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!
- RSVP for GRAVA's March 6th Breakfast Workshop on Getting the Right Volunteer: Effective Interviewing
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RSVP for March's Breakfast Workshop
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We spend a large portion of our time orienting, training, and supporting volunteers. Learn how you can save time and make your job easier by conducting good interviews that ensure the right fit for volunteer, the organization and the mission.
Jeanine Panzera, Program Manager with Henrico CASA will speak on the importance of the interview process while also providing tips and tactics for eliciting the information to need to make an informed decision about your prospective volunteers.
Thursday, March 6, 2014 at the Virginia War Memorial
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February Roundtable Recap
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GRAVA's February Breakfast Roundtable focused on
Taking Charge of Your Professional Development in 2014. Participants worked together to develop a personal professional development plan complete with strategies, tactics, and time frames for completion.
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NEW! GRAVA Buddy System
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Conversations at the February Roundtable led us into a discussion of an exciting idea that GRAVA board members have been tossing around - a buddy system - in which members who are relatively new to the professional would be paired with more experienced practitioners for regular problem-solving sessions. The response to this idea was very enthusiastic and so GRAVA will be working to develop this more in the near future. If you would like to be paired with a buddy or be a buddy, please let us know!
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| President's Message | |
Since my mantra for 2014 is "Work Smarter, Not Harder," one of the first promises I made to myself was to read more. Reading is one of the best tools in our professional development toolbox because it's something we can do at any time, it doesn't have to cost anything, and there is a wealth of materials out there offering wonderful advice, thought-provoking ideas, and fresh perspectives on the business of volunteer engagement.
Read Alison's full president's message - including all of her book recommendations, sources for great reading materials, and recent research pertinent to the field of volunteer management.
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Member Spotlight
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 Jessica Hofbauer, Administrative Coordinator
Bonner Center for Civic Engagement, University of Richmond
Q: Why do you love the profession of volunteer administration?A: From where I sit in the volunteer administration equation (as an intermediary between community organizations and volunteers), I find it to be extremely rewarding to see the learning that occurs when a student engages in the community through volunteering. Students often begin volunteering without a real understanding of the context of the neighborhood they are engaging in and without really knowing what is motivating them to volunteer. Watching their perspective change and their commitment to civic engagement deepen and become ingrained is such a thrill! Click here to learn more about Jess in her Member Spotlight.
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| Professional Development Opportunities | |
The University of Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies launched a graduate degree program in nonprofit studies designed for current and prospective nonprofit leaders seeking a theoretical and practical foundation in this vital, rapidly growing sector.
Volunteer Match: Free webinars
February 20: Measuring Success: How to Strategically Assess Your Program
February 26: The Right Way to Engage Online Volunteers
March 4: Engaging the Volunteer of the Future
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:
Writing an Effective Volunteer Description
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Fully understanding and communication your volunteer needs is essential to a successful volunteer program. Check out these tips for writing an effective opportunity description from VolunteerMatch: 1) Know your audience 2) Keep it light, brief, and straightforward 3) Let volunteers know how they will help 4) Proofread |
| 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.
Workshop Presenter: Service Enterprise Initiatives with Amy Chapman, Capital One
Breakfast and lunch provided!
SAVE THE DATE (Registration starts in March):
Thursday, July 10, 2014 at the Capital One University;
West Creek Town Center, 15075 Capital One Drive, Richmond VA 23238.
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2014 Program Schedule
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In 2014, GRAVA will 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!
| 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.
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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. |
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See you in March!
Rebecca Eisenman Butler
PR Chair
GRAVA (Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration) |
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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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