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:
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| President's Message | |
The good news is that this is National Volunteer Appreciation Week, and organizations all over the country are acknowledging the contributions of their volunteers and honoring them for their service. There's a lot to celebrate!
But the news is not all good.
According to a recent article, the rate of volunteerism in this country hit an all time low in 2013 with 2 million fewer Americans volunteering last year.
Greg Baldwin, president of VolunteerMatch, sums the situation up, "the reality is, volunteer engagement is a reflection of nonprofit capacity, its leadership, its resources, and its ability to engage them." He goes on to say "Nonprofits must spend money to recruit, train, supervise, and recognize volunteers - and that takes cash. Until nonprofits can find that money...'we're not going to see major traction.' In fact, studies show that many nonprofits lack the resources - like paid coordinators - to manage volunteers well, and even those that do a good job may not want more bodies."
Does this describe you, your program, or your organization?
Read Alison's full president's message
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RSVP for May's Breakfast Workshop
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Working groups, especially volunteer groups, can be rewarding AND challenging. How do you get people to engage in the work you need them to do? How do you get them to work together?
Sometimes group work feels like herding cats. But all groups of people operate within a certain dynamic framework, which if understood and utilized, can help leaders bring out the best in their teams.
Plum Cluverius of Vedere Consulting will facilitate this workshop providing members with the opportunity to see a basic group dynamic revealed, learn the questions you must answer if you want a group to come together, and why those questions are fundamental to group success.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
National Alliance on Mental Illness - Virginia
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Member Spotlight
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 Holly Slawkowski Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and why you love GRAVA?- I live in Petersburg, but currently work remotely for the Kansas Girls Scouts -- I know it sounds crazy, but I connect with co-workers and volunteers by phone, email, and social media constantly
- When I'm not working, I like exploring the Richmond area and the rest of Virginia.
- I am incredibly passionate about what Girls Scouts does for girls, and could talk about the benefits and opportunities all day.
- I just attended my first GRAVA event, and I was excited to meet so many great people from local nonprofits -- it was nice that it was conveniently located in the Southside area.
Click here to learn more about Holly in her Member Spotlight.
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Volunteer Administration Message Board
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You asked and we listened!
Several GRAVA members have requested a way to communicate and seek real-time answers to important questions and needs related to volunteer administration outside of normally scheduled GRAVA events.
GRAVA has partnered with HandsOn Greater Richmond to bring you the Volunteer Administration Message Board, powered by ConnectVA. Simply register on ConnectVA for free to begin posting your questions and responses. Be sure to subscribe in order to receive immediate notification of posts (see below)!
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| 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 opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired through a wide range of exciting and informative workshops, special expert guests, educational materials, peer networking, specialized tracks on CCVA Core Competencies and more!
2014 Keynote: Measuring and Using Outcomes for Volunteer Programs with Margaret Plantz, previously the Director of Evaluation & Measurement for United Way Worldwide.
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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| Professional Development Opportunities | |
Innovation In the Business of Nonprofit Sustainability
Join ConnectVA & Organizational Solutions as we showcase nonprofit sustainability through innovative approaches to strengthening board governance and fund development. Learn how we all have a vital role to play on April 22nd from 9:00am - 2:30pm at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Hurry, early bird rate ends April 11th!
Volunteer Match: Free webinars
April 15: New Volunteer Manager's Toolkit
April 17: Creating an Effective Volunteer Handbook
Nonprofit Learning Point: Spring workshops
April 23: Creating a Healthy Work Environment
May 19: Demonstrating Value Through Effective Data Portrayal
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Request for Volunteer Projects!
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As part of the yearly Virginia Volunteerism & Service Conference participants will now have the opportunity to learn but to also give back.
In order to offer this opportunity to all participants interested The Office on Volunteerism and Community Services is request projects.
Projects will need to last for three hours the afternoon of September 11, 2014 -- tentative times are 2-5pm or 2:45-5:45pm.
Transportation will be provided within a 30 minute radius of the conference location: Koger Center/Hilton Doubletree in Midlothian. Only details needed now are location, number of volunteers needed, and a point of contact. Please contact Whitney Guthrie for more information at 804-232-7001 x112.
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April Roundtable Recap
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 " Risk management is not just looking for trouble, it's looking for solutions that make your organization more effective." - Tremper and Kostin
GRAVA's April Breakfast Roundtable focused on Risk Management with Laurie Dever of the YMCA Greater Richmond and Jeannine Panzera of Henrico CASA lending their expertise to the discussion. Be sure to click below to see tips shared for developing a risk management plan for your volunteers as well as resources for background checks!
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2014 Program Schedule
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GRAVA is utilizing the CCVA core competencies to guide its program planning -- ensuring it is practical, relevant, and will have immediate impact on our members.
| May 1, 2014 | 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
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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 May!
Rebecca Eisenman Butler, PR Chair
GRAVA (Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration) |
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GRAVA Buddy System
| Conversations at the February Roundtable led us to a discussion of an exciting idea that the 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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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
gilmoredm@verizon.net, 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.
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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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Tip of the Month
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In 2001, a "Universal Declaration on the Profession of Leading and Managing Volunteers" was developed by an international working group at the AVA conference in Toronto. It echoes many of the core values listed by the CCVA. Click here to get a refresher and to start thinking about your own leadership in & the advocacy of our profession.
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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:
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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 (20-30 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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