GRAVA (Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration)
Monthly Newsletter
          March 2015

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
  1. RSPV for GRAVA's April Workshop.
  2. Check out current board vacancies
  3. Nominate a colleague for Volunteer Engagement Professional of the Year
Join the GRAVA Board!

Interested in taking the next step in your involvement with GRAVA? Join the GRAVA board to show your appreciation for the programming provided and to make an impact on the organization. Open positions include:
Hear from Rebecca Butler, current PR Chair:

I've thoroughly enjoyed my tenure on the GRAVA Board. The opportunity to work with such dedicated and passionate professionals has been invaluable. Over the past two years, I've truly felt that I've been able to have a very positive impact on this organization and am leaving it in a better position than when I started. That feeling of accomplishment and significance is something I encourage others to experience by serving themselves." 

RSVP for GRAVA's April Workshop
(March's Make-up)

Leadership is one of the four core competencies of the Council on Certification in Volunteer Administration.  During this GRAVA workshops we will be focusing on our ability to lead by focusing on our effectiveness with public speaking. Participants will receive tips, materials and hands on practice in honing this vital skill.

  

Our presenter, Christine Al-Amin, is a long standing leader among Toast Masters.  She has graciously agreed to share some of this successful organization's expertise and wisdom to help each of us have a better appreciation for our strengths and weaknesses around speaking to groups.  Everyone who attends will notice some immediate changes in their own listening skills, best practices to put into action and next steps on our individual journeys. RSVP now!

Member Spotlight: Christina Manikus
Christina is the Communications & Volunteer Coordinator for REAP (Richmond Entrepreneur's Assistance Program) which works to build confidence and job skills in individuals with disabilities. 

"I'm most looking forward to finding professional mentors who can support me with their experience and knowledge since I am so new to this field."

Message From the President

Well, the snow really messed up my recent GRAVA events and I am not very happy about that! 


 

Within the last few weeks I have had to miss a workshop, a buddy meeting, and a book club discussion because of the white stuff and that just is not okay. A long time ago, I stopped seeing GRAVA as a frivolous luxury that I could take or leave, depending on how the day was going. Now I see it as something absolutely necessary - for my professional health, for sure, but also for my own emotional health as well. The truth is, I really need my monthly dose of GRAVA! 

 

Hear more from Alison 

Professional Development Opportunities
Creating a Culture of Volunteer Engagement

Tuesday, March 17th  at 2pm; free
This webinar will help you identify how your organization's current culture is shaping or limiting what volunteers do, and provide steps you can take to start to create more understanding, respect, and appreciation for engaging volunteers. 


Telling the Story of Volunteer Impact

Tuesday, April 14th at 2pm; free
You want to share the impact volunteers have in your organization and in the community, but often the information you track doesn't help you tell that story. This webinar will help you move past number of volunteers and number of hours and start telling the real story.


 

Books
Is a webinar simply not the way you learn best? How about a good old-fashioned book to help you with your professional development goals? Start with this great list by Energize, Inc. 

Social Media for Nonprofits Conference

Join ConnectVA for a day-long, regional social media conference specifically for nonprofit staff and volunteers. Learn the latest trends in mobile technology and social media from experts in the field and local media personalities. Keynote presentation by world-renowned Heather Mansfield, founder of Nonprofit Tech for Good and author of best-selling books Mobile for Good and Social Media for Good. Register now!
 

Power of Good Nominations

Join HandsOn Greater Richmond and The Spark Mill as they honor local volunteers and shine a spotlight onto their hard work in our community at Power for Good on April 17. 


 

Nominate a volunteer now and until March 20th! 

Nominate a Volunteer Engagement Professional of the Year
GRAVA's 2014 VEP of the Year, Rosemary Jones of Peter Paul Development Center.

GRAVA's Volunteer Engagement Professional (VEP) of the Year Award recognizes one of our outstanding members for his or her contributions to the field of volunteer administration and commitment to GRAVA.  The award will be presented at the annual conference.


 

Nominees must have a minimum of two years experience in the field of volunteer administration, be a current member of GRAVA, and show a commitment to the field of volunteer administration and the mission of GRAVA.  Previous winners are not eligible for re-nomination.  Self-nominations and nominations by non-GRAVA members are accepted.


 

To nominate  someone please complete this survey or contact Professional Development Chair, Athena Huss, at [email protected].

See you in April!

Rebecca Butler, PR Chair
GRAVA (Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration)
In This Issue
Call To Action!
Join the Board
April Workshop
Member Spotlight
Message from the President
Professional Development
Social Media Conference
VEP Nominations
Membership Update
Power of Good
CVA Update
Tip of the Month
Membership Update

GRAVA is 85 members strong!  


 

What a wonderful network of colleagues to learn from and share ideas with. Please help me in welcoming:

- Britt Nelson, Junior League of Richmond

- Stacie Veccheitti, Safe Harbor

- Kristen Wiley, HandsOn Greater Richmond

- Melissa Hammack & Amanda Long, NAMI Virginia

- Jennifer Pullen, Richmond Metro Habitat for Humanity

 

Continue to spread the word about GRAVA and all that membership offers to your colleagues and co-workers. 

GRAVA Book Club


 

The next meeting of the GRAVA Book Club is Thursday, March 26th at 9am at the Panera on Midlothian Turnpike. We are reading "How Good People Make Tough Choices: Resovling the Dilemmas of Ethical Living" by Rushworth Kidder. 


Contact Melissa Gilmore for more information.  

Scholarship Available

 

GRAVA still has funds available to help you further your professional development! Buy a book or take a class that you've been eyeing. Apply for a scholarship here

Last Call to Register
CCVA logo
This is your last chance to register for this year's CVA. Registration closes March 1st. 
P.O. Box
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!
Get To Know GRAVA!
Get Connected!
Join Our Mailing List
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.
Tip of the Month
The Dollar Value of Volunteer Time
We live in a culture that assigns "value" to things predominantly in monetary terms. As if, until we can assign a dollar value to an activity, it's invisible to decision makers. Well f that is the case how do we determine the value of volunteer time? 
GRAVA Board
Secretary:

Hospitality: 

Treasurer:

Public Relations:
 
Professional Development:
 
Membership:
 
Conference:
 
President: