Analysis of the Information Needs of Volunteers: the Results of Study

Volunteering is actively developing in the Russian Federation and around the world. Society that takes part in volunteer projects has a high level of civic identity, morality and forms humanistic values among young people. Volunteer movement is a tool to reduce the level of antisocial and extremist behaviour.Approximately 15% of the population of the Russian Federation is involved in volunteering activities at the present time. Thanks to the volunteer organizations created in educational institutions, the government creates positive image of a volunteer. At the same time, there is a problem of public distrust in this type of activity due to the lack of awareness of volunteer organizations and their projects. Organizers of the volunteer movement face the problem of lack of information about volunteering that entails the difficulties in setting goals and objectives of the volunteer organization. It is necessary to identify the information needs of volunteers, as well as to create an information field where they can meet these needs.There is no resource with comprehensive information about volunteering activity in Russia. Information needs of participants in such type of projects cannot be fully met. The main source of information is the portal “Volunteers of Russia”. It allows you to get e-book of a volunteer, register a volunteer organization, create an event and apply for participation in an existing project. However, the system has a number of factors that make it difficult to keep accurate records of volunteer activities; it is more designed to attract attention to projects.In 2018—2019, the study was conducted using the online survey (questionnaire). The survey involved volunteers (451 respondents) and their leaders (43 respondents) of the St. Petersburg Volunteer Movement “Our Future is in Our Hands”. The purpose of the study was to identify the information needs of volunteers and their managers. The survey results led to the conclusions: the availability of information resources on volunteering is not too high; the most interesting information is related to the experience of implementing volunteer activities, project development and management, the development of supra-professional skills. Volunteers prefer to use electronic documents.It is necessary to develop special programs and organize training courses on the formation of information culture of volunteers, to create a wider range of information resources for volunteers. One of the possibilities is to create a unified public resource that reflects different aspects of volunteering activities. It is important to form a comprehensive information support for volunteers.

Analysis of the Information Needs of Volunteers: the Results of Study

Volunteering is actively developing in the Russian Federation and around the world. Society that takes part in volunteer projects has a high level of civic identity, morality and forms humanistic values among young people. Volunteer movement is a tool to reduce the level of antisocial and extremist behaviour.Approximately 15% of the population of the Russian Federation is involved in volunteering activities at the present time. Thanks to the volunteer organizations created in educational institutions, the government creates positive image of a volunteer. At the same time, there is a problem of public distrust in this type of activity due to the lack of awareness of volunteer organizations and their projects. Organizers of the volunteer movement face the problem of lack of information about volunteering that entails the difficulties in setting goals and objectives of the volunteer organization. It is necessary to identify the information needs of volunteers, as well as to create an information field where they can meet these needs.There is no resource with comprehensive information about volunteering activity in Russia. Information needs of participants in such type of projects cannot be fully met. The main source of information is the portal “Volunteers of Russia”. It allows you to get e-book of a volunteer, register a volunteer organization, create an event and apply for participation in an existing project. However, the system has a number of factors that make it difficult to keep accurate records of volunteer activities; it is more designed to attract attention to projects.In 2018—2019, the study was conducted using the online survey (questionnaire). The survey involved volunteers (451 respondents) and their leaders (43 respondents) of the St. Petersburg Volunteer Movement “Our Future is in Our Hands”. The purpose of the study was to identify the information needs of volunteers and their managers. The survey results led to the conclusions: the availability of information resources on volunteering is not too high; the most interesting information is related to the experience of implementing volunteer activities, project development and management, the development of supra-professional skills. Volunteers prefer to use electronic documents.It is necessary to develop special programs and organize training courses on the formation of information culture of volunteers, to create a wider range of information resources for volunteers. One of the possibilities is to create a unified public resource that reflects different aspects of volunteering activities. It is important to form a comprehensive information support for volunteers.

Special Issue on 13th International Society of Asphalt Pavements (ISAP) Conference

The International Society for Asphalt Pavements (ISAP) is a volunteer organization of professionals and experts in asphalt engineering whose goal is to share the latest in leading edge asphalt pavement technology worldwide. ISAP’s most important event, its Conference, is held every four years and the 13th ISAP Conference on Asphalt Pavements (ISAP2018) took place in Fortaleza (Brazil) from June 19th to 21st 2018, for the first time in Latin America. There were participants from 25 countries presenting and debating ideas covering a wide range of topics within pavement infrastructure. Such events provide opportunities to share and learn ideas and discuss how to transform the best available knowledge into applications that can enhance people’s lives, respecting the environment with an eye on future generations. ISAP promotes such diverse gatherings and helps building a creative environment to keep turning the wheel of knowledge. [...]

The ban of Association of Croatian Theatre Volunteers by communist authorities in Croatia (1945 – 1947)

The article describes the ban of Association of Croatian Theatre Volunteers in Zagreb [Matica hrvatskih kazališnih dobrovoljaca, Zagreb], umbrella theatrical-volunteer organization in Croatia since the mid-1920s until Second World War. It was active in the country and abroad on popularisation of the art of drama, creation of the folk repertoire, as well as on bringing together acting societies, clubs and choirs. When the war ended, the Association applied for permission to restore its activities, but only in the Zagreb area. Its activities would be mainly related to education of actors – theatre volunteers and improving of theatre literature. The procedure of banning lasted from the autumn of 1945 until 5 February 1947, when the Government of the People's Republic of Croatia (PRC) [Vlada Narodne Republike Hrvatske] confirmed the ban order previously adopted by Ministry of Interior of the PRC [Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Narodne Republike Hrvatske]. Also, its whole property was confiscated in favour of the State. The article also draws attention to the engagement in that ban case, showed by Aleksandar Freudenreich, a prominent architect and theater worker, as well as secretary of the Association in whole period since its founding. The ban case was analyzed in a broader context of creating a new socialist culture, in accordance with the revolutionary ideology of the new communist government.

The Hidden Space of Mediation: Migrant Volunteers, Immigration Lawyers, and Interpreters

This chapter describes instances where the voice of migrant protesters is made simultaneously both audible and inaudible through people who act as their agents. In particular, it looks at three different groups who assume such roles: migrant volunteers at the China Japan Volunteer Organization (CJVO), immigration lawyers, and interpreters. With their professional expertise on legal matters, familiarity with Japanese culture and language as well as those of migrant workers, these agents play an important role in migrant activism. They facilitate negotiations between migrant workers and their employers, represent them at court, and help migrant workers to communicate with their Japanese counterparts. Crucially, they act not only as the spokespersons of migrant protesters, but also as mediators. They interfere with the interaction between migrants and their employers, quietly and sometimes without the knowledge of migrants, to achieve what they see as the best course of action for the migrant protesters. In this way, they play an indispensable role in creating the ‘voice’ of migrants. While migrant protesters become visible and audible thanks to those who assume the role of their spokespersons, they do so, however, at the cost of losing control of their own voices.

Integrating the Components

This chapter assesses the Army National Guard's ability to work alongside the Regular Army to provide strategic landpower capability, capacity, and flexibility. It argues that closely integrating the components can produce a Total Army with more diverse skills for fighting across the range of military operations overseas.For the homeland, a strong National Guard can quickly deliver security and emergency response capabilities for natural or manmade disasters. Integrating the components also makes the overall Army more affordable and provides the all-volunteer organization with the flexibility needed to appeal to today's more fluid society. Finally, more closely integrating the Army's components can help strengthen the social connection between the military and "Main Street" America.