GRAVA is a membership organization devoted to providing education opportunities for, promoting the professionalism of, and strengthening the leadership of volunteer organizations and programs in the Richmond area. We hope that this newsletter and the many activities described in it will bring value to your membership and encourage your active participation during the 2012/2013 membership cycle. Remember that your feedback is always welcome!

Save these dates in your work calendar right now so you can get the most out of your GRAVA membership this year!
February 7, 2013: Lunch Bunch
April 4, 2013: Lunch Bunch
May 2, 2013: Breakfast Workshop & Volunteer Administrator of the Year Award
June 6, 2013: Lunch Bunch
July 11, 2013: Breakfast Workshop & New Board Election
August, 2013: No Meeting

Your GRAVA board is committed to providing workshops in 2012-2013 that emphasize practical tools that can be applied right away. Don't miss a single program - it's going to be a fantastic year!

Thirty-three GRAVA members and non-members got the new year off to a GREAT start on January 3 with an EXCELLENT presentation by guest speaker Tammy Jackson on the topic of Coaching best practices! Here are some of the highlights:

• Clear expectations provide the foundation for ALL coaching conversations! Take the time to examine and clarify expectations on the part of the organization AND on the part of the volunteer! 
• Always start the conversation by focusing on what the volunteer is doing right. 
• When discussing areas for improvement, be sure to use language that is supportive and encouraging! Instead of "weaknesses" use the term "opportunities for growth." 
• Establish SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-bound. Use action verbs that are easy to grasp and visualize. 
• Good coaches allow for self-discovery by ASKING QUESTIONS that encourage reflection and then LISTENING to the answers!
• The ultimate goal of coaching is to create an atmosphere conducive to growth that empowers the individual to move forward. Coaching should NOT take place when emotions are high.
• It's important to assess the likelihood of coaching success by considering the frequency of the behavior in question and the context in which it occurs. When change is unlikely, other courses of action may be necessary! 
• To receive the presentation slides and materials, click here!

 

January is a time for looking back and moving forward! We all have strengths that help us effectively manage our programs...and we all have "opportunities for growth and improvement" as well! Thanks to January's speaker Tammy Jackson for giving us the chance to reflect on these opportunities and identify some priorities for the coming year. Here are just a few:

• Angie Carrera, Volunteer Resource Coordinator for the Office of Public Private Partnerships for Fairfax County (on loan from NVAVA), will present How To Re-Inspire (or Fire!) a Volunteer 
• James Brooks, Associate State Director for AARP Virginia, will present Inspiring Words for Volunteer Administrators
• Katherine Campbell, Executive Director of CCVA, will present Applying Ethics To Your Work With Volunteers
• Amy Chapman, Community Affairs & Corporate Volunteerism Officer for Capital One, will present Requesting and Responding to Corporate Support in collaboration with HandsOn Greater Richmond 

Each year in May, the Volunteer Administrator of the Year award is presented to an outstanding GRAVA member for his or her contributions to the field of volunteer administration and commitment to professional development. Our current Volunteer Administrator of the Year (VAY) is Public Relations Chair, Jamie Seagraves! 

 

Although many of us would like to nominate one of our peers, we do not necessarily know the details of the valuable work that the person does at his or her site or may not have the time to contact staff and volunteers at the person's site to get the details. This year, the VAY Award Committee will assist with gathering the details.

 

To nominate a candidate for the 2013 award: 

Send your nominee's name and a brief paragraph explaining why you would like to nominate this person to Professional Development Chair, Kim Frola, at kim.frola@vmfa.museum by March 15, 2013.  The Award's Committee will then contact the nominee's site to get supporting information to make the selection.   

 

Nominees must:

• Have a minimum of two years experience in the field of volunteer administration;
• Be a current member of GRAVA;
• Show a commitment to the field of volunteer administration and contribute to the mission of GRAVA. 
• Previous winners are not eligible for re-nomination. 
• Self-nominations and nominations by non-GRAVA members are accepted.  

If you are interested in serving on the VAY Award's Committee, please contact Kim Frola.  Committee members must be current GRAVA members.  If while serving on the VAY Award's Committee, you are nominated for the award, you will be asked to defer participation on the committee to the following year. Thank you for your support in recognizing excellence in our field!

Board service provides great opportunities for skill development and it's also a fantastic addition to any professional resume. Is this YOUR year to take your leadership & advocacy skills to the next level by serving on the 2013-2014 board of GRAVA? Elections will take place at the final business meeting in July and we are seeking energetic and motivated candidates for the soon-to-be-vacant board positions of Programs Chair and Secretary. To receive complete position descriptions for the above opportunities or submit your name for consideration immediately, send an e-mail to Sherry Williams at sherry.williams@thevirginiahome.org. 

It's not too late to register for the 2013 cycle of the CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration) credentialing program! This unique, international, competency-based program recognizes practitioners with at least 3 years of experience in the field of volunteer resources management. Originally developed decades ago by the Association for Volunteer Administration, the CVA program is now sponsored by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration.

MLK Day Film Screening and Discussion

 

As a part of HandsOn's activities for MLK Day, we're partnering with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities to host a free screening and discussion of the film, "Remember the Titans." Inspired by real events set in 1971 in Alexandria, Virginia, at the recently desegregated T. C. Williams High School, the film portrays the journey of a newly appointed African-American coach (Denzel Washington) and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit.

 

An inspirational crowd-pleaser with a healthy dose of social commentary.

Sunday, January 20, 2013. 2pm.

Science Museum of Virginia's Barbara Thalhimer Theater. RSVP on Facebook.

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Volunteer Leader Training

 

Sunday, January 27, 2013. 2pm.

HandsOn develops and manages ongoing group-based volunteer projects with our agency partners. The Volunteer Leader (VL) is the liaison between the agency, HandsOn, and the team of volunteers at each project. They welcome volunteers, help manage the project, and set the tone on these done-in-a-day projects.

 

Benefits:

• Access to unique and special experiences and activities (Folk Festival, TEDXRVA, special tours)
• Free scholarships to professional development classes and conferences
• Be a part of a small and dedicated group of leaders who love service
• Get in-depth knowledge of a local nonprofit agency
• Cool t-shirt and HandsOn swag
• Fill out an application and sign up.

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Building Blocks for Nonprofit Board Members  

From Organizational Solutions, a Program of the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence

 

Sessions: 

January 22 5:00pm - 8:30pm

February 4 5:00pm - 8:30pm

 

Cost:  $35.00

Read more and sign up.

Are you appealing to volunteers' intrinsic motivations in ways that energize them? There are many forms of intrinsic motivation - those motivations which come from a person's inner self:

• Enjoyment of volunteering for its own sake
• The desire to move from one level of position responsibilities to another
• Possessing a deep belief in a cause
• The desire for acceptance and admiration from others
• Pride of accomplishments
• The thrill of taking on a challenge
• The opportunity to lead and be in charge of others 

U of R Institute of Philanthropy
Everyone Ready
Stevenson Inc.

For more information on the Boomer generation, visit the Corporation for National & Community Service!

 

DATE: 

Thursday February 7

TIME:

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

 

TOPIC: 

Engaging Baby Boomer Volunteers

 

LOCATION:

AARP VA

707 E. Main Street, Suite 910, RVA 23219

 

PARKING:

We have parking vouchers for the parking lot located in the corner of 8th and Cary Street.  If you are traveling down 8th street (one way street) the parking lot will be on your right-hand side.  To get to this parking lot you must travel down 8th street.  If you are traveling up 9th street once you arrive near our office, make a left on Main Street and the next left at the light will be 8th street.  You will park your car and they will give you a ticket. After the training we have free parking passes so you can pay for your parking.  Please let the attendee know you are with AARP.

 

COST: 

Free to GRAVA members ONLY

    

RSVP:

Reply to this e-mail or call 804-306-6499!

 

Don't forget to bring your bag lunch!

Do you love your job? Does working with volunteers give you energy and joy? Do you occasionally (or frequently!) have those moments that cause you to think, "this is why I LOVE my job!"?

  

Let's face it....our job is not always easy. It takes patience, skill, discretion, persistence, generosity, and humor to facilitate a vibrant volunteer program...and it can be VERY exhausting. So it's important to remind ourselves about the value of what we do AND the pleasure it brings us! When we celebrate the positive, we boost our morale and we advocate for our profession too.

  

PLEASE consider sharing a recent moment with your GRAVA colleagues that caused you to think, "I LOVE MY JOB!" 

PLEASE NOTE: GRAVA has a new mailing address!
Membership applications, dues, scholarship applications, and all mailed correspondence should be sent to our NEW address at P.O. Box 684, Midlothian VA 23113. Mail sent to our old P.O. box will be automatically forwarded, but slight delays should be expected. If you would like to confirm that your recently mailed membership application and check have been received, please send an e-mail to our membership chair, Melissa Gilmore!

Did you know that GRAVA offers scholarship assistance to GRAVA members who would like to pursue professional development opportunities such as Nonprofit Learning Point classes, workshops, conferences, online learning opportunities, book purchases, and CVA? To find out more or request an application, just click here!

Collectively, GRAVA members have a lot of valuable knowledge and experience to share. And now we have our very own Facebook page & Twitter feed to capture all this collective wisdom! But it's up to YOU to contribute to the interactivity of these accounts. These social media tools are for posting photos and events, sharing tips, and exchanging information & comments. To be a part of GRAVA's social media committee, send an e-mail to Jamie Seagraves. 

President:
Sherry Williams

President-Elect:
Alison Jones-Nassar
Programs:
Barbara Palmer
Conference:
Stephanie Gossett
Treasurer:

Membership:

Public Relations:

Professional Development:
Kim Frola
Secretary:
Alison Jones-Nassar

Please visit the GRAVA Facebook page for more information! And don't forget that our doors are always open for your comments, suggestions, and feedback!