Nonprofit can profit.

Time-consuming tasks such as preparing mailings, program offerings, and annual membership billings can become a real imposition--especially if you have myriad other important activities on the agenda and a small staff. But picture giving as little as 24 hours notice and counting on 1-12 temporary workers to complete these routine tasks--and at the same time saving loads of money.

The Stephenson County Farm Bureau, Freeport, Illinois, is doing just that by working with two federally funded, locally administered volunteer labor programs: the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and the Job Training Partnership Act's (JTPA) summer youth program. Recently, for example, volunteers completed a complicated--and crucial--mailing to our 4,700 members. With an office staff of one full-time employee and one part-time employee, the bureau could not have completed the mailing on time--at least not without interrupting other member services.

RSVP provides retired citizens with opportunities to remain active by assisting nonprofit organizations with routine and special operations. JTPA's program promotes on-the-job training for disadvantaged youth. Any nonprofit or municipal agency whose community administers one of these programs may apply to use them. The application paperwork is minimal, and the savings make them a real bargain. The added attraction of a volunteer labor force is that there is no labor cost, and workers' compensation and other liability coverage are provided to users through the RSVP and JTPA programs themselves. A memorandum stating that you will treat volunteers with respect is also required.

For our big mailing, RSVP volunteers handled envelope stuffing, sorting by ZIP code, bundling, billing preparation, and post office delivery--and even accomplished it all a full day ahead of schedule. Nor we regularly attempt to include many offers and promotions in mailings and billings because we can rely on RSVP volunteers for help.

The JTPA program provides primarily youths from economically disadvantaged families. These workers need supervision, so this program is a bit more complicated to manage than RSVP. In fact, users are required to submit in advance a written job description and an outline of tasks to be accomplished. JTPA workers are paid the minimum wage by the federal government. Both the program and the hosting organization also provide counseling. Host supervisors are expected to evaluate JTPA workers in a structured manner, as they would permanent employees.

Out association's experience with this program has not been without problems, but JTPA workers have made substantial contributions. We've used the program to supplement maintenance of our headquarters building and to provide additional help with routine office cleanup. For example, help from JTPA workers enabled us to repaint the interior of our 15,000-square-foot building and to provide additional maintenance requested by our tenants. Costs were limited to materials.

In association work, flexibility and resourcefulness can make the difference between meeting and missing goals. Working with RSVP and JTPA, the farm bureau not only saves money, but management and staff meet the varied demands of our members and rarely have to forego an idea or program because of understanding.

James E. Walsh is manager of the Stephenson County Farm Bureau, Freeport, Illinois.