Course 305 - Session One
Monday, October 15, 2007
Materials used in this session:
/ Benefits of Policies - Linda L. Graff (from her book By Definition: Policies For Volunteer Programs)
/ Questions To Answer As You Plan For Your Volunteer Program - Jo Anne Larsen, Board of the VolunteerBureauVoluntaryActionCenter of Greater Seattle
/ Ten Mistakes That Kill Volunteer Impact - Al Newell, Newell & Associates, AGRM Annual Convention, 2004
/ Ten Mistakes That Kill Volunteer Impact - Study Guide
/ The Ministry of Volunteers - Craig Vincent, AGRM Annual Convention, 2005
/ The Ministry of Volunteers - Study Guide
Learning Objectives for this Session:
- To enable the students to get to get acquainted with one another and to learn about each other's supervisory responsibilities at their own rescue missions.
- To make sure that all students have the proper materials on hand to complete the assignments of this course.
- To begin the exploration of the use of volunteers at your rescue mission.
Exercise 1 / Learn more about your professor for this course.
/ StevenE. Brubaker
Director of Family Services
Water Street Rescue Mission
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Then, read the Course 305 Syllabus.
Before beginning any other assignment, print the syllabus for future reference.
Exercise 2 / Read these PDF documents:
- "Questions To Answer As You Plan For Your Volunteer Program."
- "Benefits of Policies" by Linda L. Graff (from her book By Definition: Policies For Volunteer Programs)
Exercise 3 / Listen to these audio presentations:
- "Ten Mistakes That Kill Volunteer Impact"
- "The Ministry of Volunteers"
Exercise 4 / Rescue Missions require volunteers to accomplish the work necessary to be done. Do a review of your volunteer program at your Rescue Mission. Then, develop a 5-10 page report on how volunteers are currently used at your ministry.
Include the following:
- List the various ways the mission recruits volunteers
- Comment on the process for training volunteers
- Make a comprehensive list of the actual jobs done at the rescue mission by volunteers
- Comment on the rescue mission's policies and practices regarding volunteers.
- Note what is working and why, as well as areas that could be improved (and in which ways).
- Note ideas you gained from the readings that could be implements at your ministry
- Who oversees the selection and placement of volunteers?
- What is the process of selection and placement?
- Is their a review process in place to help volunteers know if they are effective and when they are not?
- How many volunteers do you currently use and in what roles?
- re volunteers acting as “unpaid staff” or just doing jobs that may not be needed?
- Are the volunteers helped to feel “part of the team”?
- What is the general staff reaction to volunteers—welcoming or cautious?
- Are there any roles off limits to volunteers? If so, why?
- What is the area you could use either a key volunteer or more volunteers?
- What, if anything, keeps your volunteer efforts from being as effective as they could be?
Entitle your paper, "Volunteering"
Submit Assignment #1
Exercise 5 / For this week's Class Bulletin Board posting:
Introduce yourself to your classmates. Be sure to include:
- Your Name
- The ministry with which you are affiliated
- Your job title and duties
- Any volunteer related responsibility that you now have.
- What you hope to get out of this course
These Assignments are due on Monday, October 22, 2007
Course 305 - Session Two
Monday, October 29, 2007
Materials used in this session:
/ Hiring Staff: Remembering to Pray and Check References - Dan and Cheryl Cox, Cutting Edge, Spring 2004
/ Revitalizing Your Auxiliary - Russell Strom
/ Revitalizing Your Auxiliary - Study Guide
/ Staff Screening Tool Kit - John Patterson Nonprofit RiskManagementCenter
/ The Employer's Legal Handbook
/ The Women's Auxiliary - Rev. James Harriger, International Union of Gospel Missions, 1988
Learning Objectives for this Session:
- To begin the exploration of the hiring and interviewing process for staff members and volunteers at rescue missions.
- To introduce the student to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its impact on rescue mission hiring and employment practices.
Exercise 1 / Readings from the textbooks:
Employers Legal Handbook
A. "Hiring" (pages 1/3 - 1/35)
- Legal Guidelines for Hiring Employees
- Job Descriptions
- Job Advertisements
- Job Applications
- Interviews
- Testing
- Investigations
- Making a Job Offer
- Rejecting Applicants
- Tax Compliance
- Immigration Law Requirements
- New Hire Reporting Form
- The Americans With Disabilities Act
- Businesses That Are Covered
- Who Is Protected
- Exceptions to Coverage
- Providing Reasonable Accommodations
- Workers With Emotional or Mental Impairments
- Financial Assistance
- Health and Safety Standards
- Medical Exams
- Enforcement
Staff Screening Toolkit (pages 1 58):
- Preface
- The Screening Process
- Legal Issues Pertaining to Screening
- Position Descriptions and Selection Criteria
- Recruitment and Applications
Exercise 2 / Read Hiring Staff: Remembering to Pray and Check References - Dan and Cheryl Cox, Cutting Edge, Spring 2004
Discuss the most important principles from the above readings with your mission's director, human resources director, or other staff member with hiring and staff screening responsibilities.
Then, write an 8-10 page report entitled, "Hiring Issues" about how your ministry is handling the concerns and practices found in this week's readings.
Submit this report to the instructor.
Submit Assignment #2
Exercise 3 / Read the PDF document, The Women's Auxiliary by Rev. James Harriger.
Then, listen to the audio presentation, “Revitalizing Your Auxiliary” by Russell Strom. As you listen, complete the study guide
Develop a 3-5 page paper on the most important priniciples in found in these materials.
Entitle your paper, "Effective Auxiliaries."
Submit Assignment #3
Exercise 4 / For this week's Class Bulletin Board posting:
Note three most significant things you learned from this week's readings.
Entitle your posting - "Week Two Lessons"
These Assignments are due on Monday, November 12, 2007
Course 305 - Session Three
Monday, October 29, 2007
Materials used in this session:
/ Alex Ashwood Study Notes
/ Job Analysis Interview Form
/ Performance Standards, Alex Ashwood
/ Personnel - Chapter 4 of Unto the Least of These by Dr. William Seath
/ Staff Screening Tool Kit - John Patterson Nonprofit RiskManagementCenter
/ The Employer's Legal Handbook
/ Writing Usable Job Descriptions, Alex Ashwood
Learning Objectives for this Session:
- To continue the discussion of the hiring and interview process for staff members and volunteers at rescue missions.
- To introduce the student to the Job Analysis Interview Form and its use
- To help the student to understand some ways of keeping and motivating staff members
Exercise 1 / This week's readings:
1) The PDF document "Personnel" by Dr. William Seath.
2) From the Employers Legal Handbook, read:
"Personnel Practices" (pages 2/2-2/16)
- Employee Files
- Employee Handbooks
- Employee Performance Reviews
- Discipling Employees
"Wages and Hours" (pages 3/5-3/28)
- Overtime and Minimum Wage Requirements
- Equal Pay Requirements
- How to Pay Employees
- Calculating Work Hours
- Record-Keeping Requirements
- Child Labor Rules
- Payroll Withholding
- The Consequences of Bending the Rules
3) From the Staff Screening Toolkit, read pages 59-72:
- Chapter 5 - Interviews
- Chapter 6 - Checking References
Exercise 2 / Listen to the audio presentations by Alex Ashwood:
- "Performance Standards"
- "Writing Usable Job Descriptions"
Print the study notes for these presentations.
Exercise 3 / Then, use the "Job Analysis Interview Form" to learn about the job-related responsibilities of three staff members of your rescue mission. If applicable, one of these could be for the position which you current fill.
Then, write a report that highlights any changes you would make to the existing job descriptions. Use the format based on Alex Ashwood's tape.
Include your rationale for any revisions. (Note: Be sure to include both the original and revised versions of the job descriptions with this report.)
Submit this assignment to the instructor. Entitle your report "Job Description Exercise"
Submit Assignment #4
Exercise 4 / For this week's Class Bulletin Board posting:
Note three things you learned from this week's materials and assignments.
Entitle your posting - "Week Three Lessons"
These Assignments are due on Monday, November 12, 2007
Course 305 - Session Four
Monday, November 12, 2007
Materials used in this session:
/ Preventing Burn Out for Your Front-line Staff - Cindy Stutheit, Denver Rescue Mission
/ Better Relations with Staff Members
/ Staff Screening Tool Kit - John Patterson Nonprofit RiskManagementCenter
/ The Employer's Legal Handbook
/ Working Together in Harmony - Study Guide
/ Working Together in Harmony, Sylvia Nash
Learning Objectives for this Session:
- To introduce the student to the importance of accurate job descriptions.
- To look at the performance appraisal process.
- To help the student to understand some ways to prevent burnout and motivate members of the rescue mission's staff.
Exercise 1 / This week's readings from the textbooks:
From The Employer's Legal Handbook
1) "Employee Benefits" (pages 4/2-4/16)
- Health Care Coverage
- Retirement Plans
- Other Employee Benefits
- Benefits to Domestic Partners
- Chapter 7 - Record Checks
- Chapter 8 - Other Screening Tools
Note: The mid-term exam will focus on readings from the course text books. So, be sure to read all assigned chapters before taking it.
Exercise 2 / Then, read these online documents:
- Better Relations with Staff Members
- Preventing Burn Out for Your Front-line Staff by Cindy Stutheit
Exercise 3 / Listen to the audio presentation, ""Working Together in Harmony - How to Get the Job Done Without Killing Your People" by Sylvia Nash.. Presented at the AGRM Annual Convention, 1990
Complete the study guide for this workshop and submit it to the instructor.
Along with completing the outline, include a couple of paragraphs that note any special insights you may have gained from this recording and other material covered in this course to this point.
Entitle your report "Working Together."
Submit Assignment #5
Exercise 4 / For this week's Class Bulletin Board posting:
Note at least three things you learned from this week's tape and readings.
Entitle your posting - "Week Four Lessons" Be sure to include in your posting:
- A brief statement about your findings regarding your own job description and that of the other staff members you interviewed.
- The importance of periodically updating job descriptions
These Assignments are due on Monday, November 19, 2007
Course 305 - Session Five
Monday, November 19, 2007
Materials used in this session:
/ Employee-related reporting to the Internal Revenue Service
/ Legal Issues Regarding Rescue Mission Employees
/ Sample Staff Policy Manual - James Harriger, IUGM Director of Education
/ Staff Screening Tool Kit - John Patterson Nonprofit RiskManagementCenter
/ The Employer's Legal Handbook
/ Things to Remember When Hiring Former Clients - Michael Liimatta, Director of Education, Association of Gospel Rescue Missions
Learning Objectives for this Session:
- To introduce the student to the process of creating/updating an organization's Staff Policy Manual.
- To help the student understand some of the principles of maintaining good relationships with staff members.
- To acquaint the student with some legal and reporting requirements related to rescue mission employment.
Exercise 1 / This week's readings from the textbooks:
From The Employer's Legal Handbook, read "Taxes" (pages 5/3-5/15)
- Employer Identification Numbers
- Federal Employment Taxes
- Federal Self-Employment Taxes
- Federal Tax Deductions for Salaries and Other Expenses
- Independent Contractors
- Statutory Employees
Exercise 2 / Read the online documents:
- "Legal Issues Regarding Rescue Mission Employees"
- "Things to Remember When Hiring Former Clients" by Michael Liimatta, Director of Education, Association of Gospel Rescue Missions
Exercise 3 / Take a few moments and visit with your director or other staff members involved with employee issues to learn how your ministry is doing in regard to the legal and policy issues discussed to this point in the course.
Then submit to the instructor a 5-8 page report entitled, "Employee Policy Issues".
Submit Assignment #6
Exercise 4 / Save the "Sample Staff Policy Manual" to your PC.
This will be used as a model for your final project for this course; the creation or update of your ministry's Staff Policy Manual.
More details will be given in later class sessions.
Exercise 5 / Take the mid-term examination for this course.
The exam will be available on Friday, November 17 and must be taken by Friday, November 25.
Complete all of the assignments for this current class session before taking the exam.
The focus of the exam will be the assigned readings from the course textbooks;
the Staff Screening Tool Kit and the Employer's Legal Handbook.
Exercise 6 / For this week's Class Bulletin Board posting:
Take a few moments and share with your classmates at least three insights you gained in this week's class session.
Entitle your posting, "Week Five Lessons."
These Assignments are due on Monday, November 26, 2007
Course 305 - Session Six
Monday, November 26, 2007
Materials used in this session:
/ Employment Checklist For Hiring Persons With Disabilities
/ Human Resource Management - Study Guide
/ Human Resource Management, Jim Kohlman
/ Minimum Wage Issues for Program Residents - Rev. Stephen E. Burger, Exective Director, Association of Gospel Rescue Missions
/ Performance Evaluations at Rescue Missions
/ Readings on the Americans with Disabilities Act
/ The Employer's Legal Handbook
Learning Objectives for this Session:
- To further introduce the student to the process of creating/updating a rescue mission's Staff Policy Manual.
- To help the student understand some of the principles of the role of training and staff development.
Exercise 1 / Readings from the textbook,Employers Legal Handbook
Chapter 9 - "Workers With Disabilities" (9/3-9/24)
- The Americans With Disabilities Act
- Businesses That Are Covered
- Who Is Protected
- Exceptions to Coverage
- Providing Reasonable Accommodations
- Workers With Emotional or Mental Impairments
- Financial Assistance
- Health and Safety Standards
- Medical Exams
- Enforcement
Exercise 2 / Listen to the audio presentation, "Human Resource Management" by Jim Kohlman.
Complete the study guide for future study.
Exercise 3 / Read these online documents:
- "Minimum Wage Issues for Program Residents" by Rev. Stephen E. Burger, Exective Director, Association of Gospel Rescue Missions
- "Readings on the Americans with Disabilities Act"
- "Employment Checklist For Hiring Persons With Disabilities."
Exercise 4 / Write a minimum five page paper on how ChristianMinistries should respond to the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Note: if you are Canadian, use your country's laws in this area.)
Discuss how your ministry works to accommodate disabled staff members. Note particularly changes at your own ministry that might need to be implemented in order to comply with its requirements.
Submit this report to the to the instructor - titled "ADA & Christian Organizations"
Submit Assignment #7
Exercise 5 / For this week's Class Bulletin Board posting:
Note at least three things you learned from this week's audio presentation and readings.
Entitle your posting - "Week Six Lessons"
These Assignments are due on Monday, December 3, 2007
Course 305 - Session Seven
Monday, December 3, 2007
Materials used in this session:
/ Employee Retention - Study Guide
/ Employee Retention: Keeping Employees Happy Where They Are - Linda Brown, Denver Rescue Mission, AGRM Annual Convention, 2005
/ Supervising Difficult Employees - Hal Wood
/ The Employer's Legal Handbook
Learning Objectives for this Session:
- To help the student understand some of the principles of dealing with difficult staff members.
- To introduce the student to the process of terminating an employee in an appropriate and legal manner.
Exercise 1 / Read the following from the course textbooks:
A. Employers Legal Handbook
- Chapter 6 - "Family and Medical Leave" pages 6/2 - 6/17
- Chapter 7 - "Health and Safety" pages 7/3 - 7/25
B. Supervising Difficult Employees
- Chapter One pages 8 -12
- Chapter Two pages 14-31
Note: To get the most out of Hal Wood's book, complete the "Self Check" sections after each chapter. Several of these questions will be on the final examination.
Exercise 2 / Listen to the audio presentation, "Employee Retention: Keeping Employees Happy Where They Are" by Linda Brown of the Denver Rescue Mission.
Follow along in the the PDF version of the study guide.
Exercise 3 / Regarding Staff Development and Training:
- Develop a listing of the educational and training opportunities in which staff members of yur ministry participated in the past twelve months. Note who was involved, the purpose of the training, and (if there was an expense involved) whether or not mission paid the staff member's way to the event.
- Include with this report, your ministry's staff development and training policies. If this is not formally documented, interview the Executive Director and other staff members to develop one.
- Some of the issues addressed in such a policy would include:
- Are there a certain minimum or suggested number of educational activities or hours of training required for certain staff members?
- Under what circumstances does the mission pay for staff members to attend educational opportunities?
- Is there a definite procedure staff members must follow to gain approval to attend such events?