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~ May 2007 ~ Topics

National Conference on Managing Volunteers Seeks Presenters
Volunteer Resource Management Professional Organization Incorporates
Book Reviewers Needed
IJOVA-The Journal for Volunteer Managers

National Conference on Managing Volunteers Seeks Presenters

The Association of Volunteer Resource Managers (AVRM) is sponsoring its first annual conference in Dallas, TX, October 3 – 5, 2007. The conference theme is “Building Bridges to Our Future.”

The Conference Planning Team invites interested presenters to submit a workshop proposal relevant to the Conference Theme. The proposal is to include specific learning outcomes, be interactive, innovative and offer activities that are supported by handouts or leaning aids. 

You may also submit a proposal to host a round table discussion. Please provide the topic and include a description of the content of the conversation you will be hosting. The Round Robin Roundtables will be offered during a Workshop time slot.

Proposals are to be submitted no later than May 31, 2007. Proposals may be submitted electronically or in hard copy. Proposals are to be sent to Claudia Dalton, Conference Chair at Claudia.dalton@esd112.org or AVRM, 3100 Main Street #155 Dallas, Texas 75225.

A full copy of the request for proposals may be found at http://avrm.org/.

The Leadership Team of the Association of Volunteer Resources Management (AVRM) announced its incorporation on March 5, 2007. This first step establishes the new organization as a legal corporation.  The filing for IRS tax exemption as a nonprofit organization will be the next step the new organization takes.  The Leadership Team will continue to work as the new organization begins to set up the processes necessary for normal business operations. The primary goals of the new association are to support and serve the professionals who work in volunteer resources management (VRM) through advocacy, educational programming and the provision of resources that meet the needs of the diverse field of VRM.

The Leadership Team and the Taskforce of VRM Roundtable/AVRM is planning a professional conference in Dallas, TX, October 3-5, 2007.

Current resources available to VRMs at their Web site include:

• Website:  Recently, the website moved from the project’s website (www.vrm-roundtable.org) to the association’s new website (www.avrm.org).  To maintain continuity, the old URL will still work but be sure to change your bookmarked links to point to the new site!
• The Registry:  The Registry on the AVRM website lists organizations who work with VRMs.  Find the DOVIA or chapter in your area or list your local organization.  You are able to manage the listing so that the information is always current.
• FAQ:  Have a question about the new association?  The FAQ on the AVRM website provides answers to common questions and allows users to ask a question about the new association.
• Listserv:  The VRM Roundtable listserv allows everyone to talk about aspects of the project.
• Did You Know?:  The Did You Know? newsletter is published every two weeks and distributed to 6,300 recipients.  Did You Know? provides a brief update on the progress of the project to build the new national professional association for VRMs. 

You can visit the AVRM Web site at http://vrm-roundtable.org.

Do you like to read? Are you interested in learning more about the field of volunteer administration? Would you like to be published in an international journal? If you answered "yes" to any of the previous questions, The International Journal of Volunteer Administration has a great opportunity for you! If you are interested in reading (or have recently read) and writing a review of one of the books below, please contact Ryan Schmiesing, Associate Editor (schmiesing.3@osu.edu). You will receive a complimentary copy of the book you are reviewing, submission deadlines, as well as access to previous book reviews to become familiar with format. 

Titles currently suggested for review include:

• What We Learned (the Hard Way) about Supervising Volunteers: An Action Guide for Making Your Job Easier (Collective Wisdom Series) by Jarene Frances Lee with Julia M. Catagnus (Paperback - 2004)
• The (Help!) I-Don't-Have-Enough-Time Guide to Volunteer Management by Katherine Noyes Campbell and Susan J. Ellis (Paperback - 2004)
• The One Minute Answer to Volunteer Management Questions by Mary Kay Hood (Paperback - 2002)
• Nonprofit Essentials: Recruiting and Training Fundraising Volunteers by Linda Lysakowski (Paperback - 2005)
• The Fine Art of Fundraising: Secrets for Successful Volunteers by Carolyn Farb and Robin Leach (Paperback - 2004)
• Religious Organizations in Community Services: A Social Work Perspective by Terry Tirrito and Toni Cascio (Hardcover - 2003)
• Nonprofit Risk Management & Contingency Planning: Done in a Day Strategies by Peggy M. Jackson (Hardcover - 2006)
• Teenagers and Community Service: A Guide to the Issues (Contemporary Youth Issues) by Maureen E. Kenny and Laura A. Gallagher (Hardcover - 2003)

Do you have other ideas for book reviews related to any of the IJOVA themes for the coming year? If so, please contact Ryan Schmiesing, Associate Editor (schmiesing.3@osu.edu).

The International Journal of Volunteer Administration (IJOVA) has produced three issues. All are free and online. This is an applied journal for managers of volunteers. It is a journal where practitioners and academics come together with credible research and practical application to aid the manager of volunteers in understanding his or her job. IJOVA is currently free, through a generous grant from the UPS Community Impact Foundation.  Beginning in January 2008 there will be a modest charge for this journal. 

You can get on a subscriber list by visiting the IJOVA web site at http://www.ijova.org/. Click on "Let Us Know What You Think" in the menu bar. Fill out the form to place you on the mailing list, so when a new issue is posted, you will be among the first to know. You can also download the past copies of the journal.