"Eddie offers practical ideas, inspirational stories and powerful support for finding and retaining volunteers to enrich and enhance your organization's goals. His ideas and delightful examples spring from his experience and varied learning over many years of cultivating and nurturing volunteers and leaders."
Sylvia Haskvitz, CNVC trainer and assessor, author of Eat by Choice, Not by Habit and contributing author of Healing Our Planet, Healing Ourselves
"This book relates to "best practices" for leadership; relationships with employees, building a business/organizational culture where people look forward to coming to work and focus on not just doing their best but extending their responsibilities to making all stakeholders valuable human beings - each with a purpose or gift to bring to the table! I love the book, it is at the same time inspiring and practical!"
Susie Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Mother Lode Rehabilitation Enterprises
"Eddie Zacapa's book applies key principles of Nonviolent Communication to cultivating and maintaining volunteers for your organization, including connecting with intrinsic purpose, giving effective feedback, and the role of appreciation (gratitude). It also is full of practical advice. A useful guide for anyone working with volunteers and desiring to do so with greater effectiveness, connection, and compassion."
Dian Killian, CNVC Certified Trainer and author,
Connecting across Differences: How to Connect with Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere
"This guide will help any organization that is looking for long term volunteers to bulk up their staff with heart."
Gloria Webster, Volunteer
"Reading Eddie's book brought up so many emotions. I have known Eddie for a few years and I can attest to his commitment, passion, professionalism and compassion. In this book, he shares his own experiences on how to lay down a fertile space for volunteers and dissects the importance to nurture them in a kind and respectful manner. Eddie provides concise examples on how to provide a bounty of opportunities not only for volunteers but for the community they serve. The book is insightful and inspiring."
Ruth Zermeño-Rodriguez,
Peer Counselor, Family Advocate
"Eddie powerfully lifts up the concepts of 'love thy neighbor' in this book. He illustrates how volunteering time and skills to our communities teaches teamwork, communication, conflict resolution, critical thinking, project planning and other important life skills. Eddie especially captures how human beings can bring out the best in each other through volunteerism. He also reminds us to preserve and treasure our interconnectedness as global citizens."
Ami Pascual Spear
Founding Executive Director, South of Market Foundation, Community Economic Development practitioner
"No one who works with volunteers should miss reading Essentials for Cultivating Passionate, Inspired Volunteers and Leaders. Eddie speaks from rich experience and a compassionate heart. The "essentials" he provides are spectacular for both their simplicity and depth! The book is remarkable for its brevity and comprehensiveness. It will become a core manual for leading volunteers in our church. In my humble opinion, Eddie is like our Santa Claus (you'll have to read the book for this to make complete sense) because he is giving our leaders the opportunity to serve, grow and contribute to our volunteers."
Karl Ortis, Pastor, Western Hills Church