The Community Connection
Volunteer Trends in a Changing World

By Judy Schoenberg, Paula Fleshman, and Michael Conn, Ph.D. (New York, N.Y.: Girl Scouts of the USA, 2002). 29 pp.

The Community Connection: Volunteer Trends in a Changing World scans volunteering and social trends and summarizes research on key issues affecting adult volunteers and girls today. It is the third in a series of research reviews produced by the Girl Scout Research Institute. A highlight of this publication is its coverage of issues raised for volunteering by the events of September 11, 2001.

The Community Connection identifies key trends in volunteering so that youth development organizations can garner the support they need to make a difference in the lives of young people. Major areas of discussion, with actionable strategies, include:

• Post-9/11 data on charitable behavior and volunteering
• General trends in everyday volunteering
• Insights from girls ages 11-17 about the "ideal" volunteer
• Expanding the volunteer pool among young adults ages 18-29
• Information on adults underrepresented in the volunteer population

This publication will be helpful in training, adult development, and planning efforts within a national organization's local affiliates, as well as in raising the organization's profile in the community, providing recognition as a source of expertise in engaging and supporting volunteers from different walks of life.

For more information or to order a hard copy of the research review, email the Girl Scout Research Institute or call (800) GSUSA 4 U.