Idea Center - April 2011 Archives
Subscribe to the Idea Center RSS feed!
A Volunteer's Story – Kathy J. Berkowitz
Our next volunteer took on a monumental task when she agreed to spearhead a project launching her professional association into the future. Kathy J. Berkowitz, APRN, BC, FNP, CDE, Senior Medical Science Liaison for Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., volunteers with the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) where she facilitates change in order to advance the Diabetes Educator profession, and with the Diabetes Association of Atlanta (DAA) where she helps those with Diabetes and their families.
I became so engaged with the association (AADE) because the diabetes educator is a relatively new profession, and as we learn more about Diabetes as a disease and the importance self-management plays in terms of the health and longevity of the individual living with the disease, the more important the role of the diabetes educator has become.
Kathy first became involved with AADE in 1985 when she and several colleagues came together to form the Greater Atlanta Association of Diabetes Educators (GAADE), a local chapter of AADE. She was especially encouraged by a friend with Type1 Diabetes who served as the first chapter president. Kathy’s initial intent was to just help out as a way to support the new president and stay abreast of advances in diabetes care and education. But before she knew it, she was far more engaged in the chapter and in 1989, served as the GAADE president.
During this time, Kathy also shared the host committee duties for AADE when it was located in Atlanta. This was just the beginning of her rise on the national stage, and after chairing several national committees, Kathy soon found herself on the Board of Directors. She has since served as AADE’s vice president, president-elect, 2001 president, and past president.
But it didn’t stop there.
Two years ago, Kathy was asked to lead a project/work group called the Member Affiliation Initiative, which laid the ground work and eventual launch of the My AADE Network, a centralized resource designed to help build and nurture the members’ professional development and relationships. It was not a painless task, but Kathy felt strongly about the objective saying that she agreed to lead the restructuring because she believed that the association—and she points out that it’s the only association that solely represents the diabetes educator— needed to make changes in order to remain a strong and viable organization for the profession in the future. Diabetes has grown into a major epidemic throughout the world, and educators are taking on more responsibility in not just educating the patient, but also working as team partners with physicians and other health care professionals.
Kathy knew the restructuring would be a tough road, and that taking on this mission was an enormous task. AADE had tried to restructure the chapter in past while she was on the board of directors, but was unable to because many members were uncomfortable with the changes. Despite these past set-backs, Kathy remained committed and had long ago decided that if the association ever reached out to her, she would be happy to help. She admits it has been a long two years, but truly worth it. “One member asked me at the leadership conference in September if I thought it [the restructuring] would be so hard, and I said absolutely I did, but that was okay.”
Kathy firmly believes the restructuring will benefit the individual diabetes educator by allowing them to become more engaged at the local and national levels. One of the key elements of the change is that not only will AADE be able to communicate more directly with its members, but educators will be able to communicate more easily with each other. They will be able to exchange best practices as well as share educational tools and other resources, and learn to use technology to their advantage. Along the way, many have had to learn to embrace the changes especially because of the technology involved, but Kathy believes that it will benefit the profession in the long run. The results are beginning to show...
What has really helped keep my enthusiasm up is when people have the AHA moment, and they get it. They’ve allowed themselves to put aside their fears for a moment to really look at the model and see the advantages it will bring, then to stand up to their peers and say, we do need to change.
And these moments are happening more and more!
So what will Kathy do now that My AADE Network is in full swing? Never able to rest on her laurels, when 2011 AADE president Donna Tomky asked Kathy to chair the 2011 annual meeting to be held in Las Vegas in August, she said yes yet again. Kathy was especially honored to find that Donna considers her a long-time mentor. We can certainly see why!
To round it all off, and because of her dedication to helping those with diabetes and their families, Kathy also serves on the board of directors with the Diabetes Association of Atlanta (primarily funded by the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc.). The main mission is to support individuals who fall through the cracks of a traditional diabetes education program (unfortunately, many heath care programs don’t support educational programs). For example, DAA reaches out to senior centers providing education to those without access, and helps obtain funds to provide medications and supplies to many others. She has also chaired several committees continuing to offer her support and experience.
Taking a deep breath (one she rightly deserves!), Kathy finished with these words…
The reason I’ve been at it for so long is that I feel that I do get back more than I give. As much as I have done, it’s about the rewards and the friendships I have developed over the years. When I go to the annual meetings, it will be the only time that I see certain people all year long, but we just reconnect. It’s the camaraderie and the networking. After all, we all share a common goal. I don’t this is terribly unique, but I think it’s these threads that run through every volunteer.
Well said Kathy.
Have a story to share? Tell us. And connect with us on our Association Volunteers! Facebook page.
A couple of Associations did hear about National Volunteer Week
Kudos to several associations and a couple of ubercool volunteers so recognized the importance of getting involved in National Volunteer Week. I prodded earlier that association's didn't get it and while I think these examples are good, I still say we have a long-way to go baby.
Here are ideas from 3 associations (can you find more??):
- ASAE said thanks! (albeit a blanket thank you, but a thank you!)
- AIHA did a little podcast celebrating their volunteers http://bit.ly/ian079 which @craigsorrell shared.
- PRSA_MD sent a few tweets and started a thank you chain on their Facebook page ...
Here are some from a few smart people:
- KiKi L'Italien posted this great video, this personal thank you video and hosted a great #assnchat on the subject not to mention a recap on her weekly Social Media SweetSpot. On this last item, I heard about TX Society of Association Executives using the week for a "talent call"
- Lori Halley shared recognition tips on the Wild Apricot Blog.
- Shannon Otto offered a few ideas for thanking volunteers on the MemberClicks Splash blog.
- Leslie White looked at why associations may not have a "learned behavior" re volunteer management - and how to change that.
So let's look ahead to 2012's week - April 15-21... and here's a starting point: Engaging Volunteer's round-up from VolunteerMatch's resource library. And for some inspiration check out #NVW11.
Someone tell associations its National Volunteer Week
Psst - it's National Volunteer Week. Yep it started on Sunday, April 10. It runs all week. Not that you'd notice in the association world. But turn to the c3 world and it's a different story. Even the White House took time to notice ... as it fought the budget battle.
So what's up with associations? Don't we get volunteers?
Funny that's what we were saying on the last Executive Explorations call, a series of free discussions on volunteering in associations hosted by the ASAE Executive Management Section Council. We talked more about that on our innovation peer group call. We know we rely on volunteers. We just don’t invest in volunteers. We know we struggle with poor performing volunteers and in some cases a dearth of volunteers. We just don't invest in robust volunteer management programs.
Even my professional society focused on membership organizations hasn't spent a pixel in recognizing this week. I haven't (yet) received that generic email thank you for my hours (although I did just get a request to sign-up again for a volunteer project - does that count??).
Here's the interesting rub. We are doing a lot of talking about member engagement. It seems somewhere along the road, we figured out that if you connect - really engage - a member, they are way more likely to renew. And guess what, the best forms of engagement are through volunteering. So ... why the disconnect? We spend lip service on training, evaluating, and recognizing. We often don’t reward either. Volunteer management can be found scattered all over the association.
There are some associations who have a more enlightened approach. We’re beginning to see titles like “Director of Volunteer Relations” and “Director of Member and Volunteer Services.” Associations like PMI are looking at new training and development models.
I think at the heart of problem is this sense – at the top, yes I mean the board – that it’s a responsibility for members to serve. They are supposed to want to “give back” and to work for their profession. That’s a different mindset from the c3 crowd. They see their volunteers are partners and resources. They see them as a valuable commodity and even a strategic resource. They invest in robust volunteer management programs. They brand their programs. They celebrate. They even embed their volunteering into the community – witness high school students’ requirement for service hours and volunteering as a critical component in a political resume.
So here's my challenge to all of us: let’s put volunteer management and development as a strategic goal. Let’s apply resources to developing robust programs. Let’s be “volunteer organizations”.
One easy step is to "like" our Facebook Association Volunteers! page and add a note about how great your volunteers are.
In case you want to explore a little more about National Volunteer Week:
- Lots of ways to get in the know beginning with #NVW11 stream on Twitter
- Piece in USA Today
- Engaging Volunteers blog series over at Volunteer Match
- Huffington Post's "Volunteering - Some news is so big it needs it's own page"
- IABC/BC chapter offers a reason - make that 5 - you shoudl volunteer for your professional association.
Surprise Them
As we flew from Walla Walla into Seattle, the sight of Mt St Helen’s piercing the clouds and seeming to appear alongside the plane was breathtaking. This sight pushed the droning engine sound out-of-mind.
Landing in Seattle, the news awaited. Flights cancelled. As I reached to fill a water bottle, the sign above the
fountain said “the talking fountain.” With a twist of the handle, a refreshing bubbling sound emerged coaxing a smile and sigh that melted away the anxiety of waiting.
To St. Louis. Connecting flight delayed. A left turn off the main concourse and I was immersed in serenity – soothing music, no hustling and bustling. All the gates were dark in the quiet concourse – like an oasis.
The meeting I had left – the WADE (WA Association of Diabetes Educators) state conference where I spoke about using the social web to build connections without drive time – was an incredibly successful work of art. The first evening members were invited to go to dinner with peers, peers who they were paired with by interest or local networking group. A matchmaking exercise that drew raves.
The email subject line is “Your EarlyBird Check-In Refund.” You see my trip home from the WADE was way different from the plan. And I had paid extra to get the A seating. I lost my positioning in the change (but I did get home!). How wonderful I didn’t have to ask for that refund!
It’s the little surprises that make the day richer, the delays in airports less frustrating, the challenges more appealing, strangers like friends. Imagine if we could conjure simple surprises for our members?
Who's Up Next?
There's a lot of talk about leadership succession planning for chapters. It regularly comes up as the top 1 or 2 pain points for chapters. Most associations provide a succession planning guide and tools for chapters. Many offer training at the chapter leadership conferences and webinars. So what's missing here? If we're doing all this talking, why is still the pain point?
Could it be that all this talk is missing the point? That these tools don't get to the point?
I looked at the succession planning tools provided by four national associations for their chapters. And yes, they are missing the point ... it's not succession planning, its succession management. This is not a linear process with a starting point and an end point. And it's not about filling positions. It should be about an ongoing focus on developing leaders.
By reducing this conversation to a "who's up next?' search to filling positions, we're missing the point entirely. And by giving our chapters lengthy plans and detailed charts, we're directing energy to paperwork rather than creating relationships.
My suggestion is simply that we step back and tell our chapters that succession planning isn't planning. It is creating a culture of service and leadership in our organizations. It is getting to know our members and engaging them in the work -- and fun -- of the chapter. Two strategies that will help build this culture are:
(1) Engage members ... talk about engaging first, volunteering comes next. Plug members in from the beginning (or at renewal if you're starting this now) by asking them (a) why they are involved and (b) what types of skill sets are they looking to develop or activities they would enjoy being involved in. The goal is to help your member create an individual engagement plan.
(2) Create a Volunteer Team ... this is your HR team that actively seeks "talent" and matches them to jobs. The team can be led by a "coordinator" and have a team of "talent scouts." The goal is to develop a talent pool and a "pool of activities". This pool of activities should include big and small jobs. It should offer variety. The focus is on connecting members.
Let's change the conversation...
Always in search of ideas.
