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article by Richard Eisenberg, Forbes, 4.1.13 he government's annual Volunteering in the United States report just came out and I'm disappointed to report that both the number and percentage of Americans age 45 to 64 who volunteered in the 12 months ending September 2012 fell from the previous year. (I know, boomers are actually age 49 to 67, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't break down the numbers this way.) U.S. Retirement Poll: The Big Lie And The Big Fantasy Richard Eisenberg Richard Eisenberg Contributor Encore Careers for the Rest of Us Richard Eisenberg Richard Eisenberg Contributor Meet The Inspiring 2012 Purpose Prize Winners Selected By Encore.org Richard Eisenberg Richard Eisenberg Contributor The Latest Insider Views On Retirement Richard Eisenberg Richard Eisenberg Contributor The latest figures show that 23.4 million age 45 to 64 volunteered last year, down from 23.9 million in 2011. The percentage who volunteered dropped to 29.3 percent, from 30.6 percent, for those age 45 to 54 and to 27.6 percent, from 28.1 percent, for Americans 55 to 64. Both of those declines were steeper than the overall dip in the U.S. volunteer rate of 0.3 percent. Speculation on why boomers are not volunteering? "What's the problem? Even putting the year-to-year figures aside, why is it that fewer than a third of my fellow boomers - who often think of themselves as the original giving-back generation - volunteer? There's no simple explanation, of course. We're busy. We need to focus on hanging onto our jobs. We have obligations to our kids and parents. All true. But I think a key reason is that many boomers haven't found ways they can volunteer the way they want to, by putting their talents and skills to use, rather than by stuffing envelopes, answering phones and donating food. Here's some evidence backing up my contention that boomers like providing meaningful assistance when they volunteer: According to the Volunteering in the United Sta

"Here are the some of the most widely-used volunteer matching sites: Idealist.org NetworkforGood.org VolunteerSolutions (http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/) Volunteers of America (www.voa.org) VolunteerMatch.org PointsofLight.org"

Baby Boomers and Volunteering, data from 2007 (old!). Makes interesting assertions such as volunteers in strategic planning, marketing, and volunteer management are more likely to volunteer from year to year.

"According to federal statistics, the volunteer rate for 74 million baby boomers is 33 percent - 5 points above the national average of 28 percent. Studies show that upon leaving the workforce, which Martin did in 2011, many boomers look for meaningful volunteer opportunities."

study by Urban institute in 2003 (using 2000 data) on 3,000 charities' adoption of nine recommended practices for volunteer management

Fox Business interviews Barb Quaintance, AARP VP on Volunteers. she explains how baby boomers want to see results of their work. 2011

article on how as baby boomers have aged between 2003 and 2010, fewer are volunteering; article written in 2012 by Jennifer C. Kerr, AP. Wonder if there are more current stats?

international volunteer opportunities list being updated hourly

Great infograph by United We Serve on volunteering in America: 8.1 billion hours served in 2010.

one page infographic on volunteering among adults age 50+, 2014, AARP research

News release by BLS, US Dept. of Labor, February 22, 2013 on volunteer rates between September 2011 and 2012.

How Broward cities recruit and engage boomer volunteers from 2013. Want to see what has happened in the meantime.

assessment by Common Impact on np orgs' readiness to use skills-based volunteers effectively

Compelling story about baby boomers who are trying to help themselves within Neighbors-helping-Neighbors U.S.A., a volunteer networking organization with 28 chapters in New Jersey serving 1,200 unemployed, mainly white-collar, baby boomers. These baby boomers are not able to find new employment that comes close to their previous work. "What he does recommend is lowering expectations. "You're not likely to be the department head," he said, "so sell yourself as a team player who will work with younger people and help train them." "

Compelling story about baby boomers who are trying to help themselves within Neighbors-helping-Neighbors U.S.A., a volunteer networking organization with 28 chapters in New Jersey serving 1,200 unemployed, mainly white-collar, baby boomers. These baby boomers are not able to find new employment that comes close to their previous work.

Doris this is a great story and it definitely validates that what we are doing can be a resource for those in need of a job. I do want to include a solild program on job searching and networking/ resume/interviewing etc. I also believe this is a bigger issue for our society- so glad to read about what congress is working on. Thank you for sharing this.

three excellent short videos on long-term unemployment's effect on age 60+ workers, what unemployed older workers need to do to keep going and seeking opportunity, and a video interviewing Marci Alboher on Encore careers. On the AARP TV channel. "Take a test drive to explore options." Shadow someone, volunteer, do a pro bono consulting piece...

Wonderful, enlightening article on how boomers' characteristics will affect governing practices and decision-making, community building, volunteering, etc., Neil Howe, September 2012, Governing the states and localities magazine

AARP study on social, community, volunteer engagement, 2012

Nice blog by Danielle Holly, Common Impact, on engaging remote employees and skilled volunteers with good sources cited in the article, May 17, 2016. If everyone is remote, everyone is equal, but skilled management is still needed.

nice blog by Danielle Holly on engaging employees--in all their new variations of flexible, entrepreneurial, and purpose-driven foci--to volunteer. People need empathy and experience to become truly engaged--people to people.

post by George H. Schofield, July 10, 2013 on five abilities that baby boomers need to develop after age 50 in order to flourish 1. Identity ability-keep redefining yourself with new titles; instead of jobless, become a student, community leader, entrepreneur, etc. 2. Selecting ability--sort through your circumstances to navigate uncharted territory 3. Meaning-finding ability--take disruptions and reframing them to find meaning, value, and way to move on 4. Community ability--using interruptions as launching pads for volunteering and other meaningful work 5. Financial reality-check ability--earning money and structure, friends, fun