These are USENET newsgroups, e-mail-based discussion groups, web-based bulletin boards and updates via e-mail for and by volunteer managers/service leaders. These are great places to interact with other volunteer/service managers of various types of organizations, get suggestions and feedback, and ask questions.
E-mail Mailing Lists
Like USENET newsgroups, e-mail mailing lists serve their membership by providing a forum for discussion on a specific topic. Unlike USENET, e-mail lists are not automatically broadcast to a worldwide audience, but to individuals who have subscribed to the list. Lists are usually closed discussions among subscribers, and messages are delivered directly to subscribers via e-mail. Though online archives are sometimes maintained, e-mail lists are usually not archived.
Messages go to a central point and are then "reflected" automatically back to all who subscribe to the list. It is free to subscribe to an e-mail list. However, please note when you subscribe to any of such lists that the address for subscriptions is different than the address for posting comments and questions.
Most of these lists provide you with the option of receiving messages in "digest" mode, which means you receive all of the messages for a list in one e-mail. If you are subscribing to more than one list, you will probably want to enable this option. Check the "welcome" message you receive after you subscribe to a particular list for directions on how to receive the in digest mode.
As with most USENET newsgroups, e-mail lists have established posting guidelines. When you subscribe to an e-mail list, you will typically receive a welcome e-mail outlining the mailing list's policies.
Most mailing lists use an automated subscription system. Be sure to follow subscription instructions exactly.
- ACLIST
Links people interested and involved in AmeriCorps programs. Includes AmeriCorps members and program directors, state commissions, training and technical assistance providers and staff from the Corporation for National Service, AmeriCorps sponsoring agency. To become a part of this discussion, send the message SUBSCRIBE ACLIST to
join-aclist@lists.etr.org
Do not write anything else in the body of your message. - ARNOVA
Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action. Discussions are a blend of theoretical and applied interest to help scholars gain insight into "real world" concerns while providing practitioners with valuable perspectives and data relevant to their work. This is not a place to post volunteer opportunities. To become a part of ARNOVA's discussion group, send the message SUBSCRIBE ARNOVA-L to
listserv@wvnvm.wvnet.edu
Do not write anything else in the body of your message, and do not use commas in between your name and organization name. - CNSTECH
A forum for all national service programs (Corporation for National Service, SeniorCorps, AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps VISTA) to help each other solve computer-related problems or use technology more efficiently. To become a part of the group, send the message SUBSCRIBE CNSTECH "YOUR NAME" to
listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu
Replace "YOUR NAME" with your name (first and last name, no quotes). Do not write anything else in the body of your message and do not use commas. - CVSNET
A forum to discuss and debate all aspects of the work, activities and management of CVS (Councils for Voluntary Service and similar bodies) and NACVS (National Association of CVS). CVS are charities formed and run by voluntary organisations in England to provide the infrastructure of the voluntary sector. Anyone, anywhere, with an interest in CVS is invited to join. To become a part of the group, send the message
SUB CVSNET yourCVS Firstname Lastname
to:
listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu
Replace "yourCVS" with the name of your CVS organization (if any) and "Firstname Lastname" with your name (first and last name, no quotes). Do not write anything else in the body of your message and do not use commas or quotes. More information about this group is available at: the Directory of CVS. - CYBERVPM
A very active discussion group for volunteer coordinators/service leaders to discuss problems, concerns, issues, and anything associated with the recruitment and management of volunteers. This is a great place to share experiences and ask questions of other volunteer managers/service leaders, but it is not a place to post volunteer opportunities. To become a part of the group, send a blank e-mail to
cybervpm-subscribe@egroups.com
After you join the group, you can set the discussion to digest via CyberVPM's Yahoo! Groups page. - Distance Volunteering
Focused primarily on organizations in the United Kingdom. Aims to: a) discuss, develop and exchange thoughts and ideas which can contribute in providing help and support to areas within communities in need. b) make contact with community organisers, especially those working in remote and underdeveloped areas, directly and or through social workers and others. c) organise link ups with specialised groups and organisations that can serve to address, assist and follow up requests for help. To subscribe, visit Distance Volunteering's Yahoo! Groups mailing list subscription page. - GOV-VPM
Government-Based Volunteer Program Managers (GOV-VPM) is a moderated listserv for individuals working with volunteers in government-based programs. To join, send a message to: listserv@listserv.pointsoflight.org with the following text in the body: subscribe gov-vpm your full name. - INTVOL
Discussion group for program representatives of international volunteer organizations (that send individuals abroad to volunteer). To become a part of the group, send the message SUBSCRIBE to
intvol-request@lafetra.org
Do not write anything in the body of your message. - NONPROFIT
(formerly USNONPROFIT-L)
Discusses volunteer/service management issues, as well as other nonprofit issues, such as management, board recruitment and relations, staff issues, fund raising, accounting, taxation, evaluation, accountability, marketing/public relations, collaborating with other organizations, technology uses (computer hardware, software and Internet), and various other issues of interest to not-for-profit professionals, volunteers and supporters. This is another great place to share experiences and ask questions of other volunteer managers, but it is NOT a place to post your volunteer opportunities.
You can receive each post as an e-mail by sending the message "Subscribe" without quotes to
nonprofit-request@rain.org
You can join the digest version of the list (strongly suggested), which will allow you to receive all of the day's postings in one e-mail. To do this, send the message "Subscribe" without quotes to:
nonprofit-d-request@rain.org - SERVEnet
SERVEnet hosts several listservs on a variety of community service-related topics, including civic clubs, collegiate, seniors, faith-based service, military, AmeriCorps alumni, volunteer centers and legislation/policy relating to service. To participate in these lists subscribe to the appropriate list via the SERVEnet site, http://www.servenet.org, using a Web browser that supports frames. OR, send the message "lists" (without quotes) to majordomo@interactive.com, for an index of all the lists by e-mail, then send the message "help" (without quotes) to the same address for information on how to subscribe. - UKVPMs
An online discussion group via e-mail, and Internet-based networking resource, for United Kingdom-based volunteer managers. For more information and to subscribe, visit UKVPMs Yahoo! Groups page. - VISTA-L
An announcement list e-mailed monthly during immediate VISTA assignment openings, program updates, and items of interests to career centers, libraries, professional groups and potential volunteers. VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is part of the Corporation for National Service. To become a part of the group, send the message Subscribe VISTA-L Firstname Lastname to LISTSERV@AMERICAN.EDU - VistaNet
An on-going discussion group for VISTAs, former VISTAs, AmeriCorps folks, and anyone interested in national service and social issues. To become a part of the group, send the message subscribe vistanet yourFirstName yourLastName to: listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu - VOLUNTEER-ISSUES
Focuses on all aspects of volunteers in the nonprofit sector, cutting across nearly every form of nonprofit management, administration, fund-raising, leadership, and function. Subscribe to VOLUNTEER-ISSUES either via email, or from the CharityChannel.com web site. Via e-mail, send the message SUBSCRIBE VOLUNTEER-ISSUES yourFirstname yourLastname to Listserv@CharityChannel.com - VOLUNTEERISM
For volunteers to discuss experiences. This is a good place for volunteer managers to get feedback from volunteers around the country, and to post volunteer opportunities. To become a part of the group, send the message SUBSCRIBE VOLUNTEERISM "your firstname lastname" to listsubscribe@west.navpoint.com. Replace "YOUR NAME" with your name (first and last name, no quotes). Do not write anything else in the body of your message and do not use commas. - Human Resources Lists
These are not for volunteer managers specifically, but they can offer related information:- Performance Management TIPS
Each day, subscribers receive a single message containing a quote, tip, hint or information about improving performance or performance management. To subscribe, visit the PERFTIPS Yahoo! Groups page.
- Performance Management TIPS
- Social Work Access Network
A list of Social Work mailing lists may be found at the Social Work Access Network (SWAN)
USENET Newsgroups
USENET newsgroups (called both "USENET" and "newsgroups") are ongoing online discussions dedicated to a particular topic and propagated to news servers worldwide. Messages, usually referred to as "posts", are posted to a newsgroup for everyone who subscribes to that newsgroup to see (it is free to subscribe to most newsgroups). Depending upon how a user accesses USENET, posts are either sent via e-mail or through an online form. Messages sent to a USENET newsgroup can be read by anyone with a newsreader program, such as NewsWatcher.
Your internet service provider (ISP) may provide access to USENET newsgroups as part of your internet service package. You will need to contact your ISP for information regarding any newsgroup access they provide.
In addition to providing Web-based access to USENET newsgroups, Google Groups provides a good overview of USENET's evolution and the basics of its operation, as well as a guideline for posting appropriately.
Look for groups whose participants are located in or focused on your geographic area, and groups centered around a particular subject or issue. For instance, if you are looking for someone to help with Web site development, contact a discussion group for Web site developers. For someone to help with an environmental project, look for an environmental activists group. For help at a special event for an agency that works in a particular city, find a group for citizens of that city.
Before posting, get a sense of the audience on a particular newsgroup to make sure that the audience would be receptive to your information. For instance, don't post volunteer opportunities to the newsgroup soc.org.nonprofit, as this group is made up of other nonprofit professionals who are looking for volunteers themselves. Posting inappropriately can result in bad publicity for your organization.
The following links take you to Google Groups' indexes of these newsgroups, which may be of interest to volunteer managers. Please note that ServiceLeader.org is not responsible for, nor endorses, the content of these newsgroups:
Online Communities
Yahoo! Groups' directory of almost 3,000 groups dedicated to volunteerism and community service shows the breadth and depth of Internet users involved in service or volunteerism.
