VOLUNTEERING AS LEISURE/LEISURE AS VOLUNTEERING: AN INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENT; ED. BY ROBERT A. STEBBINS

Volunteerism is a topic of increasing importance in this age of budget cuts, declining employment and amid the threat posed by other competing leisure pursuits. There are both social and economic benefits of volunteering. As we are becoming more reliant on volunteers, there is a need for a better understanding of why people take up volunteering, and how to recruit, manage, motivate, and support volunteers most effectively. In order for organisations that host volunteers to achieve the most from their volunteers, they must understand how to give them the best "leisure" experience. This book examines critical aspects of contemporary volunteerism, from the perspective of a variety of volunteering contexts. It will appeal to academic researchers and students in disciplines such as leisure, recreation, tourism, management and sociology as well as practitioners in the voluntary sector (including volunteers), National and Local Government and those organizing special events that depend on voluntary support. This Book Examines Critical Aspects Of Contemporary Volunteerism, From The Perspective Of A Variety Of Volunteering Contexts. It Will Appeal To Academic Researchers And Students In Disciplines Such As Leisure, Recreation, Tourism, Management And Sociology As Well As Practitioners In The Voluntary Sector (including Volunteers), National And Local Government And Those Organizing Special Events That Depend On Voluntary Support.--book Jacket. Introduction: Volunteering And Leisure / Robert A. Stebbins -- Volunteering As Heritage, Volunteering In Heritage / Margaret Graham -- Establishing Long-term Commitment: Event Volunteering -- Adopting Sustainable Ethics: Voluntary Practice Amongst Event Organizers / Graham Berridge -- Paths To Volunteer Commitment: Lessons From The Sydney Olympic Games / B. Christine Green And Laurence Chalip -- Changing Volunteer Lifestyles: Motivation And Satisfaction -- Volunteer Satisfaction And Serious Leisure In Rural Fire Departments: Implications For Human Capital And Social Capital / Kenneth B. Perkins And John Benoit -- Understanding American Parks And Recreation Volunteers Utilizing A Functionalist Perspective / Kenneth E. Silverberg -- A Logistical Regression Model Of The Decision Of Volunteers To Enter A Sports Coach Education Programme / Brian E. Wilson -- Politics Of Volunteering And Active Citizenship: Policy Issues -- Defining Field Characteristics Of Museums And Art Museums: An Australian Perspective / Deborah Edwards -- Volunteering In The Canadian Context: Identity, Civic Participation, And The Politics Of Participation In Serious Leisure / Susan M. Arai -- Managing Volunteers In Different Settings: Membership And Program Management / Lucas C.p.m. Meijs And Linda Bridges Karr -- Encouraging The Next Generation: Sustainability And Youth Volunteering / Lucas Meijs -- Pressures On Volunteers In The U.k. / Geoff Nichols -- Examining Best Practice In Volunteer Tourism / Stephen Wearing -- Fostering Human Resources In The Leisure Field: 'serious Leisure' And The Potential Role Of Volunteers, A Proposal For Developing Countries / Antonio Carlos Bramante -- Epilogue: Leisure Volunteering: Future Research And Policy. Edited By Robert A. Stebbins And Margaret Graham. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Volunteerism is a topic of increasing importance in this age of budget cuts, declining employment and amid the threat posed by other competing leisure pursuits. There are both social and economic benefits of volunteering. As we are becoming more reliant on volunteers, there is a need for a better understanding of why people take up volunteering, and how to recruit, manage, motivate, and support volunteers most effectively. In order for organisations that host volunteers to achieve the most from their volunteers, they must understand how to give them the best'leisure'experience. This book examines critical aspects of contemporary volunteerism, from the perspective of a variety of volunteering contexts. It will appeal to academic researchers and students in disciplines such as leisure, recreation, tourism, management and sociology as well as practitioners in the voluntary sector (including volunteers), National and Local Government and those organising special events that depend on voluntary support. There is no doubt that a rise in demand for volunteering experiences world-wide is paralleled by an increase in demands being placed on non-profit-making organizations to schedule their volunteers more effectively while being more accountable to the communities they serve.