Another Readership Record for The Cowling Report.

Wow! I am flabbergasted!! 4500 readers looked at The Cowling Report in May. There were  6630 pageviews. Thank you everyone

The Top posts were:

No More Free Training?

Published Sep 8, 2011 Friday Facts: Analysing Australia's Volunteer Stra... Jan 13, 2012 Major Changes at Volunteering Australia May 3, 2012 Wow -look at us grow??? Australia's Volunteering S... May 25, 2012 Paying the Cost of Volunteering May 18, 2012 Monday Motivation:Nelson Mandela: Inaugural Addres... Jan 2, 2012 Wednesday World Changers: Politics and Volunteerin... May 16, 2012,

Blog Update

Officially January is not quite over and we have had the second highest readership number ever. We may yet top our record month (which was December) in the next two days.

Thank you for continuing to journey.

The Cowling Report: Best of 2011!

When I started this blog in October, 2009, I had no idea of what it might do.

17 358 page views and 251 comments later, the number of readers continues to climb every month.

The top ten blog posts of 2011 were:

1. Friday Facts: No follow through  Apr 15, 2011, about the lack of follow up by spontaneous volunteers- we got 13 comments
2. Friday Facts: Aussie Volunteer Conference Reaction..., this was my most controversial blog post. It was not intended to be. I was reporting on feelings regarding the 2011 Australian volunteering conference. Sadly, Volunteering Australia failed to respond to the blog post. I sadly suspect, they saw it as an attack. I remain committed to supporting Volunteering Australia but like many feel locked out by the agency. Published Oct 28, 2011 we had a massive 33 comments.
3. Thunderbirds and the Aussie Floods/Haiti earthquak...2011 was a dreadful year for disasters. I speculated on what would happen if we really did have the thunderbirds! Three comments - published Jan 16, 2011
4. No More Free Training?  contained my observations on what happens when people provide training for free. Got a lot of readers but only five comments on September 8, 2011.
5. Completely Unqualified Trainer? You're Hired. was one of my early posts published Dec 19, 2010. I was lamenting the attitude of the not for profit sector that aims for lowest common denominator. This one has generated 13 comments
6. Volunteer Australia Conference Report back  after my post published Oct 28, 201 with people's concerns re the Volunteer Australia conference, I sought feedback on Dec 1, 2011. Sadly, Volunteering Australia didn't even use the opportunity and we had a mere 3 comments (still time folks)
7. Power to Change? For International Volunteers Day in December, 2011, Rob Jackson blogged his thoughts regarding the day. Lots of readers but no comments!
8. Meeting People @ NCVS published through the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in the USA, in Jun 2011...lots of interesting people met, lots of page views but alas only three comments
9. But What does it Mean? asked the meaning behind the Volunteer Week slogan in Australia. Published Feb 8, 2011- I got eight comments
10. Friday Facts: Behind the US Volunteering numbers  I am very concerned at the direction, US Volunteering numbers are taking but wonder if I am the only one worried? Fewer people are volunteering despite a recession, and a higher emphasis on volunteering. Published: Aug 12, 2011 I got 7 comments. I would love more debate on this.

Thats 2011.....I look forward to 2012. 

I also publish a second blog: Wild about Travel exploring my travel experiences. Love you to follow me there as well!

Heres to a great 2012. Thank you for reading with me.....and commenting!! Thank you to the 40 people who follow this blog. Its great to have that support.

Blog Figures

Thank you for joining me as a reader. Readership has grown significantly through December- again. I appreciate everyone who reads- and comments.

Look forward to a big year in 2012

May Musings on The Cowling Report!

In April, The Cowling Report hit a record number of readers! The Blog has been increasing in readership steadily since I started writing it in December!  Thank you to everyone who reads and recommends The Cowling Report We have readers on every continent (except Antarctica!). I also like those who comment (hint hint)


The top three The Cowling Report Blogs ever are:

1. Friday Facts: No follow through (looking at spontaneous volunteers) published Apr 15, 2011 with seven comments added to the blog
2. But What does it Mean? My provocative post on the Australian Volunteering week Poster. Eights comments were left.
3. Completely Unqualified Trainer? You're Hired published Dec 19, 2010 -this struck a nerve with 11 comments. It is my favourite Blog post so far, to be honest!

In the month of April, the top three posts were:

1. No surprise that the top blog post ever was also Aprils!: Friday Facts: No follow through
2. They are Watching Me  published Apr 23, I shared my dismay that my IPhone records my every location continually- 
3. My April 11 Blog on US National Volunteer Week with only two comments (you can still add some)

I am feeling a little busy for the rest of May.

I have two conferences (one in Wisconsin and one in New Zealand) plus the Australasian Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management 

and a very, very busy National Volunteer Week in Australia. Lets see how my blogging goes.
In the meantime, love your feedback!

Whats a Social Media Expert?

This is a follow on from a December blog post: Completely Unqualified Trainer -Youre Hired where I complained about a Social Media Trainer who I believed had no qualifications to train on the subject. She is not the only one. I have been to a few conferences and seen lots of "so called" Social Media "experts" featured on the program.

I am rewriting my training notes for Social Media today (fourth major rewrite in 18 months- field moves quickly!). As I did so, I found a great quiz  which sorts out what to look for in a Social Media expert. It is very funny but makes some good posts.

I finished the Quiz did it and I am pleased to say I would have no trouble walking (see Question 7). In fact, I can hold my head up respectably! I am also excited to say in the third month of The Cowling Report, we have seen the number of people connecting with my posts rising dramatically! Thank you!