Along the Web is a "retired" section. It was based on former editor Steve McCurley's general theory of life: "Why re-invent the wheel when you can steal the whole car?" Leaders in volunteer involvement already have too much to do to waste time, so in this section we tried to show you what's already been learned by others. Along the Web presents materials and sites found on the Web that focus on various aspects of volunteering
Engage Library
"A person's a person, no matter how small." Dr. Seuss
This quote from American writer and cartoonist Theodor Seuss Geisel embodies the theme of this edition of Along the Web: children as volunteers. While not a new idea, the thought of incorporating the efforts of young…
April 2015
There has been considerable development since the April 2004 Along the Web article on “Volunteers in Arts and Culture." In this 2015 issue, Along the Web returns to the topic and explores a range of recently created resources that have been developed either by or on behalf of…
January 2015
As social media expands throughout the world, it has spawned a unique sub-category of virtual volunteering dubbed “clicktivism” – letting people who are online or on a Smartphone make an impact on their causes in a short amount of time with very little effort. The name comes…
October 2014
The BBC News Web site reports that the worldwide prison population stands at around nine million, with the U.S., China, and Russia ranked as the three countries with the most prisoners. Together, these three nations imprison half of all the world’s prisoners, with the U.S.…
July 2014
What does a successful and relevant Volunteer Center look like? In a time when many question the viable future of Volunteer Centers, what common traits and best practices do thriving Volunteer Centers share?
In this edition of Along the Web, authors Arnie Wickens and Erick C.…
April 2014
It’s not very likely that the barrista serving your morning latte, the receptionist checking you into your vacation hotel, or the bank manager deciding whether to approve your home renovation loan are thinking about volunteering as they go about their daily work. But their…
January 2014
It would come as no surprise if this Along the Web started with the statement: “Pets are an integral part of our lives.” Animal lovers have always known about the bonds between humans and pets (although many suspect that beloved pets knew this well before anyone else). What may…
October 2013
Many of us, especially readers of this journal, have long defied the skeptics and believed that volunteering has multiple benefits. Now there is growing research to prove that volunteering is good for society as a whole and that it needs to be nurtured and fostered.
In this…
July 2013
Of the many challenges volunteer administrators face, the volunteer interview may seem to be the least worrisome. But the volunteer interview is arguable the most important step in an extensive process that matches a potential volunteer with appropriate tasks and duties. In this…
April 2013
Bicycles? In a journal about volunteering? Of course! As pedal-powered transportation continues to gain popularity in urban centers throughout the world, long-distance cyclist Tristan Dahn (who also happens to be on the Energize, Inc. staff) takes a look at the many volunteer…
January 2013
It’s a challenge that leaders of volunteers have always faced: how to retain productive volunteers. According to Volunteering in America 2008, one in three American volunteers dropped out in 2007, and this lack of retention can be costly. True, some turnover is expected and even…
October 2012
In 2004 and again in 2010, Along the Web explored the topic of volunteers in arts, heritage and culture. In this issue, we revisit that sector to look at volunteers’ input that relates specifically to public library services. Whether funded by governments, philanthropists,…
July 2012
In his final Along the Web, internationally-recognized author Steve McCurley presents a reference to himself: a guide to “where to find Steve McCurley’s stuff on the Web,” neatly divided into Books, Articles and the ever-popular “Other” category. This is one of those articles to…
April 2012
It’s good to have a plan. In this issue of Along the Web, author Steve McCurley presents a wide range of global, national and local strategies for improving volunteer involvement – covering pretty much everything from the grand scheme to the minor details.
January 2012
In keeping with the theme of this issue, author Steve McCurley presents an Along the Web about accreditation and credentialing of volunteer program managers. McCurley provides a diverse range of resources – including articles by individuals with personal perspectives on the…
October 2011
The last decade has witnessed an incredible growth in volunteering by youth, with several countries operating intense schemes to generate and foster youth volunteering efforts. We first looked at volunteering by youth in the January 2004 edition of Along the Web. In this issue,…
July 2011
In this issue of Along the Web, author Steven McCurley takes a quick trip through recent reports and studies on volunteering from Japan, Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad, Tobago and Northern Ireland. Then, to make sure that no one feels…
April 2011
e-Volunteerism usually take a somewhat serious approach in Along the Web. After all, the Internet was originally designed to be a tool for research, at least theoretically. But anyone who uses the Web quickly discovers that no matter how unusual you think you are, there is…
January 2011
This edition of “Along the Web” is designed to complement our Keyboard Roundtable discussion topic for this issue. What follows is a listing of a variety of discussion papers regarding current status, future trends and emerging developments. While most of these are relatively…
October 2002
In this issue of "Along the Web" we focus on liability, risk management and other legal issues pertinent to volunteering. These legal areas tend to be very jurisdiction-specific. We've limited the list here to countries with a common background in the English system, but we've…
October 2000