The Corporation for National and Community Service recently released Volunteering in America, the most comprehensive data on volunteering in the U.S. ever assembled. This report, available at www.VolunteeringinAmerica.gov has detailed multi-year information on volunteering trends and demographics in all 50 states, U.S. regions and several cities, and it ranks states and large and mid-size cities on volunteer rates. The Web site allows users to explore the information in great detail and pull data from specific cities. The report is based on research and thousands of surveys from the U.S. Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The report offers information that is particularly important at this time, with the economic downturn and the President’s recent call to service through United We Serve. Now is a critical moment for volunteering in America. As social needs continue to mount, demographic changes offer new avenues for involvement, and support grows in every sector for service as a solution to America’s tough problems.

HandsOn Network is eager to respond through Get HandsOn – our more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers across the country are mobilizing volunteers and activating volunteer leaders to meet these pressing needs and create change. Through Get HandsOn, the network wants to inspire citizens, equip citizen leaders and mobilize impact. We provide the foundation and tools for individuals to transform occasional service activities into sustained civic action, from tutoring children to running for the local school board. This report is helpful in assessing where we are as a nation and seeing where we can improve. Locate the action center nearest you to raise these impact numbers and Get HandsOn!

This year we've learned a few interesting things, so we are calling on our experts to help shed further light. Join the webinars and bring your questions to ask the expert!

Webinar 1: Volunteering in America, the Big Picture Hear all the key findings from this year’s data from the Corporation for National and Community Service Office of Research and Policy Development’s LaMonica Shelton. She will be joined by Peachy Myers, the Corporation’s White House Liaison, who will discuss what the White House is doing to help enable people to serve effectively in their communities. Join us on July 29, 2009 at 3:00pm ET.

Webinar 2: Finding More Value in Volunteers During the Recession New data shows that while everything else may be in recession, volunteering has held steady. Lester Salamon from the John’s Hopkins Nonprofit Listening Post Project will discuss new findings that indicate that nonprofit organizations are turning to volunteers to help fill the gaps during the economic crunch. Shannon Maynard of the Grameen Foundation’s Bankers Without Borders will join him to share strategies for increasing the value organizations get from each volunteer. Join us on August 3, 2009 at 3:00 pm ET.

Webinar 3: Reaching the Young Non-college Adult New data shows that many young adults are answering the call to service, but those who have no college experience are much less likely to volunteer. Peter Levine from the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University will discuss the research that the center has conducted on this issue. He will be joined by Julie Chavez Rodriguez of the Cesar Chavez Foundation who will lend some practical advice from her experience in the field. Join us on August 11, 2009 at 3:00 pm ET.

Please note: Pre-registration is required for each webinar session. Space is limited.

To register for this free webinar, please go to https://pointsoflight.webex.com/mw0305l/mywebex/default.do?siteurl=pointsoflight&service=7

You will enter the Points of Light Web Ex web site. Click on the upcoming tab. Then, click on the session title to register for the webinar session. You do not need a password to register. After registering, you will receive an e-mail with log-in information for the session.

If you have any questions, please contact us at training@handsonnetwork.org.