Wow! Many thanks to development professionals Kelly del Campo Merricks and Laurie Rogers for their very informative presentation on budgeting & fundraising for volunteer involvement on November 5! Is your volunteer program part of your organization's strategic plan? Can you make the case for why your organization should accommodate volunteers and what constitutes a successful experience? Kelly & Laurie explained why answering these questions can result in increased support for your program AND your organization!

Thanks also to Laura Bland and the Virginia Department of Health for providing the excellent space! 

Don't forget to get the professional development events below on your calendar!

2010 SCHEDULE:

January 7, 2010 Workshop: Success Stories: Projects That Work
February 4, 2010 Lunch Bunch: Performance Evaluations for Volunteers
March 4, 2010 Professional Seminar: Effective Leadership: Developing Skills for You and Your Volunteers
April 1, 2010 Lunch Bunch: Working With Volunteer Board of Directors
May 6, 2010 Workshop: Media & Marketing
June 3, 2010 Lunch Bunch: Volunteer Training Programs

Sure, you know how valuable your GRAVA membership is to your growth & development as a volunteer management professional. But does your boss?? If not, GRAVA offers several tools to help you get the message across! At each breakfast workshop, GRAVA members receive a handy "Clip Tip" that summarizes the session's main points. Why not take an extra and use it for a "teachable moment" with your supervisor? GRAVA also sends a brief e-mail summary to supervisors the day after each professional workshop. PLEASE make sure we have your supervisor's e-mail address so we can help you spread the word!

DEAR BOSS: By supporting the GRAVA membership of your employee, you demonstrate your commitment to the value of volunteer involvement, communicate the importance of your volunteer program to the community, and increase your organization's credibility as a community partner!

October Problem: "I'm always so busy during the holidays, and yet I feel that the holidays are an important time to check in with my  volunteers and express my appreciation for all the work they have done throughout the year. I'd love to get some ideas for easy ways to reach out that don't take too much time or (any) money!"

Thanks to Janice Beatty, with the Virginia State Police, for offering this solution: "Totally agree with the need to check in with volunteers during the holiday season.  I usually design and print a holiday card, more like a postcard, and send through inner office mail to each volunteer.  Because as of late I can no longer purchase regular card envelopes, the card is designed to fit in a regular business envelope.  The cards are printed at my desk individually."

November Problem: "Despite the fact that an applicant to my program has met all the requirements, provided references, and passed the background check, I continue to have 'a feeling' that I can't explain but am hesitant to dismiss. I don't feel right turning this individual away on the basis of intuition. Has anyone else dealt with this problem in a way that would seem acceptable to the applicant and still protect the organization and clients?" (Solutions will remain anonymous.)

GRAVA member Sheryl Luebke invites you to check out the latest volunteering trend, featured in an article on NPR entitled The Extraordinaries: Will Microvolunteering Work? Fresh off the drawing board, The Extraordinaries is part of a new movement that combines tiny technology and huge social goals. The jury is still out on whether these sites will have large, and long-lasting, effects. But the microvolunteerism movement is undeniable. Is this a strategy that you might consider trying? Let us know what you think!

The holidays are just around the corner, and for many GRAVA members, that means three things:
BUSY BUSY BUSY!
For this reason, no GRAVA events will take place during the month of December.
Happy Holidays!

 

SAVE THE DATE for the next GRAVA event, a Breakfast & Workshop that will focus on the topic: Success Stories: Projects That Work!

Do YOU have a successful project that you'd like to share with your GRAVA colleagues? Send your details to Programs Chair Kathy Morton!

DATE: January 7, 2010
TIME: 8:30 - 10:30
LOCATION: A meeting location is needed! Let Kathy Morton know if your workspace is available!
FOOD: Two volunteers are also needed to make purchases (reimbursed) & set up for breakfast. Reply to this newsletter if you can help!

Become A GRAVA Member!

AL!VE!

Energize Inc.

CCVA

GRAVA is currently accepting scholarship applications from members who wish to be considered as candidates for the 2010 CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration) program cycle. GRAVA will award up to three scholarships for those working towards certification. Please contact Professional Development Chair Janice Beatty for more information or to receive an application form. DON'T FORGET: Early Bird registration for the 2010 CVA cycle closes on December 31, 2009 and regular registration closes on March 1, 2010.

Hands-On Greater Richmond

Connect Richmond

VA Office On Volunteerism

LinkedIn

Hands-On Greater Richmond is now accepting project proposals for
MLK Service Day on January 18, 2010.
Do you have a project that can be completed in a day and is suitable for a group of 8 - 30 volunteers? Hands-On will provide a project captain and a motivated team to get the job done. The proposal deadline has been extended to November 30, 2009.
For more information, just send an e-mail!

Secretary

Membership

Programs

Professional Development