All employees and volunteers are asked for their input on education
and training needs. Although suggestions can be made at
any time, the first week of each quarter is designated as a time
when employees can specifically convey needs during briefing
meetings. Volunteers note needs in the profiles they complete
when they join SF and in surveys. In addition, information boards
throughout the food bank have a designated area for employees
and volunteers to write down needs and ideas for training. An
employee is charged with capturing these needs/ideas and submitting
them at the end of each week to a senior leader. The senior
leaders review all ideas each quarter. The Training and Volunteer
Tracker (Figure 4.2-1), a simple database, captures special skills
and the interests of all employees, volunteers, available students/
programs from DU, available fellows from local and state governments
and foundations, and training offers from corporate
contributors. Priority needs, such as training on new equipment
or to meet new regulatory requirements, are compared to this list
of resources. SF’s Volunteer and Outreach Manager is responsible
for ensuring that training is planned, promoted, and carried out.