GRAVA (Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration)
Monthly Newsletter
       June 2013
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!
In This Issue
Call To Action!
2012-2013 Program Schedule
Message from the President
June Lunch Bunch Highlights
July Conference Update
Important Conference Reminders
Bring-A-Bud Contest
Membership Update
Scholarship Update
Tip of the Month
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
REGISTER NOW!
2013 National Conference
Updated Member Directory
New P.O. Box
GRAVA Is Now On Facebook & Twitter!
2012/2013 GRAVA Board
Reminders
Call To Action!

Three things you can do RIGHT NOW to maximize your GRAVA membership:  
  • Register to attend GRAVA's Annual
    Professional Development Conference before July 1! To download a registration form, visit the GRAVA website or send your questions to conference chair Stephanie Gossett
  • Invite a friend or colleague to register for the conference, and you'll be entered to win a $50 gift cardFor more information, see details below or send an e-mail to [email protected]
  • Members, be prepared to cast your votes on July 11 for GRAVA's 2013-2014 slate of officers and budget!     
2012-2013 Program Schedule
Save these dates in your work calendar right now so you can get the most out of your GRAVA membership this year! 
 
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!
Message From The President
Alison JN
The last couple of weeks have been a frenzy for me as I tried to manage my day-to-day responsibilities while also preparing for a week-long absence. My out-of-office message has been activated and now I'm just counting down the hours. No, I'm not going on vacation, but I'm just as excited. For the first time, I'll be attending the National Conference on Volunteerism and Service in Washington D.C. and I can hardly wait to be among our profession's most experienced practitioners, presenters, and advocates. 

While it's exciting to learn new things from recognized experts, it also requires an investment of time and effort that we can't necessarily afford. Whether it's an hour-long workshop, a week-long conference, or a year-long program, learning opportunities DO add more to our plates...plates that may already be heaped to overflowing. We need to admit that, sometimes, it's just easier and less stressful to pass up the opportunity and stay at our desks.

But what else are we passing up on? When I look back over the past several years and ask myself what was truly transformative, there's no question that it was the learning opportunities. The CVA and Emerging Nonprofit Leaders programs were two of the best personal and professional growth experiences I've had as an adult, and I would recommend them both without hesitation. I suspect that other GRAVA members who are recent graduates of these programs (Melissa Gilmore, Julie Adams-Buchanan, and Rebecca Eisenman, to name just a few) would agree that the added stress and pressure, out-of-office days, and increased workloads were well worth it! 
 
Learning opportunities give us a brand new lens through which to view our daily experience. They make us excited to return to our desks and manage our programs. They renew our energy to overcome the challenges of what we do. And best of all, they remind us that the journey toward excellence can be the most exhilarating and rewarding and meaningful journey we will ever take. 
 
No matter how much we know, there's always more to learn, and GRAVA is fully committed to supporting your learning journey! If DC is not on your professional development itinerary, then I sincerely hope that GRAVA's annual conference on July 11 is! It's going to be a full day of excellent programming, invaluable resources, and shared wisdom, and it's a learning opportunity none of us can afford to miss. See you out there on the Road to Excellence! 
 
At your service,
Alison Jones-Nassar
Acting President, GRAVA
June Lunch Bunch Highlights
June 2013 Lunch Bunch
Many thanks to ConnectVA program manager Mark Hickman for facilitating a GREAT discussion on the subject of engaging Millenial volunteers! Fifteen GRAVA members joined the conversation and these are the highlights:
  • Millenials are a generation of contradictions! While it's important to acknowledge their negative tendencies (impatient, entitled, self-centered), they also possess many positive qualities (tech-savvy, open-minded, collaborative, innovative) that could be put to great use for the benefit of your organization!
  • Millenials engage at high rates in civic service and they are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. Many also respond to online giving challenges when the cause seems worthwhile. Help them to "put a face" on the work of your organization and their word-of-mouth support will mobilize many others. 
  • Millenials want to make a difference! It's important to draw a strong emotional connection between their service and the bigger picture and help them understand how volunteering impacts the cause and clients being served.
  • Millenials want short-term commitments with a social component! Get them in the door with fun done-in-a-day group opportunities. If they have a great experience, they may be inspired to take it to the next level!
  • Millenials want flexibility! Revisit your policies and make sure your schedule and conduct requirements are not too restrictive. Identify policies that are non-negotiable and try to accommodate their needs when possible in other areas. 
  • Millenials are the leaders of tomorrow! Empower them to take ownership of their service and allow them to learn from mistakes. If you give them the flexibility they need, they will produce the results you want - on their own terms.
  • To receive the slides and handouts for this presentation, send an e-mail to [email protected].  
July Conference Update
Stephanie Gossett
Update from Conference chair Stephanie Gossett: 

GRAVA's Annual Conference provides attendees with an opportunity to learn, connect and be inspired through a wide range of exciting and informative workshop sessions, expert speakers, first-hand knowledge of the latest RVA volunteerism engagements/initiatives, events and more!

 

Only 30 seats are left for this year's conference and you don't want to miss out! Attendees typically include volunteer leaders, supervisors, and coordinators; HandsOn Greater Richmond leadership & staff; nonprofit & educational professionals; government representatives; leaders in corporate social responsibility & corporate partner representatives; funders and philanthropists. As the only gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, corporate and government sectors for the area, all are invited to join us in Richmond, VA! 

 

Conference Agenda: 

 

8:00 - 8:30 a.m.: Registration: Continental Breakfast & Networking

8:30 a.m.: Welcome and GRAVA business meeting

8:45 a.m.: Morning Session: How to Re-Inspire (or Fire!) a Volunteer presented by Keynote Speaker Angie Carrera

10:00 - 10:10 a.m.: Break

10:10 - 11:30 a.m.: Morning Session Continues

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.: Lunch & Special Guest Speaker: Inspiring Words for Volunteer Administrators presented by James Brooks

12:45 - 2:45 p.m.: Afternoon Session: Applying Ethics to Your Work with Volunteers presented by Katherine H. Campbell

2:45 - 3:15 p.m.: RVA Engage Update from Katherine H. Campbell

3:15 - 3:30 p.m.: Break

3:30 - 4:30 p.m.: Afternoon Session: Requesting and Responding to Corporate Support presented by Amy Chapman/Capital One and HandsOn Greater Richmond

4:30 p.m.: Raffle & Closing Remarks 

             

Raffle prizes include:  

  • CVA Text Book 
  • NPLP class tuition 
  • VFMA tickets
  • $50 visa gift card

 

Please RSVP by July 1 to enjoy complimentary continental breakfast and lunch!

 

If you haven't registered already, please register before or on July 1, 2013! The cost is $25 for GRAVA members and $35 for non-members. To download a registration form, please visit the Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration   

Important Conference Reminders
Please take note of these important conference reminders:
  • Complimentary lunch boxes will not be included for registrations received after July 1!
  • Due to campus security requirements, on-site registration and payment will not be permitted. All registration forms and payments MUST be received in advance!
  • Participants must present a photo ID at the entrance. 
  • Upon entering the Capital One West Creek campus, please follow signs for the Towne Center. 
  • Participants may park anywhere in the Towne Center deck.
  • GRAVA members will be asked to vote on the new slate of officers and the 2013-2014 budget.
Bring-A-Bud Contest
Bring-a-Bud

Would you like to win a $50 Visa gift card? You could, just by entering our Bring-A-Bud Contest! Every Registered GRAVA Member has a chance to win a $50 visa gift card!  The more guests you bring to the conference the better chances you have to win!  For each guest you bring you will receive a raffle ticket - the more guests you bring will increase your chances of winning.

 

Example:

1 guest = 1 raffle ticket

3 guests = 3 raffle tickets

10 guests = 10 raffle tickets

 

Please make sure your guest indicates who referred them to the conference on their conference registration form. For more information, please send an e-mail to Conference chair Stephanie Gossett

Membership Update
Melissa Gilmore
Update from Membership chair Melissa Gilmore:

GRAVA's membership is now up to 75! Thank you for coming together, keeping together and working together! Our members are vital to our organization and we encourage all of you to actively participate in all that GRAVA had to offer.

 

Welcome to new members:

 

*Devan Colley, Community Engagement Manager with Communities in Schools of Richmond

*Brynn Markham, Fundraising & Publicity Chair with First Book- Greater Richmond

 

A GRAVA membership directory is available.  Please e-mail Melissa Gilmore at [email protected] for your copy.  Directories will also be available at the Professional Development Conference on July 11th. See you there!

Scholarship Update
Kim Frola
The GRAVA Scholarship Fund for Professional Development still has $200 available for this year, which ends in August 2013. Scholarship funding is for professional development with priority given to courses, trainings, and conferences related to volunteer management. Scholarships are awarded up to $100, and are reimbursed once the recipient has presented a verbal report at a GRAVA meeting or written a synopsis for the newsletter regarding the training attended. There is a limit of one scholarship per recipient per year. The application form and further instructions are on the GRAVA website, OR you can send your questions to Professional Development chair Kim Frola at [email protected]
Tip of the Month
Best practices
Excerpt from Energize Inc. June 2013 Hot Topic, by Susan J. Ellis

Stop Volunteers From Being Their Own Worst Enemies

Misconceptions about volunteering are inevitable, but we do not have to perpetuate them, nor tolerate low expectations from the volunteers we lead.

 

Building Volunteer Respect

 

Consciously educate prospective and current volunteers about their true worth. You can do this in various ways. My ideas include:

  • Explain the historic role of volunteers in your organization. 
  • Distinguish between the concept of "saving money" for the organization and the more accurate one of "stretching the budget." 
  • Urge volunteers to observe and report. They will see and hear things through their work that might not be recognized by paid staff. 
  • Emphasize that the lack of pay does not mean a lack of standards. 

We need to be alert to evidence of counter-productive thinking by volunteers. Create a zero-tolerance zone for the word "just" and for evidence of entitlement. Helping volunteers to be outstanding is really the best recognition we can offer.

 

To read the full article, click here!  

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

Be sure to sign up for FREE webinars offered by  VolunteerMatch!

July 11: Where Do I Go From Here?

August 6: Playing By The Rules

August 8: Creating A Comprehensive Training Program

 

 

Don't forget to check out Nonprofit Learning Point's 2013 class schedule! 

July 11 & 18: Leading Change

July 16 & 23: Social Media

July 24 & 31: Risk Management

August 6: Advanced Social Media

August 21 & 28: Creating A Healthy Work Environment

August 22 & 29: Small Project Management in a Box

 

 

Everyone Ready: Online Volunteer Management Training      

June 17: Effective Delegation Skills (Instructor: Andy Fryar) 

July 15: Generations: Adapting to Volunteers of Different Ages (Instructor: Peter Brinkerhoff)

August 19: Mandated Service: A Human Resource Opportunity (Instructor: Katherine H. Campbell, CVA) 

 

 




See you in July!


Alison Jones-Nassar
GRAVA (Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration)
Last Chance To Register For GRAVA's Annual Conference! 
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)
To join GRAVA, click here or send an e-mail to Melissa Gilmore!
 
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:
Angie Carrera
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 
e-mail to GRAVA conference chair Stephanie Gossett at [email protected]
Our Sponsors
Capital One 
Visit Our Sponsor
AARP 
Visit Our Sponsor
HOGR 
Visit Our Sponsor
See YOU at 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

  Fearless Leadership

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.

Updated Member Directory
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! 
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!
Get To Know GRAVA!



Learn More!
Get Connected!
Join Our Mailing List
GRAVA Is Now On Facebook & Twitter!
Facebook
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
 
Acting President & Secretary:
Membership:
Public Relations:
Professional Development:
Kim Frola

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!
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.