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! |
Four things you can do RIGHT NOW to maximize your GRAVA membership: |
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!
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
July 11, 2013: Annual Professional Development Conference (Rescheduled)
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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| President's Message | |
For six years, GRAVA has been a source of information and inspiration to me. It has introduced me to new colleagues and connected me to amazing friends. It has put new opportunities in my path and empowered me to take on new challenges. I can easily say it has been one of the most enriching experiences of my professional life.
Now it is my privilege to give back, and there has never been a better time. In the coming months and years, RVA will be an exciting scene for volunteer leaders! With initiatives like RVA Engage, ASPIRE, and Re-Imagining Service on the horizon, and the vision of partners like HandsOn Greater Richmond, Nonprofit Learning Point, and CCVA, the possibilities will be practically limitless...and GRAVA can be right smack in the middle of it all. The board has never been stronger and the membership has never been more supportive! The stage is set for our organization to rise to new heights of excellence.
If you're as indebted as I am to GRAVA, and you're as excited as I am about the opportunities in our future, then you'll join me in this collective effort to move forward and upward. We owe it to our profession, to our region, and to each other! Here are just some of the ways you can contribute to the momentum right now: - Invite a friend to our July conference and be entered to win a prize (see details below)
- Share your thoughts & opinions about the future of GRAVA by completing a brief survey (see the link below)
- Consider service on the GRAVA board in 2013/2014 (more information below)
- Nominate a fellow GRAVA member (or yourself) for this year's Volunteer Administrator of the Year award (link below)
The last six years have been great...together, we can make the next six years amazing! Thank you for your commitment to GRAVA! At your service, Alison Jones-Nassar Acting President, GRAVA |
| Thanks To Sherry Williams |
For five years, Sherry Williams has served the board and membership of GRAVA, first as treasurer and then as President (succeeding Brian Jacks). Her contributions to, leadership of, and advocacy for the organization have been much appreciated, and we thank her for her service! Upon completion of her Master's degree within the next several weeks, Sherry plans to move out of state and on to the next chapter in her life. We wish her all the best! |
| March Conference Update | |
Dear GRAVA Members and Conference Attendees,
The GRAVA board would like to express its sincere appreciation for your patience and support of our decision to reschedule the 2013 Professional Development Conference. Needless to say, poor weather played a major role in the decision to postpone the event. The ability of the speakers and presenters to drive to Richmond, the inclement weather policy of Capital One, and the safety of our members and conference attendees were all at the forefront of our decision-making process. The conference has been rescheduled from March 7, 2013 to July 11, 2013. We apologize for any inconvenience the rescheduling may have caused, but we are also happy to know that the date change will allow many individuals to attend who previously could not. We are extremely excited about this year's conference and hopeful that this year's event will be GRAVA's best conference ever! Please reply to this e-mail with any questions or concerns you may have.
Thank you again for your patience and flexibility,
The GRAVA Board
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| Bring-A-Bud Contest | |
Like most GRAVA members, we were really looking forward to the March conference and somewhat disappointed by the weather's unexpected refusal to cooperate. However, the decision to reschedule the conference to July gives us a great opportunity to continue promoting this event throughout the region and we invite you to join our effort!
- All GRAVA members are eligible for this contest!
- The Bring-A-Bud contest begins on March 15 and all registrations MUST BE RECEIVED by July 1.
- The more BUDS you invite to the conference, the greater your chances of winning!
- BUDS can be GRAVA members OR non-members.
- BUDS must actually REGISTER for the conference and indicate you as the referring member on the registration form.
- You'll receive ONE raffle ticket for each BUD who registers as a result of your invitation. The more registrations, the more tickets and the more chances to WIN!
- The randomly-drawn winner will be announced on July 11, 2013 at the annual conference.
- Conference registration forms can be downloaded from our web site.
- For additional information, please contact conference chair Stephanie Gossett at sgossett@aarp.org.
- THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO MAKE THIS GRAVA'S BEST CONFERENCE EVER!
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| Help Shape The Future Of GRAVA! |
As a membership organization, GRAVA has an obligation to look to its members for guidance on the programs and priorities that matter most to YOU. What gives your membership value? In what ways can we do a better job of serving your needs? What programs will help you reach your professional development goals for 2013 and beyond? PLEASE take a few minutes to complete our member survey and share your thoughts and opinions about the future of GRAVA. To access the survey, just click on this link. The deadline for responses is April 1. Thank you for helping to make GRAVA better, stronger, and more responsive to YOUR needs! |
| Last Call For Nominations! | |
Last Call for Volunteer Administrator of the Year Award Nominations! If you have not submitted a nomination, yet, please consider doing so NO LATER THAN MONDAY MORNING MARCH 18.
To nominate an individual (or yourself!), please send a paragraph with your nominee's name and a brief explanation of why you would like to nominate this candidate for the award to professional development chair Kim Frola at Kim.Frola@vmfa.museum. This is the chance to recognize one of our outstanding GRAVA Members!
Past recipients of 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? |
| 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. |
| Is CVA For You? |  CVA (Certificate in Volunteer Administration) is a unique, international, competency-based program that recognizes practitioners with at least 3 years of experience in the field of volunteer resources management. Have you been considering applying for this program? Are you wondering if this credential is really for you? Here's what GRAVA membership chair Melissa Gilmore recently had to say about her experience: "Working towards my CVA (Certification for Volunteer Administration) credential was a very rewarding process. The experience was such a positive one and I grew both professionally and personally in many ways. I was so lucky to be involved with a study group that really helped me delve into the textbook and we all took ownership of our own learning. It was such a tremendous learning process, unlike any I have been involved with before. I would encourage anyone who is looking to move forward in their career of volunteerism to seek out this unique and wonderful learning opportunity. It really did make a profound change in the way I look at my work and how I prepare and relate to volunteers." |
| News From HandsOn |  DIY Volunteering Need something at your agency made/crafted/assembled? Then you might be a candidate for our Featured DIY (Do It Yourself) Volunteering. DIY Volunteering allows families and groups of all ages and sizes to participate in community service from the comfort of their own homes. Volunteers make or do something that one of our nonprofits need. Let us feature your ideas! Contact Erin Osiol, Program Manager at eosiol@handsonrva.org or 330-7027x138.
Examples:
Stick Marks the Spot for Shalom Farms
Adopt Me Bandannas and Dog Treats for BARK
Go Little Feet for Special Olympics ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Volunteer Classifieds (Referrals) Training Want to recruit volunteers from the thousands visiting our site looking for opportunities? Then become trained on how to use HandsOn Connect to post your Volunteer Classifieds (Referrals) directly to our site and utilize the software to track, communicate, remind, and count volunteer hours. We made 2500 volunteer referrals to our agency partners last year. Training will also offer time for questions and a working lab where you can get feedback on how to write a good post and upload your projects on the spot. Free. NEXT DATE: April 18. 10am-12:30pm (Sign Up) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ News from the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence Nonprofit Learning Point provides high quality, affordable professional and leadership development opportunities to the nonprofit community of greater Richmond. Check out our website to learn more and sign up for these and other $55 courses. March 26: Google Drive (Previously Google Docs) for Nonprofits April 1 & 8: Volunteer Resources Management Aprill 2 & 9: Conflict Management April 4: Intro to Excel ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PNE Info Sessions The Partnership hosts information sessions for nonprofit executive directors, board members, and other interested community members. Learn more about the Partnership programs and how they impact our local nonprofit sector and contribute to the vitality of the community. March 26, 8:30-9:30am
March 26, 5:30-6:30pm Register for these free sessions or view more dates. |
| Tip Of The Month | |
From The Volunteer Management Report, March 2013
Sell Your Volunteer Program To Your Board To show your board that volunteers are vital to your organization:
- Tie volunteers into the organization's mission statement
- Write a history of volunteer involvement with the organization
- Show the impact volunteers have had on the organization: "Through volunteers we have been able to accomplish more in the following ways..."
- Show how much money volunteers have saved the organization.
- Highlight specific volunteers' experiences and success stories.
- Show how volunteers provide invaluable public relations by, for example, presenting clippings from newspapers or sharing information about radio or TV stations' articles on volunteer involvement with your organization.
- To subscribe to The Volunteer Management Report, click here!
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| Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities | |
Be sure to sign up for FREE webinars offered by VolunteerMatch!
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!
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
March 18: Bridging The Gap Between Volunteers & Employees (instructor: Steve McCurley)
April 15: Risk Management Issues and Insurance For Involving Volunteers (instructor: William R. Henry Jr.)
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See you in April!
Alison Jones-Nassar
GRAVA (Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration) |
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| Don't Miss The April Lunch Bunch! |  | |
Is your volunteer management program fully supported by your organization and Executive Director? According to a 2004 article featured in The Urban Institute, "Volunteer management capacity is a function of two things. One is staff support. The other is the adoption of relevant administrative practices necessary for the effective management of volunteers." For a volunteer management program to be successful, organization staff and leadership need to support and share aligned goals with volunteers and volunteer managers.
Please join GRAVA in April as board member Jamie Seagraves facilitates an important discussion about how we as volunteer program managers can effectively manage the expectations of organization staff and leadership. We'll also discuss tips and techniques that you can use to manage up when working with volunteers to meet your organization's mission. To get the conversation started, check out this opinion piece by Susan J. Ellis:
Managing UP With Volunteer Expectations
LOCATION:
7501 Boulders View Drive
Ste 101, RVA 23225
For a map link, click here!
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!
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Register NOW For GRAVA's Annual Conference!
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Sharpening Your Tools: The Right Volunteer For The Right Job!
DATE:
Thursday July 11, 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 7/1/13)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: July 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
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
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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.
AND mark your calendars to attend the Summit on Advanced Volunteer Engagement (SAVE) Preconference from June 21 - 23, 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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Updated Member Directory
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One of the
many benefits of GRAVA membership is a member directory that allows active members to connect with one another for networking, problem-solving, or affiliative purposes. To receive your updated member directory, please send an e-mail to membership chair Melissa Gilmore!
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New P.O. Box
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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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Acting President & Secretary: 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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Reminders
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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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