GRAVA is a professional membership organization that promotes and supports excellence in the management and leadership of volunteers in the Greater Richmond area through professional development, networking, and advocacy. |
| Call To Action! |
Do these RIGHT NOW to maximize your GRAVA membership:
- Visit the newly update GRAVA website!
- Mark your calendars right now with GRAVA's 2014 program schedule including the 2014 Annual Conference on Thursday, July 10 at Capital One!
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2014 Program Schedule
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Beginning in 2014, GRAVA plans to utilize the CCVA core competences to guide its program planning -- ensuring it is practical, relevant, and will have immediate impact on our members. Help us craft our spring line up!
Save these dates in your work calendar so you can get the most out of your GRAVA membership this year!
| February 6, 2014 | 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Breakfast
Roundtable | | March 6, 2014 | 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
| Breakfast
Workshop | | April 3, 2014 | 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
| Breakfast
Roundtable | | May 1, 2014 | 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
| Breakfast
Workshop | | June 5, 2014 | 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
| Breakfast
Roundtable | | July 10, 2014 | 8:00 - 4:00p.m. | Annual Conference | | August 2014 | No Meeting | Happy Summer! |
Interested in serving as an expert facilitator or know someone who would? Be sure to review our Request for Expert Facilitator or contact Sarah Steadman. |
January Program Recap
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GRAVA's January Breakfast Workshop focused on Navigating Your Professional Development in 2014. Participants learned the latest news on valuable professional development resources available to them locally including:
- New NPLP Certificate on Volunteer Administration
- Technical Assistance from HandsOn
- Exciting changes to GRAVA
- And much more!
Click here to read the full event recap.Please be sure to complete and keep your Mapping of Your Personal Goals for February's Breakfast Roundtable focused on Taking Charge of Your Professional Development. RSVP to attend now!
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GRAVA's New Website
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GRAVA is excited to announce the launch of the new website. Built on Wordpress, the new platform offers our members enhanced communication access to pertinent information and timely news and announcements. |
| President's Message | |
 On the one-year anniversary of the horrific shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary, Rabbi Shaul Praver put into words something that I have believed for a very long time: that service heals the world. In a December 14 interview with NPR's Scott Simon, Rabbi Praver said, "We have found the cure for the social disease of violence, hatred and bigotry, and that cure is good old-fashioned lovingkindness. When everyone practices that, it does change the atmosphere of a room, of a town, of a community, of a state and a country. And so, it is not of only local value, but it is of universal value."
While many acts of lovingkindness are obviously spontaneous and unfacilitated, many more are not, and they simply would not occur without our efforts, as volunteer engagement professionals, to plan, organize, and implement them. Think about that.
God knows that our world has a lot of healing to do, that we have a lot of violence, hatred, and bigotry to "cure" and it is never more painfully obvious than at this time of year when we transition from the old year into the new. Late December is when so many news programs, talk shows, newspapers, and magazines pause to "look back" at "the year in review." And what did we see?
Click here to read the full President's Message. |
Member Spotlight
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 Caroline Moses, Volunteer Coordinator
Brandermill Health Care Center & Chesterfield Assisted Living
Q: What should GRAVA members know about you?
A: I love the outdoors and exploring historical areas. I am originally from Chicago, but LOVE living in Virginia. I love animals, especially our golden retriever, Quincy.
Q: Why do you love the profession of volunteer administration?A: I love my work -- the opportunity to work with our residents, meeting new people, sharing and encouraging my passion for helping others. Click here to read the full Member Spotlight.
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| Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities | |
Productivity & Collaboration Tools
Are you ready to make 2014 your most collaborative and productive year yet? Do you have the tools to make it happen? Attend C3-Creative Change Center Technology Night with ConnectVA to learn about free and low cost collaboration and productivity tools you can use to get the year started right!
Volunteer Match: Free webinars
January 14: Creating a Comprehensive & Engaging Volunteer Training Program
January 15: Walking the Walk: Engaging Volunteers in Your Volunteer Engagement Program
Nonprofit Learning Point: Spring workshops
February 24: Recruiting & Retaining a Diverse Workforce
March 11: Volunteer Resource Management
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Tip of the Month:
Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals
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 Building off our focus of Navigating Your Professional Development, GRAVA wanted to highlight one of the most effective tools to reach one's goals, realistically and consistently, is the method of S.M.A.R.T. goals - specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based). Read this article about how to set S.M.A.R.T. goals for yourself. |
| GRAVA Annual Conference Update |
 As Virginia's premier gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, corporate and government sectors, GRAVA's Annual Conference provides attendees an o pportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired through a wide range of exciting and informative workshops, special expert guest, educational materials, peer networking, specialized tracks on CCVA Core Competencies and more!
2014 Keynote: Measuring and Using Outcomes for Volunteer Programs with Margret Plantz.
SAVE THE DATE:
Thursday, July 10, 2014 at the Capital One University;
West Creek Town Center, 15075 Capital One Drive, Richmond VA 23238.
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See you in February!
Rebecca Eisenman Butler
PR Chair
GRAVA (Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration) |
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GRAVA Scholarships
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Take charge of your professional development!
Current GRAVA members are eligible to apply for one scholarship of up to $100 per year for workshops, seminars, conferences, books, or other resource materials that support their work in the the field of volunteer management.
E-mail to Professional Development Chair Kim Frola! |
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Membership Update
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There is no better time like the present to become a GRAVA member. Join 72 of your colleagues in breakfast workshops and roundtable events.
GRAVA's 2013-2014 programming year runs from September 1, 2013 - August 31, 2014! Request an updated application now from Melissa.Gilmore@lung.org, then submit it along with your $30 payment.
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| CVA Registration is Open | |
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Are you ready to take your professional development to the next level? The CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration) credential is the only international professional certification in the field of volunteer resources management. For more information please contact CCVA or request a list of GRAVA members who are CVAs. You can also listen to a one-hour webinar for an overview of the CVA certification program.
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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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GRAVA has a new mailing address!
Membership applications, dues, scholarship applications, and all mailed correspondence should be sent to: 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 Social
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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.
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GRAVA Board
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Secretary: Treasurer: Public Relations: Professional Development: Membership: Conference: President: 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!
Meeting spaces are needed! Reply to this message if your workplace can accommodate a breakfast workshop (35-40 people) or a breakfast roundtable (10 - 20 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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