Handling Problem Volunteers [Paperback]

Steve H. McCurley (Author), Sue Vineyard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1998

Not all volunteers are saints; some require special handling. This book helps readers determine root of problem and effective responses. Examines volunteers who are somewhat annoying, seriously disruptive and even dangerously dysfunctional. How to correct behavior, redirect efforts and even fire (if need be!) a volunteers to avoid contaminating the efforts of productive folks. A must for anyone leading a volunteer effort.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

America's most prolific authors and respected trainers of thousands of various programs staffed by volunteers. 20+ years experience plus years of being "in the trenches". Sue and Steve, with backgrounds in education, certified volunteer program management and law, bring common sense, use-it-today learnings to folks who lead volunteers in the non-profit, corporate or community service arenas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 60 pages
• Publisher: Heritage Arts Publishing (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0911029478
• ISBN-13: 978-0911029475
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,965,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Second Level Details, Worthwhile, July 23, 2002

By 

Robert D. Steele (Oakton, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Best Practices for Volunteer Programs (Paperback)

This book (actually an 8.5 x 11 manual) is one level down from Helen Little's "Volunteers: How to Get Them, How to Keep Them" (the book I recommend if you buy only one), and it is a tie between this book and Susan Ellis' "The Volunteer Recruitment and Membership Development Book" for runner up.

The author's are prolific on this topic, with many books (manuals?) to their credit, but to the point of devaluing their knowledge. Instead of filtering and distilling and integrating knowledge that can be used, they are spewing out multiple volumes that require the buyer to spend precious time attempting to discover applicable knowledge. Having said that, I recommend this specific manual for purchase.

Among its positive points are its distinction among the five generations from which volunteers are drawn, and the unique strategies that must be adapted to each generation's distinct needs and expectations; its focus on the importance of understanding the differences between staff and volunteers and how to devise strategies that play to the strengths of each in collaborative ways; its direct discussion of "mandated volunteers" who have been sentenced to community service or must perform community service as part of early retirement programs; and its specific attention to how short-term volunteer tasks can be used to attract and evaluate potential longer-term volunteers.

This is a serious manual and an excellent complement to Helen Little's core work cited above.