“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.”
- Denis Waitley
Effective groups
Collaborative process
One of the hallmarks of effective groups is the ability to work together collaboratively – sharing knowledge and learning from each other - whether in formal partnerships or as volunteers, in formal committees or in informal working groups.
Collaboration in groups top^
Collaboration Training Manual
An online training manual developed for the National Network for Collaboration, with a useful framework model and a number of practical tools.
University of Vermont, Center for Rural Studies, linked 09/10
http://crs.uvm.edu/nnco/cd/index.htm
Partnership Assessment Tool
A questionnaire to assess how well the collaborative processes of a partnership are working by measuring the level of synergy, with a reporting function that helps to identify specific areas to focus on to make the collaborative processes better. Developed for health partnerships, but applicable to a wide range of settings.
Center for the Advancement of Collaborative Strategies in Health (2002), linked 09/10
http://www.researchtoolkit.org/home/disseminating-and-closing-research/documenting-and-closing-out/6792-partnership-self-assessment-tool-from-the-center-for-the-advancement-of-collaborative-strategies-in-health-.html
Partnership Synergy: A Practical Framework
A research article on the importance and measurement of synergy in effective partnerships.
Lasker, R.D., Weiss, E.S., & Miller, R., Milbank Quarterly, 2001, 79(2):179-203, linked 09/10
http://www.cpcrn.org/pubs/Partnership%20Synergy.pdf
Working as a Team
Online training modules on teams, roles and responsibilities, stages of team development, decision making, and communication skills.
New York State Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (©2003), linked 09/10
http://goer.state.ny.us/Training_Development/Online_Learning/FTMS/100s1.html
Committee functioning top^
Committees and Delegation
A brief summary of the purpose, requirements, and composition of committees to support a consensus process.
Tree Bressen, linked 09/10
http://www.treegroup.info/topics/handout-committees.pdf
Effective Committees
Good overview of how to make committees effective as they are often the working force at the heart of an organization and build the support base of an organization.
Alberta Food and Agriculture, linked 09/10
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex1333?opendocument#making
Effective Committees
A quick overview of committees, including purpose, creation, reports, and tips for effective use of committees.
Board Development, linked 09/10
http://www.boarddevelopment.org/en/1/committees.aspx
Ideas to Generate Participation in Committees
Excellent ideas for how to increase participation in committees.
Carter McNamara, Free Management Library, linked 09/10
http://www.managementhelp.org/grp_skll/cmmttee/ideas.htm
Standard Committee Terms of Reference
Provides a template for developing Terms of Reference.
Board Development, linked 09/10
http://www.boarddevelopment.org/en/1/committees2.aspx
Volunteer management top^
Building a Great Vounteer Program
Self-paced 2-hour online course; $127 for 3 months access.
Charity Village Campus, linked 09/10
http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/learn/cvcvol.html
Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement
This revised Code for Volunteer Involvement enables organizations to enhance their existing practices and continue to ensure that solid foundations are in place for involving volunteers in their organizations.
Volunteer Canada and the Canadian Administrators of Volunteer, linked 09/10
http://www.cavrcanada.org/_Library/Docs/CodeEng.pdf
Collective Wisdom
Resources for leaders of volunteers including Recruitment Insights, Supervision Tips, Teaching about Volunteering, Great Recognition Ideas, Fostering Diversity, and more.
Energize Inc website, linked 09/10
http://www.energizeinc.com/wisdom.html
Insurance Toolkit for the Voluntary Sector
Provides information and a series of questions to address the insurance needs of voluntary sector organizations.
Volunteer Alberta, linked 09/10
http://www.volunteeralberta.ab.ca/insurance/
United Planet Volunteer Opportunities
An international, educational, humanitarian, and peace-building non-profit organization with members and volunteers in over 150 countries devoted to fostering cross-cultural understanding and friendship and supporting communities in need in order to unite the world in a community beyond borders.
United Planet website, linked 09/10
http://www.unitedplanet.org/
Working with Volunteers
Resources for working effectively with volunteers, with links to a range of resources.
PlanetVolunteer.net, linked 09/10
http://www.planetfriendly.net/volunteer/management.html