THE Conference for Professional Volunteer Management

Recognizing the need for advanced training and continuing education for professionals in volunteer management, the Directors of Volunteers in Agencies of Southern Nevada (DOVIA) established a collaborative of volunteer organizations in order to bring a level of educational and networking opportunities not previously available in Nevada.  United Way of Southern Nevada, Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada and Nevada Volunteers are partnering with DOVIA to bring the two-day conference featuring internationally known trainer, Steve McCurley.   

The two-day conference will bring together managers/directors from the nonprofit, governmental, academic and corporate sectors with interactive workshops exploring a variety of issues pertinent to the field of volunteerism.  Paid staff and board volunteers alike will find the two days of sessions and networking challenging and rewarding.

Two tracks are available: the Beginning Track which will focus on developing skills for the person who is new to the volunteer management arena with Hands On Network workshops; and, the Advanced Track which is for managers and directors who want to participate in ground breaking discussions with their peers and workshops  from an international team of  recognized experts in the volunteer management field.  Whichever track is chosen, this is THE Conference for Professional Volunteer Management.

To participate, please choose the track that best suits your needs.  Registration includes breakfast and lunch each day as well as a meet and greet with the trainers at the conclusion of day one session.  Registration Fee is $225 pp for non-DOVIA SN Members.  Registration Fee for DOVIA SN Members and attendees from their agencies is $200 pp.

Track A:    Advanced Track

Day One, October 2, 2008:     Morning Session:  Responding to the Paradigm Shift in Volunteerism

Session Overview:  An interactive session focusing on the challenges of the changing face of volunteerism.  Who is the new volunteer and what do they want from you in order to support your mission?  Bring your questions and case studies and help define the future of volunteerism in a changing society.

Key Concepts:

•    What is the paradigm shift
•    Why acknowledge the shift
•    What is the impact of this new model
•    The need for new preparation and policies
•    Newly emerging policies
•    The importance quality assurance

Panelists:  A panel of experts in the field of volunteerism will lead this very important  and not to be missed discussion.  The panelists are Becky Day-Swain. MBA, Gillian Silver-Rodis, Ph.D., Robin Kelley, Director of Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada, and Duffy Gold, President of DOVIA.

Day One, October 2, 2008            Afternoon Concurrent Sessions:

Targeting Recruitment to Specific Populations

Session Overview:   A closer look at the representative of a targeted image.  How do they fit your mission?

Key Concepts:

•    Proper match of the volunteer to the project
•    Managing the specific volunteer project
•    Making the this volunteer feel valuable and part of the overall team

Presenter:   Steve McCurley, Principal of VMSystems

Or

Dreams and Affirmations – Create a Leader     

Session Overview:   Making a mental shift in the volunteer manager’s perception that their job is not the most important to the mission to one that plays a crucial role for the organization.  Change the perception of your role in management.

Key Concepts:

•    How everything in your job description is interlinked with the agency mission
•    The difference between manager and leader
•    Where you are now and how to get to the next level

Presenter:   Becky Day-Swain, MBA, Principal of D’Swain Associates

and:

Including Persons with Disabilities as Volunteers

Session Overview:  Inclusion means that all people, regardless of their abilities or disabilities have the right to fully participate in volunteer opportunities.  The workshop and panel discussion explores the ingredients and best practices to create an inclusive, welcoming and successful volunteer environment.

Key Concepts:

•    Everybody can volunteer
•    Strategies to recruit persons with disabilities as volunteers
•    What is inclusion
•    What are the legal requirements

Panelists:   Brian Patchett, Easter Seals, Magda Hirsch, Goodwill Industries, Beth Fleisher, Valley Hospital Medical Center and Matt Johnson, Great Basin Institute, Sam Leiberman, Community Volunteer and Facilitated by Karen Leventhal, Director, Tarjan Center Service Inclusion Project, UCLA Medial Center



Day Two, October 3, 2008                Morning Concurrent Sessions:

Risk Proof Your Volunteer Program

Session Overview:   Do you know what your agency’s responsibilities are when volunteers are utilized to help fulfill your mission?  This is where you will determine what your agency needs to implement best practices for your volunteers, including board members.

Key Concepts:

•    Insurance requirements
•    Policies and Procedures
•    Filling in the gaps

Presenter:   Debbie McCullough, Esq.

Or

Building Credibility and Respect within Your Agency

Session Overview:   Volunteer managers/directors have traditionally had a difficult time in gaining respect for their programs with other staff.  This session will help you communicate your goals and achievements to everyone at your organization.

Key Concepts:

•    The tools you need to communicate with others at your agency
•    Determining what is important to communicate
•    Understanding accountability for your program

Presenter:   Steve McCurley, Principal of VMSystems

Day Two, October 3, 2008                Afternoon Concurrent Sessions:

Leveraging Resources and Collaborations

Session Overview:   The new mantra in volunteerism is the need for collaborative efforts between entities and achieving the ability to leverage your resources for maximum benefit.  During this interactive session you will learn how to identify potential partnerships and to capitalize on them.

Key Concepts:

•    Identify your resources
•    What constitutes a collaborative relationship
•    How to redirect your focus to collaborations for success

Presenter:   John R. Tennert, ABD and Terrie Stanfil, President and CEO of HELP of Southern Nevada

Or

How to Market to the Executive Office

Session Overview:

Volunteer Managers/Directors will learn the best practices and techniques to communicate program needs to decision makers within organizations.  Without the support of the executive office and the ability to make executive staff enthusiastic about  your program, most programs will just tread water.  Learn what is needed to sell your program.

Key Concepts:

•    What supporting documents you will need to support your cause
•    What data you will need to collect for your presentation
•    When to make your presentation

Presenter:    Steve McCurley, Principal of VMSystems

Track B:    Beginning Track

Day One, October 2, 2008:          Morning Session: Volunteer Management 101

Session Overview: A comprehensive introduction to recruiting and managing the kind of volunteers that keep coming back for more!  This interactive session will explore proven strategies for finding, scheduling, retaining and recognizing volunteers.

Key Concepts:

•    Volunteer Recruitment
•    Volunteer Scheduling
•    Volunteer Retention
•    Volunteer Recognition
•    Summary

Day One, October 2, 2008:  Afternoon Session: Engaging Volunteers: Project Development

Session Overview:  This action-oriented afternoon workshop will explore and implement a successful community service project. 


Key Concepts:

•    Focus on your community
•    Narrow your scope
•    Map the project
•    Secure resources
•    Finalize the project plan

Presenters:  Lori Jean Mantooth, Director of Training and Consulting Projects, Hands On Network and Beth Fenger, Consultant, Hands On Network

Day Two, October 3, 2008  Principles of Service Learning – Developing Successful Collaborations

Session Overview:  Youth represent an often over-looked resource in the world of volunteers.  The field of service-learning has documented success using strategies that engage young people in constructively addressing needs in our community.  This session will identify the keys to working successfully with young people while also meeting your agency mission and goals.  Easy? No.  Rewarding and exciting? Yes!

Key Concepts:

•    Service-learning:  Similarities and differences from volunteerism, practicum, community service
•    Elements of high-quality service-learning and why it is beneficial
•    Creating the learning component
•    Practicum in designing a service-learning experience
•    Building partnerships for service-learning
•    Evaluation and reflection – critical aspects in defining success

Presenters:    Janet Wright, Volunteer Development Manager, Nevada Volunteers and Jennifer Harris, former AmeriCorpsVISTA at University of Nevada, Reno.

Board Volunteers Working Dinner
October 2, 2008:
Location:
Triple George Grill, 3rd Street and Ogden, Downtown Las Vegas
Networking 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM followed by a working dinner

Registration Fee includes dinner, workshop and materials    $125.00 pp

Session Overview:
This is one-time only session for all volunteer non-profit and for-profit board members.  No paid staff may attend in order to keep this a peer to peer workshop.

The purpose of this session is to develop a dialogue among attendees in order to  provide insight into the needs of volunteers who serve on the many boards in southern Nevada.  Additionally, discussions will focus on the responsibilities of board volunteers to the mission of their organizations.

Key Concept:

•     Provide the foundation for continuing support of board volunteers
•    Identify the immediate needs of your organization’s structure
•    Networking

Facilitators:   Becky Day-Swain bedayswain@cox.net.