Blue Skies and Grey: Establishing Resilient Communities, Meeting the Moment during Disaster

Volunteering can mean many things to different audiences – acts of kindness, scheduled shifts, mentoring, fundraising. But there is one category of public service that often stands alone: disaster relief. Some disasters give us warning, others happen so quickly that our ability to process them follows the entire duration of the event.

As career Volunteer Managers, we are often humbled by the professionals who make seemingly divine sacrifices to support others in their darkest hour. First responders demonstrate extraordinary calmness, grit and empathy. In recent years and months, frequency, scope and devastation of disasters, both natural and human, have expanded. And in recent months, the cross-sector systems supporting disaster relief have contracted.

What lessons can all Volunteer Managers learn from those among us who have lived on the edge, and whose expertise has been forged by fire? Why is so much of the efficacy of disaster relief determined by preparation and recovery, rather than just by response at the onset of an event? In order to support better volunteer programs in blue skies and grey, what are the core principles of managing the disaster lifecycle that apply beyond catastrophes? How can thoughtful, ongoing Volunteer Management reduce the damages of critical episodes? In this Ahead of the Curve, author Sam Fankuchen provides answers to each of these questions. 

Available September 12