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| CRBJ Home > October 2006 | ||||||
United Way program a resource for businessJames Edward Mills
Operated with administrative help from the United Way of Dane County, the Business Volunteer Network provides resources and guidance in the development of workplace programs that allow employees to give of their time for a good cause. United Way communications director Erika Monroe-Kane said the BVN furthers her organization's agenda to affect lasting change by facilitating volunteer initiatives throughout the Capital Region. "At United Way we are focused on the seven Agenda for Change goals. The seventh of these is to promote volunteerism and to help strengthen our non-profit partners or other nonprofits in Dane County," Monroe-Kane said. "This Business Volunteer Network is a great vehicle to be able to do that, because we support businesses supporting volunteerism." Companies can work with United Way through their volunteer programs to fulfill the other six Agenda for Change items, which include bridging the achievement gap for minority students, preparing pre-kindergarten children for school, increasing community members' access to affordable healthcare, ending homelessness, preventing domestic violence and seeing to the needs of the elderly. For $50 to $100 a month any business in Dane County can become a BVN member and reap the benefits of an organization dedicated to making it easy to volunteer. "There's no limit based on the size of the organization or revenues by any means, to either initiate or expand or refine their employee volunteer workplace program," said BVN president Jim Jensen. "We currently have about 35 members and we're growing." Jensen said the BVN helps companies target volunteer opportunities at area nonprofits. With regular meeting, a resource Web site, a development tool kit, books and videotapes, members have access to detailed information on how to create a volunteer program, encourage employee participation and use volunteerism as a career development tool. "If you're coordinating a (volunteer) project for your organization you might take on a leadership role that you would otherwise not have, or take on more responsibility," Jensen said. "So there's significant opportunities for being involved in this, to help develop staff retention." The BVN encourages companies to create volunteer programs in order to attract and retain high-caliber employees to whom community service is important. "Those employees, when given those opportunities, feel better about themselves," Jensen said. "They feel better about their employers and it translates into a much better sense of loyalty." Julie Farmer is the BVN coordinator for the Wisconsin Auto and Truck Dealers Association. She said her company joined the network to boost employee morale and to enhance team work through community outreach. "A group of us decided we could do that with volunteerism," Farmer said. "I discovered the BVN and decided to explore whether it could be some help to us. Mostly it's about getting ideas about what other people do and finding out what's going on. It's been a great resource for that." Farmer and her co-workers participated in the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure in support of breast cancer research. They also prepared and served lunch at a Habitat for Humanity build and held a food drive for the Second Harvest Food Pantry. "People feel good about helping others," she said. Although businesses could coordinate employee volunteer efforts on their own, Farmer said the BVN helps provide the motivation to turn feelings of altruism into action. "BVN helps spark some of the ideas," she said. "By participating in the meetings you find out what other people are doing. And that sparks ideas for what you can do with your co-workers." James Edward Mills is a State Journal reporter. jmills@madison.com madison.com ©2009 Capital Newspapers. All rights reserved. |
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