Lessons from a Lifetime of Training: An Interview with Betty Stallings

Lessons from a Lifetime of Training: An Interview with Betty Stallings

We're all trying to up our training game and learn best practices from those with demonstrated experience and excellence as trainers. Who better to learn from than e-Volunteerism’s very own Betty Stallings? The journal’s first editor of the Training Designs section, Stallings is a respected thought leader in volunteer engagement and training throughout the country and abroad.

As Stallings comes to the end of her training career, Erin Spink, the current Training Designs editor, interviewed Stallings and asked her to share not only her best training ideas but also additional tips, tricks, and recommendations to help today’s trainers grow in skills and knowledge. Stallings summarizes lessons from a lifetime of training experiences during her career as an international trainer, consultant, author, and keynote speaker who specialized in volunteerism, nonprofit fundraising, board development, and leadership. This opportunity to hear from one of the profession’s most revered trainers is not to be missed.

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Thu, 03/02/2017
This was, as usual, succinct and informative. I am also a trainer although not much with volunteer initiatives any more. For 30 years, I was a volunteer program administrator and attended many of Betty's classes. I learned much from her and am still learning. I recently published a book about Difficult People because I find, as she points out, that this is one of the areas about which people are uncomfortable. Betty's advice and suggestions for preparing for a training and the "how-tos" are right on. No surprise - we have all come to expect the best from you, Betty- well done and thank-you for how you have moved the volunteer engagement process to a better informed and better positioned place.

Thu, 03/02/2017
Thank you, Sarah I am so excited to see your success with your new book. You are amazing and as all of us feel, we were, in many ways, mentors to each other. You were and are to me. All the best!!!!

Fri, 03/03/2017
Betty, thank you for your years of contribution to this field. This article was a great one, it reinforced how as a trainer or as a coordinator of volunteers, it's so much about creating the environment and conditions and sharing the information and tools for people to give their fullest to the causes they care about.

Fri, 03/03/2017
Betty, it was a privilege to learn from you in person when the national conference was held in San Francisco in 2009. Your engaging and practical presentation was a highlight. Your letter here is inspiring as well. (The letter's date seems fitting; it's clear that you love the field and the people in it!) Erin, thank you for an article packed with useful details.

Tue, 03/07/2017
Anne- I agree wholeheartedly! Betty has been not only an inspiration but a great teacher we have all learned from. The article was chock full of useful details because it was directly from Betty herself! So glad you enjoyed it.

Tue, 03/07/2017
Thank you so much for your kind comments. That conference in SF was surely the best ever. Hope to connect with you in the Bay Area some time. All the best, Betty

Tue, 03/21/2017
Thank you, Betty, for all that you have done for our profession. You truly captured the hearts of many with your trainings. I was fortunate to be in the audience for your trainings over the years at various conferences. You can't miss a "Betty Stallings presentation"I would tell everyone. You will be missed, but thank you for giving us the strength to move the profession forward. I loved this inspiring article! Thank you! Best wishes for your next big adventure!

Fri, 04/21/2017
Betty - You have been an inspiration to me for years! I attended your sessions in the past and was thrilled when you invited me to your last train-the-trainer workshop given in Denver on "Training Busy Staff to Succeed with Volunteers: The 55-Minute Training Series." Your insights and encouragement have been invaluable as the Minnesota DNR goes forward in adapting your curriculum for our staff. Enjoy the next chapter in your life and I look forward to seeing you in July at the 2017 National Summit on Volunteer Engagement Leadership in St Paul!

Mon, 07/03/2017
What great information to pass to the next group of great volunteer engagement professionals. My supervisor (Robin Popik) retired this year too and left her large volunteer program to me. Following in footsteps is hard but there is so much information left for us, we will keep forging ahead. Thank you Betty for shaping this profession and inspiring us to keep going!

Tue, 07/04/2017
Thank you, Corina, for your generous comments. I am sure you will be very successful as you follow in the steps of a great volunteer engagement leader, Robin Popik. All the best to you in the future. I hope you will find it as rewarding as I have.

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