Discusses volunteer service programs in Catholic schools in the last 20 years. Lists trends emerging from a process of experimentation and growth in volunteer programs. Reviews the benefits for young people of volunteer work and discusses young people's contributions to church agencies and institutions.

Dayspring AIDS support services (DASS), a New England-based health organization, like many service organizations that rely on part-time and volunteer help, lacked the funds needed to improve and/or renew part-time staff and volunteer knowledge and skills. This paper describes an innovative way in which the professional development needs of DASS's…

Program materials for Mississippi 4-H Field and Stream are carefully controlled and made available only to volunteer leaders who have completed leader training workshops. This document describes the Mississippi 4-H Field and Stream program, discusses the leader training workshops and their significance, and provides responses to frequently asked…

Illustrates the student-directed service learning process at work in Youth Educational Services (Y.E.S.), begun 14 years ago, and focuses on the uniqueness of student-directed and student-initiated programs. (ERB)

Presents a model for constructing and evaluating an effective alumni volunteer program to aid the student recruitment effort. A review of successful programs reveals certain common features and provides important touchstones for other schools looking for the principles and practices with which to organize their own efforts. (Author)

The annual phonathon held at Elmira College is described. Phonathon prospects are seen as coming from two categories: (1) alumni donors who have given $10 and up in the past and (2) all members of reunion classes, whether or not they have ever given. (MLW)

The author describes the role and training of the volunteer museum docent and suggests new ways they might be used in school field trip programs. (SJL)

Describes a "Volunteer Reader" project in which volunteers from the community read and respond to student essays. Lists typical questions and answers that address the logistics of the project. Notes that the project has spread to the district level. (RS)

Describes the Book Buddies program, a program established by the San Francisco Public Library which recruits and trains volunteers who read to children in area hospitals. The planning, organization, and operation of the program are discussed, as well as the recruitment and training of volunteers. (MES)

An environmental initiative designed to increase the skill and knowledge levels of Peace Corps staff and volunteers is described. The objectives, accomplishments, strategies, and evaluation of the program are discussed. (CW)

Suggests guidelines for schools that are developing volunteer tutoring programs to help young children who are at risk for reading failure. Discusses the "America Reads Challenge," and what is known about volunteers. Discusses several components essential to the success of tutoring programs in reading. (SR)

Reports on a project that tested the feasibility of recruiting and training volunteers as lay health educators who could coordinate and reinforce the educational efforts of health care providers. The program proved successful in identifying, recruiting, and training volunteers from racially and religiously diverse institutions. Favorable outcomes…

Offers suggestions for a successful volunteer program in a school setting. Topics include recruitment strategies, including advertising for parents, grandparents, other groups, and students; training programs for adult volunteers and for students; how to keep volunteers; how to afford rewards; and helpful resources. (LRW)