Volunteer experience inspires resident's first book

WINTER GARDEN — A Winter Garden resident put his corporate career on hold for a year to write and promote a book that offers tips and techniques he says can benefit leaders of nonprofit organizations.

Barry Altland spent the first 10 years of his professional experience in hospitality leadership roles, and he learned the value of leaders who understand the importance of proper guidance. He has volunteered in many different capacities throughout his life, as well, including at Matthew’s Hope and A Gift for Teaching. He also coaches a church softball team.

“The leader of volunteers plays a significant role in engaging, sustaining and, at times, redirecting the passions of those who choose to serve,” Altland wrote in his book, “Engaging the Head, Heart and Hands of a Volunteer.”

“The real undercurrent of the book (is this): How do you find someone’s gifts, passions, and find them a role that feeds into that passion?” he wrote. “And when you do that, you’ve got them.”

The problem is when a volunteer serves and doesn’t experience proper leadership.

Altland provides a step-by-step guide for organization leaders to help volunteers find their best niche, give their maximum effort and maintain the emotional connection.

Often, when people offer to serve an organization, they are tasked with whatever job needs to be done and not assigned where their skills will do the most good.

“Leaders and volunteers, they deserve help,” Altland said. “Through my corporate experiences, I knew that I had something that I could offer that could help them. I’ve been blessed to have some cool jobs, where I’ve been blessed with excellent leadership.”

At Matthew’s Hope, Altland has served in areas that tap into his passion, and he said he has bonded with the homeless program and its clients.

“We’re all blessed with this unique set of gifts,” Altland said. “You need to find where you can apply your skills and your gifts to (give) your best, and it’s the leader’s responsibility to find that.”

This is where “otherliness” comes in — a term that Altland said isn’t in the dictionary but is used in his book 70 times.

“It’s placing the needs, wants and desires of others ahead of our own,” he said. “It’s an essential trait for leaders of any type.”

The most important thing a leader of volunteers can do is focus on the individuals who choose to offer their time.

“Every volunteer — they choose to serve because there’s something in their heart, something compelling them to be more deeply involved,” Altland said. “And they deserve to have that passion fed.”

To promote the book and Matthew’s Hope, Altland and Matthew’s Hope founder Pastor Scott Billue are holding an event from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at Pilars Martini in downtown Winter Garden.

Altland said it’s called “A Book ‘Briefing’ and Dro’ Drive” and the concept is simple: Guests arrive with a donation of at least $15 worth of men’s boxer briefs, to be shared with Matthew’s Hope, and the donor receives a signed copy.

Signed books also are available on Altland’s website, hhhengagement.com.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at [email protected].

IF YOU GO

“A Book ‘Briefing’ and Dro’ Drive”

WHEN: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28

WHERE: Pilars Martini, 146 W. Plant St., No. 120, Winter Garden

HOW IT WORKS: Guests arrive with a minimum donation of at least $15 worth of men’s boxer briefs, to be shared with Matthew’s Hope, and the donor receives a signed copy of Altland’s book.

BOOK BARRY

Barry Altland is available for speaking engagements. Recently, he spoke to members of the Winter Garden Rotary Club to share his insights.

To book a speaking engagement, contact Altland at [email protected] or (407) 765-0577. 

He and his wife, Kristy, live in Winter Garden and often volunteer together at local organizations.