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. |
GRAVA Annual Conference - Registration Now Open!
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 The 2014 GRAVA Conference -- July 10, 2014 -- is Virginia's premier gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, corporate and government sectors to learn, connect, and be inspired through a wide range of exciting and informative workshop sessions, special expert speakers, and first-hand knowledge of the latest RVA volunteerism engagement initiatives, events, and more! 
Measuring and Using Outcomes for Volunteer Programs with Nationally Recognized Keynote Guest: Margaret Plantz,
previously the Director of Evaluation & Measurement for United Way Worldwide.
Breakout Sessions: Service Enterprise Initiatives with Amy Chapman, Capital One
Creating & Using Evaluation Tools with Trina Willard, Knowledge Advisory Group
Thursday, July 10, 2014 from 8:00am - 3:30pm at the Capital One West Creek Commons, 15000 Capital One Drive, Richmond VA 23238.
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Member Spotlight
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 Debra Friedman Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and why you love GRAVA?- I've been an active volunteer all my life.
- I'm a life-long Richmonder.
- I'm new to GRAVA and excited to network and learn from our members with much more volunteer administration experience than me. I've already used some of the quotes about change from the June Roundtable and look forward to the July conference!
Click here to learn more about Debra in her Member Spotlight.
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Nomination Time for GRAVA Board Positions
|  We have a few nominees considering the Professional Development and Secretary positions. However we still need enthusiastic candidates for President-Elect, Treasurer, and Conference Chair. These positions are key to the success of our organization and are rewarding professional development opportunities. Please take the time to seriously consider running for one of these positions or nominating another GRAVA member whom you think would be the right fit. Candidates must be up-to-date GRAVA members. The President Elect serves for one year (from Aug. 2014-Aug.2015) in primarily a shadowing role followed by two years as President (Aug. 2015-Aug. 2017). The term for each of the other positions is two years (Aug. 2014 to Aug. 2016).
For a copy of the position descriptions and general questions, please contact Kim Frola at kim.frola@vmfa.museum. Or feel free to reach out to the current board member in the positions.
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Volunteer Engagement 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 Engagement Message Board, powered by ConnectVA.
Learn more and get started!
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Volunteer Engagement Professional of the Year - Accepting Nominations!
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 | | 2013 Volunteer Engagement Professional of the Year: Sharon Drennan of CARITAS |
We have received several outstanding nominations for the VEP of the Year Award!
Last minute submissions will still be accepted until Sunday, June 29th. This is an extension period from previously announced dates. Please send all nominations to Professional Development Chair, Kim Frola at kim.frola@vmfa.museum by June 20, 2014.
Nominees must have a minimum of two years experience in the field of volunteer administration, must be current GRAVA members, and must show a commitment to the field of volunteer administration and the mission of GRAVA. Previous winners are not eligible for re-nomination. However, past nominees who were not selected are encouraged!
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| President's Message | |
 Since January, I have made a point of starting every GRAVA workshop and roundtable with the question, "Who has made progress toward a professional development goal since the last meeting?" And every month, I have been excited and inspired by the steps GRAVA members are taking to actively move toward their goals:
- taking the CVA exam
- graduating from Emerging Nonprofit Leaders Program
- accepting new leadership positions and more!
The personal growth and professional excellence that can result from these kinds of challenges can be life-changing as well as career changing and I am so very proud to be surrounded by so many individuals who are taking their professional development and the volunteer management profession seriously.
Read Alison's full president's message |
June Roundtable Recap - Leading Change
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 "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got" - Anonymous
Change. It's human nature to resist change in favor of the comfort and safety of our familiar routines and standard procedures. But the reality is that organizations must evolve -- and healthy organizations seek out opportunities to do what they do more effectively and efficiently. Be sure to read our event recap from June's Roundtable on Leading Change to learn how volunteer engagement professionals can prepare for and lead change that will take their programs and organizations to the next level!
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See you in July!
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 profession 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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Thank you to all the GRAVA members!
You have done an amazing job this year of helping to spread the word about the benefits of your membership amongst your colleagues and friends.
We are 82 members strong and continue to grow. You may have noticed that you have the option of joining GRAVA when you register for the annual professional development conference.
Many of you have taken advantage of this and have renewed your membership for the 2014-2015 GRAVA year which begins September 1st.
Save the Date: You won't want to miss our September Networking Social scheduled for Thursday, September 25, 2014 at the VMFA
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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 affiliated purposes. To receive your updated member directory, please send an e-mail to membership chair Melissa Gilmore!
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P.O. Box
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Membership applications, dues, scholarship applications, and all mailed correspondence should be sent to:
P.O. Box 684, Midlothian VA 23113. 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:
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