Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.92.960613073711.874C-100000@beta.tricity.wsu.edu> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 07:59:48 -0700 From: Tom Hodges <mailto:thodges@TRICITY.WSU.EDU> Subject: Re: WHAT HAVE WE DONE! To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Dear Friends, Probably the other people working with NGOs in the field will have more and better things to say on this but here are my thoughts for what they are worth.As a volunteer project grows (one may ask whether it should but thats another issue), some tasks become too much for volunteers. A few key spots need to be filled by full time paid workers -- executive secretary comes to mind first. Maybe a driver for hauling supplies if that comes to take a lot of time. I think that very few positions should be paid, and only full time, critical positions that are not overly pleasant to do. One needs a clear line between reimbursement for expenses and payment for time. Only a few clearly identified critical positions should be salaried.
Perhaps the NGO that Riaz is working with can decide that now is a good time to consult on this issue and make some policy decisions about how things should be run for the future. It may be possible to show how paying everyone for everything they do can reduce the effectiveness of the NGO. Probably many members have noticed this but haven't known what to do or say. They could discuss what positions are so vital that someone must always be there (secretary, truck driver) and are not so prestigious that a good volunteer will usually be available and so need to be salaried. Also reimbursable expenses could be clearly defined.
I think a committee (volunteers) to constantly recruit trainees for the most vital volunteer positions is an essential for any large NGO that hopes to encourage a spirit of volunteerism. Such a committee would look for smart, honest people who could be assigned to help those who have filled critical functions for several years so that when the senior volunteers need a "vacation" the trainee can step in smoothly. Also if the NGO is growing, more than one volunteer will be needed in some functions. This training and service could also be regarded as training for future work as a paid professional outside of the NGO -- in fact such transfer should be encouraged. It could forge excellent ties between the NGO and other agencies.
Hope this contributes positively to this discussion, Tom Tom Hodges, Cropping Systems Modeler USDA-ARS email: mailto:thodges@tricity.wsu.edu 24106 N Bunn Road voice: 509-786-9207 Prosser, WA 99350 USA Fax: 509-786-9370, 509-786-9277 ˙ HomePage http://www.tricity.wsu.edu/htmls/hodges ˙˙ ## Rent this space for your HomePage ## ˙If this represents anything, it is only my opinion.
On Wed, 12 Jun 1996, Riaz Khan wrote:
> Dear List members,
> Our project started work with an NGO in 1991. At that time the NGO
> was not very active, in fact almost dormant. Our objective was to
> utilize them to improve things in the field in which they were
> working. We started with all members participating on volountary
> basis. Soon the project activities multiplied and the NGO members
snip > one wants to do things without monetary reward. The NGO members
> have definitely gained knowledge through the project, but have we
> developed the NGO or have we destroyed the NGO is my question?
>
> regards
>
> Riaz Khan
>