Concerned about the deteriorating condition of existing facilities, a dedicated group of Lake City, Iowa students, staff, parents, and community members completely redecorated and refurbished the school, transforming it into a bright, colorful building--at no cost to the district. The "Make a Difference Day" had unexpected social and…

Observations and interviews were conducted of 36 older adult volunteers in preschool classrooms. Volunteers brought a familial dimension to the setting and modeled behaviors for children. Their styles were not consistent with professional standards but complemented those of early childhood educators. (Contains 25 references.) (SK)

A survey of 15 corporate volunteer program managers found that administration was complicated by limited staff time and lack of clear policies; employee preferences and incentives/rewards had a higher priority than impact on customers and community; feedback on program results was mostly informal; and 73% reported no measurement process. (Contains…

Suggests that because of the changing demographics of college students and the likelihood that they participate in paid work, the time has come for community college staff to consider ways to support student involvement in important on-campus organizations through compensation. Describes such arrangements with precedent in the campus environment,…

Examines volunteer hospital workers' evaluations of the effectiveness of regulative messages constructed by hospital staff in response to four scenarios. States that positive face support was not related to effectiveness ratings for volunteers with lower construct differentiation, but messages lacking face support were criticized. Notes that…

Describes the Home Start program in the United Kingdom, in which volunteers, during home visits, offer regular support, friendship, and practical help to parents who have at least one child under school age and who are under stress. (BC)

Describes a case study of one college student's learning experiences as an adult literacy tutor in a community center of a low income housing development. Highlights the challenges faced by both learners and tutors in adult literacy education. (SR)

It has become easier to conduct background checks over the Internet. Youth agencies must implement this information to screen applicants for working in youth programs. This paper highlights a legal case in which the plaintiff claimed he was repeatedly molested by his scoutmaster, calling the Scouts negligent in hiring and monitoring the…

A survey of 157 older adult volunteers suggests that volunteering provides substantial benefits such as maintaining a sense of identity and self-esteem, meeting the need to belong to a group, and affording opportunities to undertake new learning challenges. Volunteer organizations should attempt to meet these needs as a way to retain volunteers.…

Describes one volunteer's experience bringing nature-oriented games and activities weekly to a preschool classroom. Asserts that child care centers can benefit immensely from bringing in outsiders with special skills. Offers tips for a successful volunteer experience: (1) shop and screen; (2) make it a date; (3) be upfront and personal; (4) allow…

Describes how Alan C. Milstein has sued universities and scientists in an effort to protect the rights of people who volunteer as research subjects. (EV)

The changing environment has shifted the model of nonprofit organizations from charity to social enterprise, which emphasizes partnerships with business and government. Approaches to volunteer management, recruitment, retention, and recognition are different in social enterprises, and a move beyond human resource management practices is required.…

The purposes of this study were to determine the extent and types of parent involvement in Head Start programs, and to examine the relations between parent participation and family, teacher and classroom characteristics. Parents (n = 1131) and teachers (n = 59) from four Head Start programs participated. Data were gathered through volunteer logs,…

The authors used teacher action research with the design experiment (A. Brown, 1992) to investigate the effects of working with parents in small groups on kindergarten children's emergent literacy performance. The authors randomly assigned 56 children enrolled in the morning and afternoon sessions of the first author's kindergarten class in a…

The gendered division of household labor is more multifaceted than the allocation of paid work and domestic work. People also engage in volunteer work and informal support. I investigate the applicability of household labor allocation theories - specifically the time constraints, economic, and doing gender perspectives - to all unpaid work. I…