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The Leadership Gap
This research was conducted in collaboration with the Canadian Rural Partnership. It explored the nature of leadership and volunteer service amongst people residing in Newfoundland & Labrador. The Canadian Government had previously addressed similar concerns during the 1998 Rural Dialogue and 2000 National Rural Conference. The interest in exploring these issues stems from the observation that without adequate leaders to assume community roles, rural communities in Newfoundland & Labrador and across Canada may be negatively and irrevocably affected.
The purpose of the research project was to determine if and to what extent a leadership gap in Newfoundland & Labrador actually exists. While a cadre of academics and other analysts have assumed that a gap or the threat thereof is real, they have generated few concrete, empirical studies to back up these assertions. If a leadership gap exists, implications of this need to be addressed.
The objectives of the research project were:
- to examine the perception that volunteerism is declining in rural communities;
- to determine if this observation has merit and, if so, to investigate why volunteerism is dwindling;
- to probe the sorts of organisations volunteers are joining to determine if volunteers are resisting becoming members in traditional organisations and opting instead to join more recently formed groups;
- to determine if voluntary organisations are competing with each other to obtain the same volunteers within an increasingly smaller pool;
- to produce a final report (and other materials) identifying similarities and differences existing within selected communities, across diverse groups, and the overall range of contributing factors affecting volunteerism and leadership;
- to prepare recommendations to assist rural community groups develop new strategies to build attachment to community involvement, recruit volunteers, develop leadership skills, and create opportunities for personal and community development;
- to add to the body of literature addressing community involvement;
- and, finally, to provide representatives of federal government departments with additional suggestions to guide them in applying the “rural lens” to communities in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada, especially with reference to future directions for the Voluntary Sector Initiative and policies and programs affecting voluntary action.
To inquire into the status of volunteering and leadership in the province, the project researchers explored issues affecting rural communities including declining population, changing demographics, perceived lack of interest among young people to become volunteers, and the apparent transfer of responsibilities from government agencies to local, community-based organizations. Researchers reviewed literature on leadership and conducted four case studies of rural communities (Harbour Breton, Ferryland, Botwood, Glovertown).
By better understanding the complex issues affecting volunteering and leadership in Newfoundland & Labrador, the Community Services Council hopes to assist community-based groups to strengthen their rural capacity and leadership. It is also hoped that the insight produced by this project concerning volunteer recruitment, leadership building, and retention techniques in rural communities will help voluntary organizations maintain their infrastructure.
Information about roundtables conducted throughout Spring 2002...
For more information about the Leadership Gap project e-mail csc@csc.nf.net
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profile of voluntary sector - managing voluntary organizations - research and policy | |
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Copyright 2002 Community Services Council Newfoundland and Labrador
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