MYS Launches Online Volunteering Resource and Podcast

Winnipeg, Canada, October 12, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Macdonald Youth Services (MYS) officially launches their Web-based resource and podcast about online volunteering for non-profit organizations entitled "About Online Volunteering: Information Non-Profit Organizations Can Use".

This Online Volunteering Web resource and podcast shares MYS's successes in working with online volunteers from around the globe over the last nine years, provides information about relevant technological resources, applications and changes that may assist other non-profit and charitable organizations in the development of their Online Volunteer Program and through podcast interviews with their online volunteers, addresses for example, how their Internet-based volunteers got involved, what motivates them to stay involved and what type of tasks they perform.

"We hope that through sharing our successes and best practices other non profit organizations will be inspired to try online volunteering as an alternative and proven method to address some of their volunteer needs", stated MYS's pioneering online volunteer program developer, Randy Tyler, who (along with online volunteers) developed the Web resource and podcast.

The About Online Volunteering Web resource and Podcast uses the free (open source) and highly extensible WordPress blog to share information along with the PodPress plug-in to publish podcast episodes. For a subscriber's convenience, two different RSS Feeds have been provided. One RSS Feed includes all blog postings, whether text or podcasts episodes; the second feed includes only the podcast episodes (which are both audio and video files). The podcast (also entitled "About Online Volunteering") only feed also has a one click subscribe button for those people using Apple's iTunes as their chosen podcatcher. And for those people not using an RSS Feed Reader or podcatcher, new content can be automatically received via e-mail.

MYS extends their thanks to the following online volunteers who have assisted in the development of the About Online Volunteering Web Resource and Podcast: Kaushal Sheth (Mumbai, India), blog theme php coding; Patricia Huaman (California, US), content transfer and proofreading; Chuck Brown (Ohio, US), About Online Volunteering Podcast PSA launch Voice Over; Gail Drinnan (Alberta, Canada), producer About Online Volunteering Viral Video launch PSA; Joydeep Chaudhuri (Phoenix, US), e-mail and IM volunteer interviews; Peter Drew (Connecticut, US), blog writer; John Small (South Dakota, US), Skype-based podcast interviewer and the online volunteers, who so willingly shared their Internet-based volunteering experiences.

To learn how you can start tapping into this pool of Internet-based volunteers, visit the About Volunteering Web Resource and Podcast now at the following URL:

http://www.mys.ca/aov

To inform your readers or listeners about this Online Volunteering Web-Based Resource and Podcast, please download a video or audio PSA now to place on your Web site or blog from the following URL:

http://www.mys.ca/volunter/how-to/aov-psa

To subscribe or unsubscribe from MYS's About Online Volunteering News E-Mail List, please visit the URL below:

http://www.mys.ca/cgi-bin/media/mail_list.pl

Macdonald Youth Services (MYS), a trusted and respected registered charitable healing and support agency based in Winnipeg, Canada, has been Building Better Tomorrows for Manitoba's at-risk children since 1929. Through a variety of innovative and leading programming, MYS provides services for thousands of Manitoba's young people on a yearly basis. Since 1998, MYS has been at the forefront of successfully utilizing highly-skilled online volunteers from around the globe to enhance their programs and services.

For further information:

Randy Tyler
Volunteer Co-ordinator/Webmaster
Macdonald Youth Services
Winnipeg, Canada
W: http://www.mys.ca/aov
E: http://www.mys.ca/cgi-bin/randy_email.cgi
Skype: randytyler_canada
PGP Key: http://www.mys.ca/volunter/pgp
T: 1-204-949-4292

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