Availability of the New Bureau of Land Managements (BLM) Online Course: Basic Volunteer Administration for Managers
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20240September 30, 2009In Reply Refer To: 1114 (172) PEMS TRANSMISSION 10/06/2009Information Bulletin No. 2009-113To: All WO Officials, AFOsFrom: Director, National Landscape Conservation System & Community PartnershipsSubject: Availability of the New Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Online Course: "Basic Volunteer Administration for Managers" We are pleased to announce the availability of a new online, two-hour training course designed specifically for BLM managers: "Basic Volunteer Administration for Managers" (DOI LEARN Course No. 1103-03).The BLM Volunteer Program National Strategy 2004 stresses the importance of strengthening internal agency support for volunteers and BLM's use of volunteers, in part by enhancing management awareness of the agency's Volunteer Program. Strong leadership by BLM field and resource program managers is key to establishing and maintaining a successful Volunteer Program for each office and for our agency as a whole.The effective use of volunteers allows offices to undertake projects that would otherwise not be accomplished, increases public awareness of BLM and land management careers, involves local communities in problem-solving, and encourages citizens to become active stewards of the public lands. Overseeing a successful Volunteer Program can improve a manager's leadership competencies, help him or her acquire new approaches for achieving organizational efficiencies, and cultivate skills for building effective partnerships and teams.“Basic Volunteer Administration for Managers" was developed by staff from the Division of Education, Interpretation, and Partnerships in cooperation with members of the BLM Volunteer Program Adjunct Team and training specialists at the BLM National Training Center. Emphasis is given to the core competency of “Leadership" using the development of a proactive Volunteer Program as a teaching vehicle. The course illustrates how to build and support a successful Volunteer Program from the ground up, focusing on: the importance of management vision and support; roles and responsibilities; recruitment, retention and recognition; planning and budget development; and training opportunities. In addition to providing basic information about the Bureau's Volunteer Program, the course presents video re-enactments of real-life scenarios to help trainees envision a role or situation before they face it firsthand.This course is also an excellent complement to the BLM's “Basic Volunteer Administration" course (Course No. 1100-02), which teaches the day-to-day “nuts and bolts" of operating a Volunteer Program to State and Field Office volunteer coordinators, managers, and resource specialists. We encourage BLM managers to take advantage of this opportunity to add volunteer program administration skills to their leadership repertoires. If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to contact Mary Tisdale, Chief, Division of Education, Interpretation and Partnerships, at Mary_Tisdale@blm.gov or (202) 912-7450.Signed by: Carl Rountree, National Landscape Conservation System and Community PartnershipsAuthenticated by: Robert M. Williams Director, Division of IRM Governance, WO-560