Tracking volunteer trends: as the world changes, so do trends in volunteerism. Here's how to maintain a strong volunteer base.

YOU CAN'T JUST SIT IDLY by and watch the social, economic, and cultural trends that are reshaping volunteerism. As an association leader, you need to have a solution or two up your sleeve. Just think: If everything in the world is changing, how can volunteering stay the same? It can't, of course.

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Many trends will affect your organization's volunteer activities now and in the future. Following are some of the trends that I've observed along with their potential impact on your association and suggestions for response.

Macro trends

The population is aging. But don't expect baby boomers to retire in the traditional sense--or certainly not at age 65. Barring illness, someone aged 60 today does not think of himself or herself as old, nor does anyone else. As a result, organizations may find volunteers "aging in place," tenaciously clinging to traditional roles and responsibilities and entrenched in key leadership positions.

Now is the time to build in enforced rotation of board members, committee chairs, and other functions. This gives newer volunteers room to grow. Simultaneously, your association should find a variety of ways for veteran members to continue to be of support. This could mean developing meaningful roles for active (and homebound) volunteers in their 90s.

Uneasiness about terrorism persists. And volunteers, who have always been the silver lining in the cloud of any disaster, realize that doing something is a way of taking back a sense of control. Is your association poised to mobilize these volunteers?

In the event of another terrorist attack, it's a good idea to have a contingency plan for volunteer-utilization in place--for the sake of the members as much as for giving aid. Consider partnering with local citizen response councils linked to the Department of Homeland Security.

The reach of the Internet includes volunteerism. The Internet has placed a growing wealth of volunteerism materials literally a click away. With a little bit of search engine skill, your members can find information on boardsmanship, volunteer recruitment and retention, recognition, community building, and so on. Does all of this information reflect your organization's culture, norms, and expectations? Probably not. That's why it is increasingly important that you use the Internet to manage and involve your volunteers and to build their base of knowledge. Make sure your Web site has information of value to association leaders; consider developing an area where volunteers can post questions and support one another.