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Greetings!
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
- Save the Dates for GRAVA's 2015 Programs
- RSPV for GRAVA's January Workshop
- Attend the GRAVA Book Club in January!
- Check out the new Certificate in Volunteer Management
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Happy Holidays from GRAVA
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 Thank you all for a wonderful year! Enjoy these fun Elf Yourself videos of the GRAVA Board:
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2015 GRAVA Program Schedule
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We're taking December off but will be back beginning early January with our morning workshops and roundtables. Stay tuned for more information and be sure to save the following dates: |
January 8th
| 8:30am - 10:30am
| Breakfast Workshop
| February 5th
| 8:30am - 10:30am
| Breakfast Roundtable
| March 5th
| 8:30am - 10:30am
| Breakfast Workshop
| April 2nd
| 8:30am - 10:30am
| Breakfast Roundtable
| May 7th
| 8:30am - 10:30am
| Breakfast Workshop
| June 4th
| 8:30am - 10:30am
| Breakfast Roundtable
| July 9th
| 8:30am - 3:30pm
| Annual Conference
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| RSVP for GRAVA's January Workshop |
Be sure to join GRAVA for our January Workshop on Peer Mentoring and Coaching. We'll pick up useful tip and a tactics to implement on the job that will help us expand our support network, increase job satisfaction, and enhance professional growth!
Dwayne Bennett of Virginia Mentoring Partnership will be our special facilitator.
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| Member Spotlight: Rachel Solomon |
"In addition to my work with the Richmond nonprofit sector, music is my greatest passion. Specifically, I've been fascinated by producers in the current instrumental/experimental hip-hop scene. I voraciously seek out new music and have been a DJ for almost seven years, both on radio and at community events."
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| November Workshop Recap |
Elaine Kiziah walked GRAVA members through a Personal Productivity Self-Assessment tool that helped us better understand and evaluate the effectiveness of our productivity in three main domains: managing yourself, managing your environment, and managing your tasks.
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Message From the President
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This year started for me with a mantra: work smarter, not harder!
I tacked a picture of it up on the bulletin board right by my desk so that I would look at it every day. Every single week I revisited that statement and thought about its meaning. Every month (usually following the GRAVA workshop), I would set aside a bit of time to think about it and reflect upon it. It became a regular part of my debrief process. Whenever I completed a volunteer project or activity or initiative I would ask myself:
Did I work smarter? How did I work smarter? What else could I have done? What can I do next time? What feels different when I work smarter instead of harder? Why does it even matter?
Hard to believe it's December and the year's almost done. I have spent the last twelve months meditating on what it means to work smarter, not harder. And what, if anything, have I gained in the process? Find out!
Read the full Message from the President
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HandsOn MLK Day of Service
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 Join HandsOn in taking part in one of our nation's largest days of community service! Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service honors Dr. King's legacy by engaging citizens in projects around the country.
HandsOn is requesting applications for projects that will take place at Richmond area schools, parks, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. There will be no supply or project funding available this year but HandsOn will provide sign-up registration, marketing, and volunteer recruitment services.
Projects must be submitted by close of business on Wednesday, December 17, 2014. Click here.
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Volunteer Engagement Message Board
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You Asked and We Listened!
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 hands-on attention at our January Workshop!
Learn more and get started!
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See you in 2015!
Rebecca Butler, PR Chair
GRAVA (Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration) |
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Membership Update
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GRAVA is almost 70 members strong, with 69 current members! Welcome to Diane Reale, Volunteer Coordinator with Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services and Jenny Rockwell, After-School Program Director with the Neighborhood Resource Center. Our two newest members.
Continue to spread the word about GRAVA and all that membership offers to your colleagues and co-workers.
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Professional Development Opportunities
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Do you want to continue on your professional development journey?
GRAVA Scholarships are going fast! Be sure to take advantage of GRAVA's scholarships to pay for these upcoming opportunities! Contact aparker@maymont.org.
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| GRAVA Book Club |
The GRAVA Book Club will have its initial meeting on Thursday, January 15th at Panera on Midlothian Turnpike at 9:00. We are reading How Good People Make Tough Choices- Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living by Rushworth M. Kidder.
If you want to be a part of this group, please contact Melissa Gilmore at gilmoredm@verizon.net.
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Pat Asch Fellowship for Social Justice
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The YWCA of Richmond is excited to announce that they are now accepting applications from woman of at least 50 years of age and residing in the Richmond area who wish to pursuit social advocacy through Jan. 15. Learn more. |
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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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Tip of the Month
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What Did You & Your Volunteers Do Well This Year?
Seemingly at the speed of light, 2014 is rapidly coming to an end. Before you consider making any resolutions for the new year, use December as an opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months.
Check out these probing questions as a starting point for your walk down memory lane.
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GRAVA Board
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Secretary & Hospitality:
Treasurer:
Public Relations: Professional Development: Membership: Conference: President:
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