Book Description
Imagine waking up every morning believing that your actions can make a significant change in the world.
For everyone who has ever yearned for a better life and a better world, Craig and Marc Kielburger share a blueprint for personal and social change that has the power to transform lives one act at a time. Through inspirational contributions from people from all walks of life and moving stories drawn from more than a decade of their experience as international change-makers, the Kielburgers reveal that a more fulfilling path is ours for the taking when we find the courage to reach out.
Me to We is an approach to life that leads us to recognize what is truly valuable, make new decisions about the way we want to live, and redefine the goals we set for ourselves and the legacy we want to leave. Above all, it creates new ways of measuring meaning, happiness, and success in our lives, and makes these elusive goals attainable at last.
After you've absorbed the ideas presented in this book, your life may not end up as you had envisioned. You may not acquire a house on a beach in the Caymans, but you may find your toes grounded in the sand. You may not see an enormous change in your social life, but in your life you may very well see enormous social change. You may not find the person of your dreams, but you will help people young and old go beyond their's. This book will open your eyes and change the way you look at life. Treat it as an invitation: an invitation to discover the power of the Me to We philosophy and to join the growing community of people around the world who are embracing this way of life.
Customer Reviews:
Me to We review.......2007-05-21
Free the Children is a fantastic organization, and reading more about it inspired me to live more of the "Me to We" philosophy. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you..........2007-05-07
I enjoyed this book immensely. Especially, the universal, multi-cultural worldview of the authors. Initially, I borrowed it from our library system in Maryland to see whether I wanted to add it to my collection. Then I purchased the book on amazon.com and gifted it to my friends in Eagle River, Alaska. I purchased the CD to listen to in my car. The concept of "me to we" is not new; however the book is based on the authors' experiences and successful ventures on behalf of the children of the world. As you encourage others to be less materialistic, be blessed and continue to be a blessing to others.
Mary Paschall
author "In The Silence"
If I could give it more stars I would..........2007-04-20
The Kielburgers have managed to do it yet again. This book certainly matches the quality of the others they have put out in the past. Though this book really is for everyone, it appeals to an adult population that may not have already been reached. I seldom purchase books for others and I have already purchased 2 copies for friends and plan to give even more. Though labeled as a self-help book, it is less of a self-help and more about how we can help others. It reminds us of our responsibility to others and provides inspiration to continue to good things with great love. This book is perfect for those who have traveled to third-world countries, are helping others in their own communities, are participating in service learning, and those who may need a glimpse of the world beyond their front door. This book is, hands down, my favorite book of all time and is a book that I continue to read over and over again. It is great to see the work and message of people like Joe Opatowski continued through this book! Buy it and you will not regret it!
Amazing!.......2007-04-05
Words cannot describe the impact this book has had on my life. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Today's society is so "me" focused, we forget about everything else. After reading this book I started my own 501C3 organization. It's not everyday you read a book that reminds you why we are all here.
ME TO WE tells exactly how and will serve as an inspirational guide especially recommended for public library collections........2007-02-09
The authors of ME TO WE are brothers who found that reaching out to others helped them be happier in their own lives: at age 12 Craig founded the international organization Free the Children, and human rights issues and work have led both to journeys around the world finding new connections. ME TO WE blends personal experiences with a philosophy geared to commitment and improving lives, offering the belief that individual action CAN make a difference in the world. ME TO WE tells exactly how and will serve as an inspirational guide especially recommended for public library collections.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Book Description
It ranks right up there with public speaking. Nearly all of us fear it. And yet it's critical to our success. Asking for money. It makes even the stout-hearted quiver.
But now comes a book, Asking: A 59-Minute Guide to Everything Board Members, Staff and Volunteers Must Know to Secure the Gift. And short of a medical elixir, it's the next best thing for emboldening you, your board members and volunteers to ask with skill, finesse … and powerful results.
Jerold Panas, who as a staff person, board member and volunteer has secured gifts ranging from $50 to $50 million, understands the art of asking perhaps better than anyone in America.
He has harnessed all of his knowledge and experience and produced what many are already calling a landmark book.
What Asking convincingly shows — and one reason staff will applaud the book and board members will devour it — is that it doesn't take stellar communication skills to be an effective asker. Nearly everyone, regardless of their persuasive ability, can become an effective fundraiser if they follow Jerold Panas' step-by-step guidelines.
Customer Reviews:
To The Point Handbook.......2007-07-12
With humor, experience and enthusiasm, the author succinctly delivers the essential considerations for any fundraiser. The bonus is the contagious sense of fun and challenge, the book conveys, is enough to make you want to throw down the book (place it where you can go back to it for inspiration)and start raising funds!
Short but sweet.......2006-04-10
Panas uses his considerable success in the field of fundraising to brief the novice to this profession. The result is a pithy collection of principles newcomers can use to develop their own skills and strategies. Included are sample letters and a useful collection of responses to common objections. The author's use of cliches detracts from what is otherwise a valuable primer to the field of fundraising.
Practical and Demystifying.......2005-08-12
Fundraising is both art and science--and Jerry Panas is a master of both sides of the fundraising equation. This is a fast read with practical ideas that anyone raising charitable funds can use. Asking people for money can be terrifying if you're not (emotionally) prepared. Panas walks you through the process and builds your confidence---and makes plain that the act of asking is in itself the victory, because not asking is the failure. This takes the pressure off, and whether the gift comes from the first ask or the hundred-and-first, you're on your way to fundraising success.
An excellent book for anyone who needs to raise money.......2005-03-21
In just 108 pages, Jerold Panas explains how to learn to obtain large gifts for charitable causes, whether you know the people or not. He sets down the process, provides multiple "conversations with donors" to help you learn to ask, handle objections and get the gift. In less ant an hour you can be well on your way to raising significant funds for your cause.
The author's examples and down-to-earth advice will be invaluable to you. This is a must for anyone who has to do fundraising.
Lois Carter Fay
http://www.MarketingIdeaShop.com and
http://www.WomenMarketing.com
Easy to read.......2004-12-30
The title made my laugh, and the pages turned pretty quickly inside. Written a bit like a self-help book, Panas' guide contains a series of short, easily digested chapters on the main relational aspects between organizations and donors. Person-to-person skills. Thank you's. The book says a lot in relatively few words.
Average customer rating:
- Inspired to Volunteer
- Well received
- Love it so far
- An Insightful Invitation to Volunteers
- Thanks to everyone who read!
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Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul: Stories to Celebrate the Spirit of Courage, Caring and Community
Jack Canfield ,
Mark Victor Hansen ,
Arline Oberst ,
John Boal ,
Tom Lagana ,
Laura Lagana ,
Arline McGraw Oberst ,
John T. Boal ,
Mark Victor Hansen ,
Arline McGraw Oberst ,
John T. Boal ,
Tom Lagana , and
Laura Lagana
Manufacturer: HCI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Volunteer Work
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Canfield, Jack
| ( C )
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Similar Items:
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The Heart of a Volunteer
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The Volunteer Recruitment (and Membership Development) Book
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Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul: Stories to Inspire Caregivers in the Home, the Community and the World (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
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Volunteers: How to Get Them, How to Keep Them
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To Lead Is To Serve: How to Attract Volunteers & Keep Them
ASIN: 0757300146 |
Book Description
Deep within each one of us lies the ability to step up and care for those in need, even though we often feel overwhelmed by a complex world. In fact, more than 200 million people throughout the world offer their time and love to volunteering. The stories in Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul highlight the efforts of everyday people in the United States and around the globe who volunteer with the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, the Peace Corps, Points of Light, Rotary and many, many other nonprofit organizations. Lovingly chosen from more than six thousand stories, poems and cartoons, these tales will inspire readers to do everything in their power to help those in need. Chapters include: The Rewards of Volunteering, Giving Back, Making a Difference, New Appreciation, Love and Kindness, Defining Moments, A Matter of Perspective, Overcoming Obstacles and On Wisdom. Readers will cherish the story of a community that rallied together to send warm winter coats to refugee families in Kosovo. They'll be moved by the tale of a woman with a "smiley voice" who made audiotapes for the visually impaired despite a losing battle with cancer. They'll never forget the eight-year-old boy without arms or legs who fearlessly wielded a tennis racquet to propel a ball down the length of a room. And they'll be charmed by a rabbit named Cadberi who brings boundless joy to residents of a nursing home. Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul will leave an indelible imprint on the heart of readers and inspire them to go forth and care for others.
Customer Reviews:
Inspired to Volunteer.......2004-06-08
I just finished "Chicken Soup for the Volunteer Soul," which is an excellent and inspirational book. Also, a few weeks ago, I went on a Social and Service Justice Retreat. Since reading this book, making the retreat, and other inevitable signs, I feel inspired to find a place to volunteer.
Sarah
Gurnee, Illinois
Well received.......2004-01-20
'Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul' was well received by our volunteers, and it has also touch many people's hearts.
Marion Jones
The Connecticut Institute for the Blind/Oak Hill
Love it so far.......2003-10-23
I am a volunteer my self at the my cities animal shelter. And I am going to let the president of the volunteers borrow it after I am done. I hope they make more about volunteering.
An Insightful Invitation to Volunteers.......2003-01-11
I would recommend reading "Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul" to anyone who has a sincere interest in his fellowmen and possesses the capacity to relate to the needs, sorrows, and joys of others. I was impressed by the work's intent, format, and content. The selections are comprehensive and meaningful, offering a wide range of volunteer experiences for the information, delight, compassion, and consideration to the book's readers. Hopefully, this publication will encourage countless individuals to find the necessary reason and desire to give of their own time, talents, and hearts to those in need in our society. For others, it will provide an understanding of the wonderful gifts of volunteering for the volunteer.
Thanks to everyone who read!.......2002-10-31
I contributed a story to this book about my daughter's tender heart for others. I have always been proud of her desire to help others and Chicken Soup gave me the opportunity to share it with the world. This book made me proud to be an American and to be allowed to live in this wonderful country that cares about it's neighbors. This collection of stories will enlighten anyone to give unselfishly to the needy or to those who have less. What a great feeling inside to be a part of it all!
Denise Peebles
Average customer rating:
- Great Book!
- Giving Peace to My Loved One
- prisoners soul
- Another Winner!
- Extremely Pleased and Thankful!
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Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit of Hope, Healing and Forgiveness (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
Jack Canfield ,
Mark Victor Hansen , and
Tom Lagana
Manufacturer: HCI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Houses of Healing : A Prisoner's Guide to Inner Power and Freedom
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How to Do Good After Prison : A Handbook for the "Committed Man"
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God Is With You: Prayers for Men in Prison
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Serving Time, Serving Others: Acts of Kindness by Inmates, Prison Staff, Victims, and Volunteers
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Behind Bars: Surviving Prison
ASIN: 1558748369 |
Book Description
Previously available only through free distribution to prisons, this life-changing book is the result of charitable donations from sales of Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul and gifts from thousands of individuals. In the spring of 2000, over 100,000 copies of Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul were distributed to prisoners, prison libraries and prison ministries throughout the United States. The hope was that this collection of stories would touch the hearts of prisoners and offer them hope and encouragement, as well as inspire them to transcend the limiting thinking and behaviors of their past. The book was so successful that the co-authors soon found themselves flooded with requests for the book from family members, correctional officers, prison volunteers and others. Because of this huge demand, the decision was made to also release the book to the general public.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book!.......2007-10-17
This is a great book for anyone who is involved with prison ministry. It is full of stories about redemption, forgiveness, and restoration. It's easy to think of inmates as something other than people, formed in the image of God. This book reminds me that prisoners are still people, with hurts and emotions. This book has helpled me to grow in my ministry.
Giving Peace to My Loved One.......2007-05-14
This book has really touched my loved one who is incarcerated. He has really enjoyed it and stated that the stories really give the extra step he needs sometimes.
prisoners soul.......2007-01-30
I sent this book to my son who is incarcerated. He has read over half the book so far. He said the book is great. That it really gives him something to think about. He says the book should be manatory reading for everybody who is in a jail. He thinks the officers in charge of the prisoners should read it also, then maybe the harassment would stop.
Another Winner! .......2007-01-09
Great recreational read! I sent it to my husband! I cried through some stories and smiled through others, just as I have with any other Chicken Soup book!
Extremely Pleased and Thankful!.......2005-10-27
I personally did not read this book, however, I sent it to my 27 year old son who at the time was incarcerated as a result of a mix up with stolen identity (his ID having been stolen and used for criminal activities). It was an extremely difficult & spiritually frustrating time for him! This book made a tremendous difference and impact on his decision to rededicate his life to the Lord and allowing Him (Jesus Christ and God our Father) to "help" my son. My son derived much strength from the life stories of others, such as Chuck Colson, as well as all those that contributed their personal stories, in knowing that God is still on the thrown and has not forgotten those in the judicial prision/jail systems and that they are loved as much as those on the outside. My son said I could not have sent him a greater gift at the time. He also has shared it with many of the inmates who were interested in knowing how much the Lord loves them REGARDLESS of their circumstances, what we have done in life, as well as what we have not done in life to please the Lord. It helped many men and I am very grateful for the book and how quickly it was shipped!! That was a very important aspect as well since my son was in such a state of depression and needed some inspiration, hope, guidance and just plain down to earth stories about life in this difficult world. It helped him to keep on keeping on and having faith that God has a purpose for everything. Life catches us by surprise most of the time, however, it never catches the Lord by surprise. My son needed to know that it rains on the just and the unjust in this world, and it shines on the just and the unjust in this world (taken from the Bible). God is no respector of persons and this book clearly reveals that, but, he is a God of LOVE and he loves all his creations, including those that don't necessarily need a "hand out" but a "hand up" which are usually those incarcerated. Not all in the prison system want a get out of jail free. They just want justice done and this book allowed them, through the stories of those individual lives to know there is a "just God" in this world. Thanks for allowing me this opportunity to share my opinion/review and I hope it will benefit anyone interested in possibly purchasing this book!
Customer Reviews:
Excellent overview of how it all works.......2007-09-15
This book was extremely helpful in evaluating whether the Peace Corps is for me. Definately a great read for anyone deciding to join.
A wealth of information..........2007-07-24
This book offered a lot of basic information on issues I would never have thought to ask about. I found it helped relieve many anxieties about applying to the Peace Corps.
Peace Corp YAY.......2007-04-05
This book is amazing. If you have any questions about joining the peace corp this book will answer alomst everything about the experience. From the application process down to returning to the US. I am glad that i bought this book because it answer alot of my questions, and also made me think about other ones that i had not thought of before. Now more than ever i know that i am prepard to join the peace corp and i am really glad that i bought this book. i would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about applying to the peace corp, or someone who is in the appplication process.
This book is just questions and answer which is great because although the author gives us his experience, that does not dominate the book, he answer questions that everyone has about the peace corp, using his experience and the experiences of other Return Peace Corp Volunteers. Like i said whether you are thinking about applying or you are in the middle of your application process you should read this book!
Tells you everything it could.......2006-04-17
I read this book while going through the application process for the Peace Corps, and then found a copy of it in my host country while serving. Several other volunteers and I sat down and read pieces out loud to each other, expecting a good laugh, and were surprised at how good we still found it. It is very thorough and very accurate. As to one reviewer's note that it left them with unanswered questions - well, you must understand, even within one host country, people have very different experiences, and the Peace Corps is in about 80 countries. What this book doesn't tell you, you can't - and don't need to - know beforehand. Read it, pack lightly, and go with an open mind.
Great Information.......2006-02-21
I am considering joining the Peace Corps and this book provided me with all the information and answered so many of the questions about joining. Is very honest and straight forward about consequences and advantages. Awesome insight! Recommend this book highly for anyone curious to know the real truths behind joining the Peace Corps.
Book Description
Unlike many formal professions, foundation grantmaking is a calling with no training programs and little definitive literature on the latest and best practices. Written for program officers and of considerable value to grantseekers, this volume is the first and only practical guide to making foundation grants and developing essential skills for effective and ethical grantmaking. Author Joel J. Orosz provides:
- The history, structure, and function of foundations in society.
- The complex role that program officers play in their day-to-day activities.
- Real-world advice on a myriad of tasks--from meeting with applicants and reviewing their proposals to assisting the funded project and managing foundation initiatives.
- A useful overview for those new to the field, helps more experienced program officers to think more deeply about their work, and shares rich insights for the thousands of nonprofit leaders who pursue foundation grants.
Customer Reviews:
I learned more than I already knew about my own job!.......2000-10-10
I've been a grantmaker for approximately five years now. During the course of my on-the-job training, I've heard certain maxims over and over again until they've become ingrained in my mind and in my responses to applicants for grant funds -- now, after reading this book, I actually understand the philosophies behind them.
Every grantseeker who bemoans the fact that foundations don't want to fund ongoing operating expenses should read this book simply for the explanation of the difference between charity and philanthropy and where foundations fit in.
Likewise, the tips on meeting etiquette, attributes of a good grant proposal, and top four reasons proposals are denied will benefit professionals on both sides of the proposal.
Had the opportunity to see the author speak -- if you get the same opportunity, don't pass it by.
An Outstanding Contributation.......2000-08-03
Dr. Joel Orosz continues his tireless efforts on behalf of philanthropy and those interested in philanthropy in his current book.
The Insider's Guide to Grantmaking is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in seeking funds from a foundation, or anyone interested in a career in a foundation. His years of experience give both experienced and inexperienced readers a window into a sometimes-shadowy world. Orosz lets the light shine in a way that is understandable and justifiable.
This long over due body of work is a must have for everyone in the third sector and especially should be required reading for those working in and leading foundations.
Don't give away another dollar until you've read this.......2000-07-28
It's an art, it's a science, and it doesn't need to be a mystery -- since there's no academic training for a career in philanthropy (it's harder than you think!) Insider Orosz bridges the gap with this warm and rewarding User's Guide.
Outsiders will read it for its clear-cut description of philanthropy worklife and practice; insiders will find themselves affirmed or inspired. Both will enjoy the author's mix of humor and scholarship. Sure to be a classic in its field.
A Much Needed Perspective.......2000-06-26
This is a much needed look at life in foundation grant making. As a retired executive director of a corporate foundation,books such as The Corporate Contributions Handbook and Corporate Social Investing were extremely helpful to the corporate grant maker. This book is a well-thought out look at foundation reality. While it is not meant to help those seeking grants, it certainly gives the donor a window on the inside process. It will serve as a good reference for those who wish to enter this field and provides sage advice to those who have been there for some time. The historical research was a plus.
Average customer rating:
- A Teenager in the Civil War
- Charley is a freak (i think)
- A kid at war.
- Chris's Review
- Not what i expected but a good read
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Soldier's Heart : Being the Story of the Enlistment and Due Service of the Boy Charley Goddard in the First Minnesota Volunteers
Gary Paulsen
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Paulsen, Gary
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Nightjohn
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ASIN: 0440228387
Release Date: 2000-09-12 |
Amazon.com
In spare, almost biblical prose, Gary Paulsen writes of the horrors of combat in a Civil War novella that puts a powerful, more contemporary spin on Stephen Crane's classic The Red Badge of Courage. Based on the life of a real boy, it tells the story of Charley Goddard, who lies his way into the Union Army at the age of 15. Charley has never been anyplace beyond Winona, Minnesota, and thinks war would be a great adventure. And it is--at first--as his regiment marches off through cheering crowds and pretty, flag-waving girls. But then comes the battle. Charley screams, "Make it stop now!" disbelieving that anything so horrible could be real. Paulsen is unsparing in the details of what actually happens on the battlefield: the living men suddenly blown into pieces, the agony and fear, the noise and terror, the stinking corpses. After many battles, Charley is wounded and sent home an old man before he is 20, his will to live destroyed by combat fatigue--leaving him with a "soldier's heart." Paulsen has received the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the ALAN Award, and several Newbery Honor awards for previous work, but this superb, small masterpiece transcends any of his earlier titles in its remarkable, memorable intensity and power. (Ages 12 to 15) --Patty Campbell
Book Description
In June 1861, when the Civil War began, Charley Goddard enlisted in the First Minnesota Volunteers. He was 15. He didn't know what a "shooting war" meant or what he was fighting for. But he didn't want to miss out on a great adventure.
The "shooting war" turned out to be the horror of combat and the wild luck of survival; how it feels to cross a field toward the enemy, waiting for fire. When he entered the service he was a boy. When he came back he was different; he was only 19, but he was a man with "soldier's heart," later known as "battle fatigue."
Customer Reviews:
A Teenager in the Civil War.......2007-07-03
In 1861 Charley is fifteen years old, living on a farm in Minnesota with his mother and little brother. Everyone has heard the rumor that there is to be a war, with those in the North fighting to stop the Southern rebels from doing damage to the country. No one is quite sure if the war is really going to happen, but Charley is determined to be a part of it if it is.
He convinces his mother that he can handle himself as a soldier and tells her the eleven dollars a month he'll be paid will help her out, and she agrees to let him go. He signs up, lying about his age so they will let him into the army, and begins his training.
At first things are horribly boring. The volunteer military spends much of its time sitting around, doing drills that don't use up their ammunition, and eating really bad food. Charley is considering deserting and simply going home, when finally his unit marches into battle.
Their first battle is a bloodbath--his unit tries to march across an open field while rebel soldiers shoot at them from above. Charley isn't sure what he thought a shooting war would be like, but it was certainly nothing like this. As the war continues and Charley is a part of more and more battles, he learns what war really is, and sees more than his share of the horror of it.
I liked that war wasn't glamorized at all in this book--the narrator spoke of the boredom between battles and the horror of the battles themselves. Nothing was made out to be fun about it. I also liked that Charley was so shocked and couldn't get over what he had seen. He was just a kid when he went into war and it wouldn't have been realistic for him to handle it well.
However, this book was a little too simplistic. It didn't give any of the nuances of Charley's thoughts and feelings, and didn't explore the feelings of anyone except this one main character. I would have liked a bit more depth.
Charley is a freak (i think).......2007-05-29
I definitely recommend this book to all readers. Gary Paulsen does a great job in showing how Charley feels that he will certainly die, and how he changes from a happy farmer to a man that will kill to stay alive. This was one of the greatest historical fiction books that I have ever read because of all the amazing events that actually took place. For example, Charley and another man use dead bodies to build a wall to stop a vicious wind. This book had a lot of surprises, like when Charley is hit and wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. I couldn't wait to turn the page because of all these horrendous and shocking surprises. Because this book is only 102 pages, it makes for an astonishing quick read.
A kid at war........2007-05-20
As already stated, this is a fictionalized story of a young 15 year Minnesota boy who fought in the Civil War. Paulsen takes liberties in relating the short life of Charley Goddard. Goddard participated in many major battles of the Civil War such as Bull Run and Gettysburg. He shows the cost of war on the youths that fight it by relating the term soldier's heart. A soldier's heart becomes hardened by the experience of death in battle. He no longer fears death, viewing it as a way to meet the soldiers who proceeded him in death.
This is a story detailing the cruelity of battle. Battle hardens our soldiers and puts severe strains on their mentail peace. This should be remembered in terms of the cost are soldiers are now going through.
Chris's Review.......2007-05-14
Soldier's Heart
By: Gary Paulsen
Number of pages: 102 Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Do you like a book with action, drama, and a main character with lots of bravery? Then you should pick up the book Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen.
Soldier's Heart is based on a true story about a fifteen-year-old boy in Minnesota named Charley Goddard, who lies about his age to join the First Volunteers of Minnesota, to fight in the Civil War.
The main character in the story is a young man, Charley, for his age, Charley is a very mature man and is a very hard worker in every aspect. When Charley is sent off to get prepared for the war, he battles some conflicts. One conflict that he has to battle is that his mother sends him letters saying the she wants him to come back home. Charley feels bad and at first wants to come home, but these thoughts gradually leave.
I like this book for many reasons. One reason was that I like to read about historical fiction, and about the Civil War. Another reason why I like this book was because the main character, "Charley," was only fifteen, and I can relate a lot to the things that he thought and what was going on in his head. The last reason is because the author had a good perspective of what went on during the war.
Gary Paulsen was the author of the book Soldier's Heart. He has also written many other books such as Brian's Winter, Hatchet, The Crossing, The Rifle, and Danger on the Midnight River. Paulsen is able to have a great knowledge because he went to war and fought for our country.
The part in the story that I did not care for was the battlefields. They seemed like they were made up, because of the location. I also did not like how the story had started out. I would have liked to know a little bit more about his family and the backgrounds that Charley lived in.
I would give this book four out of five stars. I would recommend this book to people who like to know historical facts about the Civil War and the battles that were fought in it. Overall, Soldier's Heart is an exciting, historical, and adventurous book that anyone would enjoy to read.
Not what i expected but a good read.......2007-03-09
I didn't realize how short the book was until I already recieved it. It was my fault for not seeing it on the display page but despite how short it is it still provides the reader with an idea of how being on a battlefield during the civil war would be like.
Book Description
"Until now, we and other nonprofits had to find out the hard wayÂ-by trial and errorÂ-that garnering the energies of todays volunteers means answering their special needs. Thats where The Volunteer Management Handbook comes in, with helpful, practical, and proven solutions to the often overlooked problems of effectively managing volunteer efforts." Â- From the Foreword by Kathleen Behrens Executive Director, New York Cares
The VolunteerManagement Handbook
Drawing on the experience and expertise of recognized authorities on nonprofit organizations, The Volunteer Management Handbook offers the nonprofit manager a complete guide to establishing and maintaining an active and effective volunteer program. In one handy reference volume, the Handbook offers practical guidance on such essential issues as:
- Motivating people to volunteer their time and services
- Developing a detailed Volunteer Management Policy Manual
- Recruitment, orientation, and retention
- Training volunteers
- Recognition and reward systems for volunteers
- Volunteers and the law: liabilities, immunities, and responsibilities
Designed for all nonprofit and fund-raising professionals as well as volunteer leaders, The Volunteer Management Handbook is an indispensable reference that is unsurpassed in both the breadth and depth of its coverage.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Guide.......2007-02-03
This is a very comprehensive manual for the management of volunteer based groups. I used this book extensively for two years as president of a 100% volunteer based non-profit org. Frankly, it was indispensable as both a guide and reference in countless situations, from rewriting the bylaws and policies, to managing/inspiring/leading a board of 12 directors and over 60 volunteers/500+ members. This group went from a dwindling, unorganized, under-funded lot to a vibrant, well organized, and well funded group during my time of service. I owed a lot of that success to this book.
Book Description
Finally, a practical, down-to-earth guide that offers real advice on solving your volunteer shortage.
Whether yours is a large international association or a local food pantry, volunteers are the lifeblood of your organization. You rely on volunteers to carry out projects, head up task forces, coordinate events and eventually become the future leaders of your organization.
Just as an airline must understand the needs and desires of its customers or lose them to another carrier, you must understand and meet the needs of your volunteers, or they will take their time and talents to someone else who will.
Volunteers: How to Get Them, How to Keep Them outlines 12 fundamental needs of volunteers and clearly spells out how to meet those needs. Rich with examples and useful tools, this book is a quick read that you will find yourself referencing again and again. Find out how to: Compete for volunteers Recruit the best person for the job Ensure projects are completed on time Equip new volunteers to hit the ground running Manage volunteers (versus managing employees) Fire a volunteer Keep your best volunteers coming back . . . and more!
The perfect gift for your favorite nonprofit and the perfect reference book for every volunteer, volunteer officer, board member, committee chair, local leader and paid staff in all types of nonprofits Trade associations Professional societies Business and civic organizations Charitable organizations Alumni associations Religious and community organizations Education and research foundations
A must for every leader in your organization!
Customer Reviews:
Sound advice.......2007-05-21
"Volunteers - how to get them, how to keep them" offers sound and down-to-earth advice on what to do and how to do it when you want to run a volunteer-driven enterprise. The relatively short book (117p) packs in a good bunch of tips & tools. The book has no ambition in being an academic treatise on the subject.
Best of the Leading Books, But Not the Whole Picture.......2002-07-23
There are upwards of a 100 fairly good books on managing volunteers, and of those I selected four based on the information provided by Amazon and its readers, who now represent a critical mass of useful guidance. Of the four books, this is the best. If you buy only one, this is the one. (The other three were Vineyard & McCurley's "Best Practices for Volunteer Programs", Lee & Catagnus, "Supervising Volunteers", and what may be one of the originals (from 1994), Susan J. Ellis' "The Volunteer Recruitment and Membership Development Book." These latter three are reviewed in their own spaces.)
This book by Helen Little, as good as it is, would normally lose one star because it fails to provide an index or a guide to other readings (including web sites) in niche areas of volunteer management. However, it does provide excellent forms for each step of the volunteer management process and these are all downloadable from a given web address, so we'll call it even.
By way of larger context, this book, and books on volunteer management in general, are valuable not only for organizations that use volunteers as a resource, but for those who would manage citizen activism, as well as teen-agers with chips on their shoulders and a reluctance to bear down on chores.
While others have outlined volunteer "needs" and how to address them, Helen Little does it best. The 12 basic needs--applicable to neighborhood mobilization, regional political campaigns, and teen-ager "work for respect" programs--are very well and concisely listed: 1) specific manageable task; 2) task that matches motivation; 3) good reason for doing the task; 4) written instructions; 5) reasonable deadline; 6) freedom to complete the task; 7) everything necessary to complete the task; 8) adequate training; 9) safe, comfortable, friendly environment; 10) follow-up; 11) opportunity (for the volunteer) to provide feed-back; and 12) appreciation, recognition, and rewards.
As I read this thoughtful book, comparing what volunteers need at each step of the way--and the more advanced comments by the author on how to plan for succession at every level of the organization from neighborhood to national, I kept thinking to myself: "traditional political parties are dead." Both the Democratic and Republican parties are violating every single tenet of this excellent work on how to attract, motivate, and activate citizen-voters. It remains to be seen if our neighborhoods might yet self-organize. This would be a good book for anyone thinking about organizing any endeavor of free spirits, at any level of play.
New Knowledge & New Insights Found in Book.......1999-12-23
I have worked in the not for profit world for over 25 years as an association executive. I have also served on the Board of the Cerebral Palsy Center for the Bay Area for over 20 years. In each experience, the importance of finding and retaining and inspiring and engaging volunteer leaders is the factor that contributes to successfully achieving vision and mission. In the not for profit world, we are here to serve. The pressure to be the best at meeting the needs of those we serve never ends; the demands stretch our hearts and our minds; but in the not for profit world new knowledge, new ideas, new approaches, best practices, quality, and innovation can help meet important needs, and can even save a life. This book will inspire organizations seeking the best and brightest leaders, and is equally capable of inspiring the leaders we seek for our organizations. Well done and long needed by the field.
It will turn you around!.......1999-11-04
I hate to read books like this. Every once in a while I come across a book that is so helpful it stands me on my head. Really! After reading this book I felt a lot more confident to deal with thw 100+ volunteers I have in my organization. I would recommend this book to anyone who is responsible for volunteers.
Practical, easy-to-read,lots of great tools, tips and guides.......1999-11-02
Volunteers: How to Get Them, How to Keep Them, by Helen Little, is a creative and practical book, full of innovative information, tips and tools on how to recruit, manage, train, evaluate motivate, and inspire volunteers. Ms. Little outlines the twelve basic needs of volunteers and shows step-by-step you how to meet those needs, ultimately helping you build and retain a successful "volunteer management team."
Anyone who has been involved volunteer management soon learns that volunteers work most successfully when the job is clearly defined and when volunteers clearly understand their roles and responsibilities. This book has lots of useful and infinitely usable examples, templates, and guidelines to help you you "hit the ground running," and successfully accomplish the goals and objectives of your program and/or organization. A "must read" (and an easy read) for anyone involved in the care and feeding of volunteers.
Book Description
What business entrepreneurs are to the economy, social entrepreneurs are to social change. They are, writes David Bornstein, the driven, creative individuals who question the status quo, exploit new opportunities, refuse to give up--and remake the world for the better. How to Change the World tells the fascinating stories of these remarkable individuals--many in the United States, others in countries from Brazil to Hungary--providing an In Search of Excellence for the nonprofit sector. In America, one man, J.B. Schramm, has helped thousands of low-income high school students get into college. In South Africa, one woman, Veronica Khosa, developed a home-based care model for AIDS patients that changed government health policy. In Brazil, Fabio Rosa helped bring electricity to hundreds of thousands of remote rural residents. Another American, James Grant, is credited with saving 25 million lives by leading and 'marketing' a global campaign for immunization. Yet another, Bill Drayton, created a pioneering foundation, Ashoka, that has funded and supported these social entrepreneurs and over a thousand like them, leveraging the power of their ideas across the globe. These extraordinary stories highlight a massive transformation that is going largely unreported by the media: Around the world, the fastest-growing segment of society is the nonprofit sector, as millions of ordinary people--social entrepreneurs--are increasingly stepping in to solve the problems where governments and bureaucracies have failed. How to Change the World shows, as its title suggests, that with determination and innovation, even a single person can make a surprising difference. For anyone seeking to make a positive mark on the world, this will be both an inspiring read and an invaluable handbook.
Customer Reviews:
great read on the subject of social entrepreneurs.......2007-02-20
I enjoyed reading this book because it reminded me of chicken soup where every chapter started a new story about someone.
A historical and biographical account of social entrepreneurial heros and heroines.......2006-03-02
I found it inspiring and at the same time intimidating to contemplate the brilliant, hardworking people who inhabit this book. All of them committed their lives, talents, and fortunes to tackle seemingly endemic and chronic social problems, starting small and eventually spreading their good works throughout their nations and even globally. I recommend the book for anyone trying to improve their communities' health and welfare.
Feel better about the world.......2006-02-25
The book has several good stories about good things going on in the world. It's mostly a collection of anectodal items on people in different countries and the challenges they faces. I was surprised on how sometimes such common sense ideas become revolutionary movements. Because the book covers so many countries and problem solvers you don't find out about the people that came before that failed. Its clear that these people are building on others but just now how.
The book is a great study of characteristics that shape a person to become a leader in a national or regional social justice movement. It is quite interestign how people from separate worlds and cultures have such similar traits.
I recommend the book to those that are looking for any broader discussion on leadership and social justice. We used this for our first book in a book club that we started and it was a good lead to other discussions.
A few good people . . ........2005-09-21
This account of one man's efforts to revise the defintion of "entrepreneur" demonstrates the capacity of what can be achieved from small beginnings. Bill Drayton has created a "consulting" firm that girdles the world. Creator and promoter of Ashoka, a foundation dedicated to social change, Drayton uses a highly selective arrangement to locate and encourage people desiring social change. Their efforts, rarely, if ever, depicted in either mainstream media or even specialty publications, are here explained and endorsed. As is Drayton's unorthodox methods. Yet those methods, and the people adapting them to local conditions, have been demonstrably successful. They need further study and application.
Drayton, through Bornstein's depiction, has redefined the term "entrepreneur" from its narrow economic framework into a broader and more flexible environment. Money "profit" is no longer the basis for evaluation. Instead, how widely can a new idea and its promoter[s] affect betterment of the people shunted aside by pure capitalism? Is the multinational the sole or even the major means for offering employment and economic gain? Must the values implied by major infusions of capital, often with restraints tied to the investment, be limited to what firms successful in developed countries decide? Drayton argues that instead of "top-down" economic structures, change for the better should come about by local initiative. How far this idea has spread is exemplified by the map opening the book. From Brazil to Bangladesh, people with drive, patience and talent have made, and are making substantive changes within their communities, regions and entire nations.
The book provides real examples of people who identified a problem, then set about to improve conditions that had come to be accepted by social inertia. His opening example, that of Fabio Ruiz of Palmares, demonstrates how effective one person can be. Ruiz, living in a depressed area in Brazil, discovered how greatly something most of us take for granted, electrical power, could influence a local economy. Ruiz observed the condition of the rice farmers in the state. A steady supply of water would allow growth of successful crops. Erratic natural supplies, often interdicted by highland farmers, meant turning to groundwater supplies. Groundwater means pumps and petrol-driven pumps were expensive. Ruiz instituted an inexpensive method of distributing electricity throughout the area. The farmers provided the minimal investment and performed much of the labour. As electrification spread, farmers produced steady crop returns, reaching a level that led to marketing co-ops and economic independence. The programme meant dealing with banks, bureaucracy and competiton. Ruiz and his associates doggedly promoted their success, finally seeing it adapted to other regions. It's an object lesson for many rural farmers in the developing world.
Drayton's methods require a draconian approach to assessing ideas, programmes and the people behind them. Once an idea is presented, the obstacles and restraints must be planned for. A good suggestion isn't enough. The people seeking Ashoka's support must demonstrate they can follow through and adapt to changing conditions or outright opposition. From Brazil, through Africa, into the Subcontinent of India and its neighbours, back through Europe and North America, his evalution teams are constantly assessing, inquiring, and selecting those individuals and their plans for improvement. Money, of course, must be stretched to the limit. Government funding is a bane to most NGOs, since too many conditions are generally tied to resource allocation. Drayton's entrepreneurs must demonstrate their proposals are good enough to use with local resources. Only that way can they be launched into a project with Ashoka support. These projects aren't limited to developing countries alone. Bornstein shows how these examples may be applied to any community feeling their social advancement is under restraint. The models are clearly spelled out in detail. The only thing lacking in your community is the individual who can clearly identify the problems and find innovative ways of implementing the solutions. Is that you? [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
Not a "how to" but "how they did" change the world........2005-09-19
This book has 15 or so case studies on how people, all Ashoka fellows, made significant social impacts on their part of the world. It also spends a significant numbers of pages describing the Ashoka program itself; It is kind of a "cheerleader" for Ashoka which is less interesting than the case studies. The case studies are very detailed and give uninformed readers like me an understanding of how other people have created successful social programs that benefitted their society. If that is what you are looking for, I highly recommend this book.
Books:
- Molecular Modeling: Basic Principles and Applications
- National Geographic's Last Wild Places (National Geographic)
- Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration For Harmony With Nature (Schiffer Design Book)
- Nature: Poems Old and New
- New Guinea: An Island Apart
- Next of Kin: What Chimpanzees Tell Us About Who We Are
- North with the spring: A naturalist's record of a 17,000 mile journey with the North American spring / Edwin Way Teale
- On the Track of Unknown Animals
- One Hundred Desert Wildflowers of the Southwest
- Our Changing Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science and Global Environmental Change (3rd Edition)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Quicken Willmaker Plus 2007 Edition: Estate Planning Essentials
- John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide
- Institutional Design in Post-Communist Societies: Rebuilding the Ship at Sea
- Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Practice, and Law
- Home for the Holidays: Delicious Recipes from Master Chefs That You Can Make Right at Home with CD
- Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain
- Lives Of Grizzlies: Alaska
- Troubleshooting & Repairing Consumer Electronics Without a Schematic
- Homeworld 2
- The Model of Tatarstan: Under President Mintimer Shaimiev
Free the Children: A Young Man Fights Against Child Labor and Proves that Children Can Change the World
The Kid's Guide to Service Projects: Over 500 Service Ideas for Young People Who Want to Make a Difference (Self-Help for Kids Series)
The No-Nonsense Guide to Globalization (No-Nonsense Guides)
The Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, & Social Action
The Kid's Guide to Social Action: How to Solve the Social Problems You Choose-And Turn Creative Thinking into Positive Action
