of the frequently asked questions I receive is: "how do I know if a mission-based organization in another country is 'for real'? I want to volunteer/donate to such, but first, I want to make sure it's a credible organization, that it's not some sort of scam, or an 'organization' of just one person." I'm also seeing more and more organizations in developing countries posting their requests for volunteers directly to public online forums. This list of suggestions for anyone who is interested in such organizations.

    • Hosting International Volunteers
      More and more local organizations in developing countries are turning to local expertise, rather than international volunteers, to support their efforts. However, the need for international volunteers remains, and will for many, many years to come. This resource provides tips for local organization in a developing countries interested in gaining access to international volunteers.

     
    As of October 12, 2005
    • Mission-Based Groups Need Use the Web to Show Accountability
      The number and tone of media stories regarding mission-based organizations/civil society and how they spent contributions in the wake of various disasters have done little to help such organizations better serve people in need. Rather, by concentrating on a few bad cases, or by misrepresenting administrative expenses as somehow unnecessary, they have made potential supporters suspicious of all charities, and those these organization's serve pay the ultimate price. There has never been a better time for mission-based organizations to use technology to show their transparency and credibility, and to teach the media and general public about the resources needed to address critical human and environmental needs.

    • Theater as a Tool For Development
      For my Master's Degree in Development Studies (as in human, institutional and community development), I conducted an investigation of what elements need to be in place for an organization engages to successfully use live, in-person performance as a development tool, excluding performer training and theater techniques. Research focused on the experiences of people and organizations who have used live, in-person performance as a development tool. I have now posted descriptions of and, if possible, links to, all of the resources that I used for this research project, which will be turned in later this month. I hope others find these resources helpful, and that the initiatives who shared information can get some positive exposure for their efforts as a result.

     
    As of September 6, 2005
      What are good blog topics for mission-based organizations?
      The word "blog" is short for "web log", and means keeping a journal or diary online. Blogging is NOT a new concept -- people have been doing it long before it had a snazzy media label. The appeal of blogging for an online audience is that it's more personal and less formal than other information on a web site. Readers who want to connect with an organization on a more personal level, or who are more intensely interested in an organization than the perhaps general public as a whole, love blogs. Blogs can come from your Executive Director, other staff members, volunteers, and even those you serve. Content options are many, and this list reviews some of your options

     
    As of June 13, 2005
    • Please, No More Volunteer-Matching Web Sites
      Please, no more volunteer matching sites for North America. There are plenty. In fact, in my opinion, there are too many. If you insist on launching such a site, I offer this advice.

     
    As of June 01, 2005
      A new look
      After almost 10 years, a new logo and a new color scheme. But the same easy-to-download/easy-to-print pages and, I hope, worthwhile content.