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~ April 2006 ~ Topics

Send Us Training Dates
Managing Volunteers: Training Institute
Arts Competition for the Future
Whence a Professional Association for Managers of Volunteers

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Send Us Training Dates

Local, regional, and state conferences will be the "go-to" places for training managers of volunteers. Volunteer Today wants to list any and all such events. Please send information to the editor and it will be posted. We need 60-day advance notice of training. This is not for training volunteers. It is professional development training for managers of volunteers.

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The Washington State University Volunteer Program Management Training Institute will be held November 7-10, 2006 in Kennewick, WA. This four day Institute is aimed at individuals who want to hone their skills in managing volunteers. It is primarily for those beginning work in volunteer management, or with a desire to refresh and re-energize their skills. Some work will be at the advanced level for participants with extensive experience.

The Institute presents information and interactive learning activities on:

• the various aspects of recruiting (planning, screening, position development, advertising, and volunteer recruiting teams;
  
• organizing a planned training program for volunteers;
  
• practicing management and supervision skills most effective with volunteers,
  
• strategies to evaluate volunteers and programs, and methods of recognition.

There will be special attention to such things as the changing nature of how people wish to volunteers.

Faculty members are experienced managers of volunteers, with University credentials. You can read more about the faculty at the website. For more information on the Volunteer Management Institute contact Susan Butts at the university.

This certificated program is also available through online instruction. For more information on that visit the Web site http://www.capps.wsu.edu/vmcp/.

The World Futurist Society is seeking submissions for its 2006 Visions of the Future art contest. The idea is to find the most compelling visual imagery of the world we are building (or hope to build). The winner will receive $500, a one-year membership in the World Futurist Society, and a scholarship to attend the next conference in Toronto in late July 2006.

Each competitor is limited to three entries related to one of the following categories:

1. Saving our most precious resource (water, food, land, air, energy, time, etc.)
   
2. Families, friends, relationships
   
3. Exploration
   
4. Science and technology
   
5. Fun
   
6. Transportation
   
7. Education and learning
   
8. Fashion

Submissions are done electronically and must be received by April 29, 2006. For full competition rules go to: http://www.wfs.org.

Arts organizations and school-based programs are urged to share this information with members and/or students. There is not an age limit on this competition.

Whence a Professional Association for Managers of Volunteers

The demise of the Association for Volunteer Administration has been mourned across the globe. An applied journal, newsletters, an international conference, and a certification process are only some of the services that had been provided by the only international professional association for managers of volunteer programs.

There are continuing developments related to the demise of this 40-year-old organization. VT will attempt to keep readers informed of progress on keeping the professional association activities alive and moving into new and uncharted territory.

• Dr. Dale Safrit, at North Carolina State University is working to make a home for the Journal of Volunteer Administration at his university. It is likely to be an online journal. This is a work in progress.
  
• CVA-Certified Volunteer Administrator credentialing is being kept afloat thanks to the efforts of Katie Campbell. For more information contact her directly at ktquiraing@comcast.net.
  
• Leaders from AVA have a website in development for people to learn the latest information about all these types of efforts. Visit it to review resources for managers of volunteers at: http://www.vmweb.org/.
  
• Susan Ellis of Energize, Inc. is hosting a discussion group about where to go next. Visit her website Energizeinc.com for more information.
  
• Stephen Nill of Charity Channel has created a listserv for discussion of the future services for managers of volunteers. Visit his website: http://www.CharityChannel.com.
  
• Readers of Volunteer Today have informed the editors that the Association for Research on Nonprofits and Voluntary Action has extended a warm welcome to those who want to join their scholarly colleagues in a professional association with similar features to AVA.
  
• The Points of Light Foundation is offering six-month trial membership to former AVA members. It is also hosting several activities designed to discuss the future.
  
  • Register to participate in one of two nationally organized conference calls that are scheduled for March 28, 2006 from 12:00 - 1:30 pm (EST) or April 19, 2006 from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. (EST) by sending an email to acopeland@pointsoflight.org. A confirmation and call-in number will be sent upon receipt of your email.
    
  • If there is a Volunteer Center in your community, contact them for information about any community-wide meetings or discussions they will be hosting.
    
  • Attend a meeting on June 17, 2006, in conjunction with the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Seattle, WA. More information about this meeting will be posted on http://www.volunteeringandservice.org.
• Volunteer Today is anxious to post training session for managers of volunteers. Send us information for such programs. 60 days advance notice is essential.

If readers of this newsletter know of other activities related to organizing a new professional association, please contact the editor so information can be included in future newsletters.