Greetings!
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! |
| Call To Action! |
Three things you can do RIGHT NOW to maximize your GRAVA membership: - Did you know that GRAVA members save $10 on the registration fee for our March conference? JOIN NOW to take advantage of this and other great benefits! Visit our web site for an application or send an e-mail to Melissa Gilmore!
- Check out all the great programs we have planned for 2013 (below), then plug them into your work calendar and make plans to attend!
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The deadline for registrations for GRAVA's all-day Professional Development Conference is March 1 and walk-ins will not be permitted! Details are below and registration forms can be downloaded off the GRAVA web site! For more information, contact Stephanie Gossett at sgossett@aarp.org!
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2012-2013 Program Schedule
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Save these dates in your work calendar right now so you can get the most out of your GRAVA membership this year!
March 7, 2013: Annual Professional Development Conference
April 4, 2013: Lunch Bunch TOPIC: Managing UP With Volunteer Expectations
Facilitator: Jamie Seagraves
May 2, 2013: Breakfast Workshop & Volunteer Administrator of the Year Award TOPIC: Leadership & Volunteer Management
Presenter: Susan Wilkes
June 6, 2013: Lunch Bunch TOPIC: Engaging Millennials
Facilitator: Sherry Williams
July 11, 2013: Breakfast Workshop & New Board Election TOPIC: It All Starts With A Well-Written Position Description
Presenter: Melissa Gilmore
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!
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| February Lunch Bunch Highlights |  Seventeen GRAVA members attended the February 7 Lunch Bunch gathering on the topic of Boomer Engagement! Many thanks to GRAVA conference chair Stephanie Gossett and AARP for hosting this excellent and informative presentation. Here are some of the main highlights: - The term "boomer" technically refers to anyone born between 1946 and 1964. Realistically speaking, the boomer generation encompasses a wide spectrum of backgrounds, experiences, incomes, attitudes, and expectations.
- While there is no one set of characteristics that defines boomer volunteers, they typically seek volunteer roles that fit with their own interests and skills.
- Boomers are cause-oriented and expect to see a connection between their service and organizational outcomes.
- Instead of dictating the terms of their service, allow them to collaborate with you and take ownership of the experience.
- Boomers tend to have high expectations and will not tolerate having their time wasted if the purpose is not clear.
- Be especially attentive to health concerns. While some boomers are unusually active and fit, many others struggle with complicated illnesses and also deal with difficult caregiver issues.
- Take advantage of your boomers' skills and maturity by cultivating and empowering them as volunteer leaders.
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| 2013 Volunteer Administrator of the Year Nominations | |
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. Past recipients for this award include:
2006: Lisa Adkins, Hanover Co Dept of Community Resources
2007: Ron Stilwell, CARITAS
2008: Ormonde Wilkinson, Westminster Canterbury
2009: Kathy Perun, Chesterfield-Colonial Hts DSS
2010: Alison Jones-Nassar, Virginia Supportive Housing
2011: Megan Rollins, Boaz & Ruth
2012: Jamie Seagraves, Homeward
Who will be this year's VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR award winner?
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!
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| 2013 GRAVA Board Vacancies | |
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: responsible for organizing logistics (topic, speaker, location, etc) for five breakfast workshops (Sept, Nov, Jan, May, July)
- Public Relations Chair: coordinates all aspects of PR & Marketing, including the web site, press releases, and Constant Contact e-newsletter
- Secretary: maintains records of all meetings, coordinates with PR chair to communicate important information to membership, responsible for workshop hospitality
To receive complete position descriptions for the above opportunities or submit your name for consideration, send an e-mail to Alison Jones-Nassar at ajonesnassar@verizon.net. |
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The Deadline Is March 1! |
 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.
Registration for the 2013 cycle will remain open until March 1, 2013. Candidates registering for this cycle will be expected to take the on-line Exam at local sites in May 2013, and will have until December 2013 to complete the written Portfolio component. This is a self-study process, requiring no travel or special classes.
Want to know more? Visit the CCVA web site to read testimonials from recent CVAs and print a copy of the 2013 Candidate Handbook and registration form. Specific questions can be directed to CCVA at 804-794-8689 or ccva@comcast.net. |
| Tip of the Month | |
From The Volunteer Manager's Report, February 2013 edition
Elevate Volunteers to Next Level of Responsibility Do your training procedures include an on-the-job training component that moves new volunteers from beginner level procedures to increasingly more advanced levels? This step-by-step scenario will help to illustrate how it might work:
- Begin by having new volunteers shadow an experienced staff person or volunteer for an observation-only period of hours or days.
- Place the volunteer in a direct supervision setting that includes a staff person or trained volunteer providing detailed instructions as the new recruit begins his/her learning-by-doing procedure.
- Lessen the direct supervision as the volunteer becomes more familiar with duties and procedures, but offer easy access to a staff person or trained volunteer should questions or problems arise.
- By this stage, the volunteer is fully trained and doing his/her job with minimal supervision but is not prepared to teach others.
- The final phase of volunteer competency includes additional procedures on how to train others. This represents the top level of volunteer know-how.
- For more great tips and ideas, subscribe to The Volunteer Manager's Report!
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| Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities | |
Be sure to sign up for FREE webinars offered by VolunteerMatch!
March 7: Creating An Effective Volunteer Handbook
March 12: Writing Accurate & Useful Position Descriptions
March 14: Making Volunteer Engagement Everyone's Job
April 18: Creating A Comprehensive Training Program
April 25: Walking The Walk: Engaging Volunteers In Your Program
May 2: Successful Interview Strategies
May 14: Measuring Success
May 16: Single Days of Service
Don't forget to check out Nonprofit Learning Point's SPRING 2013 class schedule!
February 20 & 27: Emotional Intelligence
April 1 & 8: Basic Volunteer Resources Management (taught by GRAVA member Kathy Perun, CVA!)
April 2 & 9: Conflict Management
April 3 & 10: Strategic Planning
April 23 & 30: Time Management
Everyone Ready: Online Volunteer Management Training
February 18: Budgeting For A Volunteer Program (Instructor: Suzanne Lawson)
March 18: Bridging The Gap Between Volunteers & Employees (instructor: Steve McCurley)
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| Reminders |
- Forward this e-newsletter to a friend RIGHT NOW and help GRAVA increase its member network!
- The GRAVA web site is now up and running! You can visit the site for event details, see a list of current members, download a copy of our brochure, and much more.
- Meeting spaces are needed! Reply to this message if your workplace can accommodate a breakfast workshop (35-40 people) or a lunch bunch (12 - 15 people).
- Do you know of a dynamic speaker who could present a future GRAVA session? Contact the Programs Chair with your recommendation.
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See you in March!
Alison Jones-Nassar
GRAVA (Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration) |
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Register NOW For GRAVA's Annual Conference!
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GRAVA's 2013 Professional Development Conference will feature a full day of excellent speakers, interactive exercises, and lots of great tools to fill your
Sharpening Your Tools: The Right Volunteer For The Right Job!
DATE: Thursday March 7, 2013
TIME: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Capital One Town Center, West Creek Campus
PARKING: Plentiful parking will be available in the newly constructed parking deck!
COST: $25 for GRAVA members, $35 for non-members (cost includes continental breakfast & box lunch for registrations received by 3/1/13)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: March 1, 2013
**PLEASE NOTE: Due to campus security requirements, on-site registration and payment will not be permitted. All registration forms and payments MUST be received in advance!
Conference topics & speakers:
How To Re-Inspire (or Fire!) a Volunteer presented by
Angie Carrera, Volunteer Resource Coordinator for the Office of Public Private Partnerships for Fairfax County (on loan from NVAVA)
Inspiring Words for Volunteer Administrators
presented by
James Brooks, Associate State Director for AARP Virginia
Applying Ethics To Your Work With Volunteers presented by
Katherine Campbell, Executive Director of CCVA
RVA Engage
Update
presented by
Vanessa Diamond,
Director of HOGR
Requesting and Responding to Corporate Support
presented by
Amy Chapman, Community Affairs & Corporate Volunteerism Officer for Capital One
in collaboration with
HandsOn Greater Richmond
To receive additional information, send an e-mail to GRAVA conference chair Stephanie Gossett at sgossett@aarp.org!
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| Registration Is Now Open For The 2013 National Conference! | |
Registration is now open for the 2013 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, scheduled for June 19 - 21, 2013 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. To view conference rates, click here.
A program of Points of Light, this annual event provides attendees with an opportunity to learn, connect and be inspired through a wide range of exciting and informative plenary sessions, workshops, special events, service projects, exhibits, specialized corporate tracks and more.
As the world's largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, corporate and government sectors, all are invited to join NCVS in D.C. If you or your organization deals with volunteers in any capacity, this is an event you do not want to miss!
AND mark your calendars to attend the Summit on Advanced Volunteer Engagement (SAVE) Preconference from June 16 - 18, 2013!
SAVE is specifically designed for individuals who have at least three years of experience in engaging volunteers in nonprofit, government and community organizations. The program is a combination of deliberate dialogues facilitated by subject matter experts and the sharing of best practices, proven models and innovations.
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| New P.O. Box |
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!
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| GRAVA Is Now On Facebook & Twitter! |  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. |
2012/2013 GRAVA Board
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Public Relations:
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! |
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