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Executive Service Corps
of Chicago |
How can I become an ESC volunteer? What is the job of an ESC consultant? How does ESC prepare new volunteers for consulting? What level of commitment is expected of ESC consultants? My time is limited, and I go away during a part of the year; can I still volunteer? What are the most important skills an ESC consultant needs? What other volunteer opportunities does ESC offer? What are the personal benefits of volunteering with ESC?
Who are ESC volunteers? As an ESC volunteer, you join senior and middle managers and leaders from business, the professions, government, nonprofits, and schools who have the knowledge, commitment, time and energy to help others in the community. What are the personal benefits of volunteering with ESC?Benefits of involvement include recognition of your work and life experience, a sense of purpose, camaraderie, a sense of community and connection, a feeling of accomplishment, and opportunities to learn new skills. How can I become an ESC volunteer?Call ESC at (312) 580-1840 or email us at info@esc-chicago.org. You will receive a no-obligation packet of materials that outlines the many opportunities and responsibilities of volunteering. Also included in the packet are an application and skills checklist. When the completed forms are returned, an ESC volunteer will contact you to schedule a personal interview. The interview allows ESC to get to know you and allows you to get to know ESC. If there’s a fit, you’ll be invited to participate in required training including Orientation, the Consulting Skills Workshop and ESC 101. What is the job of an ESC consultant?Responding to client inquiry, ESC consultants work as part of a team, or as an individual coach, with a variety of organizations in such areas as strategic planning, human resources, marketing, performance coaching, and board development. While the kinds of assignments vary, the general approach is similar: we meet with the client, including board members, managers, key staff and constituents, to understand what the organization is attempting to do, how it works and its issues. The team gathers and analyzes the information and data about the organization and its issues. The end result may be a product, a set of recommendations that are presented to the client, or joint efforts toward implementing agreed needed changes. How does ESC prepare new volunteers for consulting?ESC requires all consultants, new and experienced, to participate in training. The basic training starts with the Orientation Workshop (1/2 day) and Meeting Planning and Facilitation Workshops (1/2 day). In Orientation ESC and its work are described and the fundamentals of consulting are explained. Meeting Planning and Facilitation provides new ESC volunteers with the process and tools used in developing dynamic and successful meetings. Other required training includes the Consulting Skills Workshop (2 days), and ESC 101 (2 days). ESC 101 is an introduction to the fundamentals of nonprofit governance and ESC's four primary governance and leadership practices (board development, strategic planning, fund development, and coaching). Advanced training and continuing professional development is also available in such areas as Board Development, Coaching, Endowment Planning, Fund Development, and Strategic Planning and Retreat Facilitation. What level of commitment is expected of ESC consultants?Some consultants take on several projects at a time while others prefer to work on only one at a time. Either way is acceptable. The cardinal rule is that when you accept an ESC consulting project, it should become a top priority for you ~ our clients are paying fees and expect high quality, effective, timely consulting work. My time is limited, and I go away during a part of the year; can I still volunteer?We will try to schedule your assignments to fit your schedule of availability. However, if you are away for more than three months at a time, it is difficult to assign you to a project. What are the most important skills an ESC consultant needs?In addition to skills and knowledge in a particular field, there are plenty of opportunities to use the general management skills gained over long careers as well as new skills learned in ESC training courses. Some of the most important skills are what we refer to as attributes: the ability to listen actively, build relationships, and take ownership/commit to a job, among other characteristics. What other volunteer opportunities does ESC offer?Although consulting or coaching is primarily what you would do, you may also want to staff an administrative volunteer position within the ESC office. Examples include assisting staff with research projects, fund raising, internal organizational and strategic planning efforts, or marketing to clients.
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