2009 Conferences for Managers of Volunteers
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Work Shop Descriptions
Check In Table Open at 7:15am
Opening Plenary 8:30-9:00
Food is not allowed in the plenary room.
Session 1 Workshops: 9:15 AM - 10:35 AM
Session: The ABC's of Volunteer Recruitment: A Sneak Peek at Project INVEST's Non-Credit Online Certificate Course for Novice Volunteer Management
Presenters:Elizabeth Cole
Offered: Session 1
Are you a volunteer manager looking for help recruiting volunteers? Increased demand for volunteers, coupled with changes in the nature of the volunteer workforce, have combined to make volunteer recruitment a real challenge. This hands-on workshop will give you the basic strategies you need to recruit the right people at the right time. We’ll practice assessing your organization’s needs, developing position descriptions, conducting targeted recruitment, and more, ultimately helping you attract the most motivated and qualified volunteers possible. This session will include the first public preview of York Community College’s non-credit online certificate course for volunteer managers.
Session: Digitally-Aided Solutions for Social Change.
Presenters: Alex Steed
Offered: Session 1
Messaging, marketing and advertising social causes, until recently, relied largely on top-down paradigms similar to those companies, corporations, and establishment media are reliant on. Old wisdom often encouraged putting enough time into messaging and positioning, pouring effort and resources into design, and spending communication budgets on print, radio and television ads. Various online avenues of peer-to-peer communication ("social media," that is) have changed the face of messaging and communication, often providing a way to better target messages and aid the effort of on-the-ground forces. We propose to explain the status of organizational outreach, grassroots organizing, volunteer coordination, and messaging today and when it benefits from and is hurt by emerging communication strategies. Further, we look forward to highlighting some case studies and best practices that underline for the benefit of the participants how they might move forward with, when appropriate, such a synthesis.
Session: . Hands On Network's Volunteer Team & Leader Model.
Presenter: Patrice Keegan- Boston Cares -CANCELLED
Offered: Session 1
Hands On Network’s volunteer team model is a flexible, “plug & play” approach that easily engages volunteers in meaningful service. Key to the success of these teams, which can be episodic or ongoing, are trained volunteer leaders who step up to lead others in service. Hear what goes into developing this kind of program, and why it works so well for both volunteers and nonprofit's.
Session: Doing Your Level Best to Improve.
Presenter: Harris Madson
Offered: Session 1
How do you define “success”? What does success mean for your program? Knowing what is working, what needs improvement, & what you should no longer do is critical information. Increase you skills, understanding about how to assess your organization, how to measure success, to gain information that will improve your organization mission effectiveness.
Session: Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS): Volunteers Proudly Serving Local Law Enforcement.
Presenter: Phil Crowell- Chief of Police, Auburn Police Department. ,Liz Allen -Volunteers in Police Service(VIPS) Coordinator.
Offered: Session 1
VIPS is a national program for citizens who want to help build safer, stronger communities by volunteering with local law enforcement. This is an effective and innovative program and it’s working in police departments all across America. There are currently more than 140,000 volunteers serving almost 1,800 law enforcement agencies in the US. Demands placed upon local law enforcement increase every day. The already limited resources allocated to these agencies are being stretched further than ever. VIPS volunteers support what sworn officers and staff do on a day-to-day basis. Volunteers help maximize resources and allow officers and staff to concentrate on their primary duties. Another benefit of the VIPS program is improved community relations – these volunteers become law enforcement ambassadors and advocates in their community. VIPS allows citizens to contribute to their community in a very meaningful way. Join us for this informative session to learn more about how to make VIPS work for your agency and your community.
Session: Professionalism in our Field: Why Does It Matter?
Presenter: Trudy Hamilton
Offered: Session 1
Is “Volunteer” the leading word in your position title? What do you tell people what ask what you do? What makes a Professional? How can we convey and advocate for professionalism in our field? What should be expected of a Volunteer Management Professional, and how can we bring that knowledge to a wider audience? Join this session and help develop the standards and expectations for Volunteer Management Professionals in Maine, and how to start sharing this information with the wider (think employers) community. Work on advocating for your position (especially in these tight economic times), and clearly explaining what you do.
Session: Nonprofit Good Practice: volunteer management capacity and retention
Presenter: Dahlia Lynn PH.D.
Offered: Session 1
Consideration of key HR practices including screening and matching volunteers to jobs, regular collection of information on volunteer involvement, written policies and job descriptions for volunteers, annual measurement of volunteer impact, training and professional development for volunteers, and training for paid staff in working with volunteers.
Session: A Gift: Dealing with Difficult Volunteers
Presenter: David Pease
Offered: Session 1
This is no greater gift to an organization to attract & retain the "Superstar" volunteer. But we have all been presented with less than stellar or even problem volunteers at one time or another. The learning objectives for this session include: attracting & retaining the right volunteers, communication strategies for addressing difficult situations, and coaching problem volunteers. Attend this session to gain insight, confidence, and tools to address problem volunteers by re-packaging or re-gifting them to future personal success.
Keynote Speaker Session: 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Presented by Martin J Cowling
Networking Lunch 11:45 AM - 1:10 PM
Lunch is included. Tickets to the University Cafeteria will be provided.
Session 2 Workshops: 1:15 PM - 2:35 PM
Session: Creating A Pro Volunteer Culture.
Presenter: Martin J. Cowling , People First – Total Solutions
Offered: Session 2
Volunteer managers need to identify how they will work within and influence the culture within their organization. In this interactive session: Learn what is culture, why their organization’s culture is important, about the Six Elements of Culture. What is a perfect pro volunteer culture and specific actions to move on with. This practical session is very popular, highly regarded and organization changing. Whether full time or part time, volunteer or paid, anyone working with volunteers will take away practical steps to implement immediately.
Session: Better Together: Higher Education Community Partnerships.Presenter: Maryli Tiemann, Alicia Sampson
Offered: Session 2
Higher education institutions have much to offer to and much to learn from community partner organizations. This workshop will explain how college campuses in Maine have nurtured partnerships in their communities, connecting academic learning and research with community needs and interests. Learn how higher education community partnerships can help all of us do better work together than we would alone.
Session: Working in Concert, Across the Generations.
Presenters: Tom Broussard
Offered: Session 2
The goal of this workshop is to provide participants with insight into the origin of the different perspectives, communication styles and motivational differences that multiple generations bring to the workplace as well as strategies for integrating the efforts of these intergenerational co-workers in this era of intense global competition.
Session: Using a Digital Camera to Tell Your Story.
Presenter: Rod Buchele
Offered: Session 2
Digital cameras have changed the picture for photography. Join the revolution to share your group's accomplishments. You will learn the capabilities of the digital camera (you are encouraged to bring one), explore how to get the most out of the camera and how to delegate a volunteer to be your staff photographer.
Session: Youth Adult Partnerships in Rural Settings.
Presenter: Susan Jennings-University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Offered: Session 2
“Youth and Adult Partnerships” will explore the successful models of service learning that have made a difference in the lives of middle school and high school teens. Projects are both school and community based, and have included service learning as a teaching method as well as an opportunity for participants to learn valuable life skills.
Session: Developing Corporate Partnerships that Increase Philanthropy.
Presenter: Lori Tsuruda- People Making a Difference (PMD)
Offered: Session 2
Building on last year’s session developing community relationships, -Discuss what partners from the corporate community typically seek -Shape your programs to balance partners’ needs with your charity's priorities -Integrate education and philanthropy to meet your mission and needs -Use board volunteers to target and to engage potential partners
Session: Professional Associations: Comparing Different Models and their Benefits.
Presenter: Trudy Hamilton
Offered: Session 2
Are you a member of a professional network or association? If so, BRAVO! If not, why? Ever wonder how networking in our field at a professional level can help? After all, aren’t we competing for the same resources, often in small communities? What networks and associations are available in your area, or at the national or state level? Join this interactive panel discussion as representatives from both local and national associations share their experiences about networking and associations with you. What are the different models and how do they work? Learn what you can do to start your own local group, or become more involved in a larger network. Find out what can happen when a network works! Share your best networking techniques.
Session: Keep 'em Coming Back for More
Presenter: Jennifer Lobley
Offered: Session 2
Knowing how to identify and attract effective volunteers is a skill any leader in volunteer development should possess. But once you bring volunteers into your program, do you know how do to keep them? In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn about the ISOTURE model which provides a process for maintaining an effective volunteer staff.
Session: Kennedy Serve America Act.
Presenter: Maryalice Crofton, Fran Rudoff, Eileen Smart - Corporation for National and Community Service, Maine Commission for Community Service
Offered: Session 2
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is the federal agency implementing the Kennedy Serve America Act. Join this workshop to learn more about the act, how it will effect your organization, and ideas for it’s implementation in Maine. A summary of the Act is on the CNCS website . The full text is also available on the Library of Congress reference site. (Thomas.loc.gov).
Session 3 Workshops: 2:45 PM - 4:05 PM
Session: Change. Don't Just Talk About it .
Presenter: Martin J. Cowling , People First – Total Solutions
Offered: Session 3
This interactive workshop will explore strategies to reducing the pain of change in an established organization including: Stakeholder engagement, establishing time frames, pressure and persuasion, and which are we changing – attitudes or behaviors?
Session: Universal Design: Expanding Your Volunteer Pool.
Presenters: Janet May - University of Maine ,BJ Kitchin -University of Maine
Offered: Sessions 3
In this interactive workshop, using your program materials, you will learn the basics of universal design to expand your volunteer pool. Please plan to bring examples of your materials used for volunteer recruitment, training and orientation (posters, flyers, brochures, volunteer handbooks, etc.) in print or electronic formats.
Session: Effectively Fundraising in a Recession.
Presenter: Marc A. Pittman -Inland Foundation
Offered: Sessions 3
How do you raise money for your cause when it seems that all the economy is going down the drain? In this session you’ll learn practical tools that you can use including effective use of Facebook and Twitter. If you need to raise money for your cause, you’ll love this session!
Session: Preparing your organization for pro bono volunteers.
Presenter: Anne Schink -Volunteer Management Consultant
Offered: Session 3
Come to this workshop to learn how to engage highly skilled professionals (pro bono volunteers) to build the capacity of your organization. Assess your organization’s readiness to undertake pro bono projects and to manage them in ways that benefit both the volunteer and the organization.
Session: Youth and Adult Partnership: Making Change Happen.
Presenter: MYAN youth and adult staff
Offered: Session 3
In this workshop participants will discuss the value of youth and adults partnering together to make change, particularly in the world of volunteerism. We will discuss strategies for engaging in meaningful youth involvement on volunteer boards/councils and community projects as well as learn tips and tools that can help to motivate participants to go back home and begin youth and adult collaboration right away.
Session: The College Student Volunteer.
Presenter: Michelle Martin and Ryan Bouchard
Offered: Session 3
This session is geared toward community organizations that work with college students as volunteers and interns, or would like to expand their volunteer base to include the college aged population. The staff of the Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism at the University of Maine will discusses ways in which you can recruit, engage, and recognize college student volunteers. The average college student is going through a dynamic personal growth period and understanding how a relationship between your organization and the college student can be developed is essential. We will offer an inside experience with college students and volunteer programs, sharing best practices and allow for an organic discussion based on what your needs are. Learn about the active citizenship model that we use as a guide for student volunteerism.
Session: Opportunities for Professional Growth and Development in Maine.
Presenter: Trudy Hamilton
Offered: Session 3
Are the educational requirements in your position description “degree in anything”? Ever wonder what your colleagues in the field of Volunteer Management are doing to further their professional development? Want to know what is available, both locally and nationally? Would you like to let representatives working on professional development know what you’d like to see offered, and where you feel the gaps are? Join us for an interactive panel discussion as panelist from a variety of organizations share their information, and learn from you about the needs for professional development opportunities in Maine. Planned participants include representatives from AL!VE, Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration, and Project Impact.
Closing Plenary 4:10-4:30
Come to the closing session for your chance to win great prizes like a river rafting trip for two with Three Rivers Whitewater.
Accommodations:
The Black Bear Inn has generously extended a reduced nightly rate of $65.00 to guests participating in the Blaine House Conference on Volunteerism. This is a 55% savings! Please reference the conference when making your reservation to receive the special rate. You can make your reservation on the web or by calling (207) 866-7120.
Sponsored By:
The Maine Commission
for Community Service
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Best Western Black Bear Inn & Conference Center
The Bodwell Center
With Financial Support
from:
Time Warner Cable and The Corporation for National and Community Service
Many Thanks To:
• Blaine House Conference on Volunteerism Planning Committee