International Rural Aging Project

Provider Workshops

Conference Information Volunteers—An Underdeveloped Resource
Convener: Rick Briggs, Morgantown, WV, USA

This workshop is designed to help prepare individuals and organizations to develop an effective volunteer program within their service group or agency. Through the use of lectures, panel presentations, and participant discussion, a model will be presented for building a program structure, recruiting and training volunteers, implementing and evaluating a program, and overcoming obstacles to maintain volunteers over time. Ready-to-use reproducible forms and certificates will be distributed to participants for use in their programs. Special considerations for rural settings and the importance of linking to state, national, and international organizations for administrators of volunteer programs will be addressed. Policy recommendations for developing volunteer resources will be generated during the workshop. 

Shirley Eagan, Morgantown, West Virginia

In retirement, Dr. Eagan continues to provide consulting services to volunteer organizations. 

Carl Townsend, Wheeling, West Virginia

Employee, West Virginia University, serving as an Extension Agent for Ohio County; President, West Virginia Association for Volunteer Administration.