VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER 
November 2012 
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In an article written by Nick Shore, a Senior VP at MTV, I read the following:  "MTV's insights into the Millennial generation reveal challenging questions about serving the consumers of the future."

What does this have to do with volunteers, social services, and the Jewish community? It may be geared towards a business audience, but if you translate "consumers" to "volunteers" and "product" to "meaningful experience" - very clear connections can be made and implications drawn re: the sustainability of your volunteer program.

If you have time to read the entire article - I think you will be rewarded with a very different perspective on engaging young adults in your agency. Shore explains that the millennial generation will be even larger than the baby boomer population, and as this generation ages, the culture around them will shift just as it did with the boomers. He gives background on the traits of this group based on MTV's extensive market research, and then lays out 5 key challenges business will face in engaging this age cohort.  Here are two to whet your palate:
  • What will it mean when co-creation with your consumer becomes part of your business model?
  • What will it mean when there is no such thing as an un-connected product? 
I'd love this article to spark a conversation about engaging younger volunteers in your agency. To push the topic further - what are you willing (or not willing) to do to bring them in your doors? Is your agency working on initiatives to foster young leadership for a more sustainable future? Or do you feel like you'd have to give up too much (in terms of your mission or the needs of your clients) to cater to their specific needs?jennie gates beckman

Head on over to the forums and add your two cents.  I've been getting pretty rave reviews on the prize packages (fun Repair SWAG) for those who have won the drawings each month.  Remember - you only need to post a response on the forum before the next newsletter comes out to be entered to win.  November's winner was Asheville Exec Alison Gilreath - thanks for your participation!
AJFCA Manager of Civic Engagement & Repair the World Programming
The ejewish philanthropyImplications of Expressive Philanthropy in Times of Crisis
This article reminded me of the questions I put forth in October's newsletter regarding how we might mobilize those who have become engaged in Hurricane Sandy relief efforts and I thought you'd appreciate a slightly different take on the subject. 
Did you know today is International Volunteer Day?
International Volunteer Day (IVD) was established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/212 on December 17,1985. Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organizations have successfully joined volunteers around the world to celebrate IVD on December 5th. In some countries, IVD acts as a rallying point the way that other countries use a National Volunteer Week.  
 
IVD has a new website, new branding as "Volunteer Action Counts," a new logo, and a new mission:
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The main focus of IVD 2012 is awareness of and recognition for volunteers and volunteer organizations. The purpose is to recognize this commitment, to inform people about the impact of volunteering on peace and sustainable development, and to applaud volunteers for their dedication and impact.
 
It may not get as much press here in North America as Volunteer Week in April - but all of us can use another excuse to talk about volunteers in our agencies.
'Tis the Season for Giving - and Getting
The Aging Network's Volunteer Collaborative is a resource offered by the Administraging volunteer collaborativeation on Aging. As the holidays gear up they are requesting five minutes of your time in trade for gifts of ideas on using volunteers to expand your agency's service.
 
Take this quick survey on how you attract the most volunteers if it applies to your work, and they will send you:
Certified in Volunteer Administration Credential
Registration opens for individuals seeking to earn the Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential in 2013.
CCVA
This international, competency-based program recognizes practitioners with at least three years of experience in the field of volunteer resources management. Originally developed decades ago by the Association for Volunteer Administration, the CVA program is now sponsored by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration. Registration for the next cycle will remain open until March 1, 2013; early bird registration by December 31, 2012. Learn more here.

Show, Don't Just Tell: Writing to Inspire, Motivate and Recruit Volunteers 
Some of you have marketing departments that help you perfect your pitch to recruit volunteers - but I know this is not always the case.  Whether you are drafting text to send on to professional PR folks - or you are in charge of writing everything start to finish, this article from E-Volunteerism provides tips on Writing to Inspire, Motivate and Recruit Volunteers.

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New Jersey Agencies Continue to Help One Another and the Community
AJFCA staff participated in a Hurricane Sandy relief effort the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Lee Sherman, Megan Manelli and Jennie Gates Beckman joined Samost Jewish Family & Children's Service of Southern New Jersey as the Cherry Hill community joined forces; donating and distributing more than 60 cars' worth of goods to Jewish Family Service of Atlantic County in Margate, New Jersey.hurricane-volunteer

This may have been a one-day effort for many of the volunteers on Nov. 18th - but much more coordination and hard work was put forth by both agencies before and after. (A shout-out to two members of the 2012 AJFCA/Repair the World Volunteer Initiative cohort Andi Loew & Leigh Turner, who manage the volunteers at their respective agencies!)

Volunteers arrived at Samost JFCS at 8am on Sunday. Men, women and children loaded donated goods into car after car. Eager supporters drove approximately one hour from Cherry Hill to Atlantic City to deliver food, clothing and supplies to those still in need.
 
In addition to the cars full of goods, volunteers from both agencies unloaded a 50+ foot truck full of donations from Massachusetts. JFS Atlantic County volunteers have been staffing a donation center since the storm hit.

The donation center has been operating Monday-Friday from 11:00am-2:00pm. The Red Cross distributes individual meals to 400 people, while JFS distributes supplies to more than 150 families a day.

Click here for the full photo album documenting the day.  While you're there, "like" the AJFCA facebook page for continued updates on relevant news and articles.

Has your agency done something amazing you'd like to share?  Send us your story and you may be chosen for the next agency highlight.
Repair
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Sandy Recovery Micro-grants from Repair the World 
In the wake of Superstorm Sandy's destruction, Repair the World is pleased to offer micro-grants to support winter and spring alternative break programs that focus on Sandy relief and response efforts.

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Alternative breaks offer young adults a hands-on service-learning opportunity and give them the chance to experience how the integration of service, education and reflection can create a meaningful and positive change in themselves and in communities. 

As part of this micro-grant program, Repair will provide a curricular experience tailored to Sandy relief efforts and will also train educators in effectively utilizing this curriculum.

The micro-grants, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, may be used by groups operating under or in connection to a 501(c)3 to help cover costs of the experience such as travel, supplies, staff time and local housing.
Learn more here.

Effective Volunteering in Sandy's Wake

I shared this article earlier in the month on the forums - but wanted to include it here as well to be sure you didn't miss it. Written by my colleague at Repair the World, Mordy Walfish, it includes 7 hallmarks of a solid volunteer experience, which are applicable not only to disaster relief, but ongoing experiences as well.

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