OAVR Newsletter - January 2020
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
|
|
On behalf of the entire OAVR Board we wish you all a Happy New Year, and we hope this year brings health, happiness, joy and peace.
We are looking forward to all the upcoming events this year, and continuing to support you in your volunteer management roles!
Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or if there is a specific topic you would like us to find more information and resources for.
We are here for you!
|
|
|
|
OAVR board celebrated the holidays with a potluck dinner
|
|
|
Jena Davarajah - OAVR Secretary
I am currently the Program Coordinator at Compassionate Ottawa where I work directly with volunteers around the issues of grief and loss, and of end-of-life care.
Prior to this I was the Coordinator of Volunteers at Meals on Wheels – La Popote roulante, helping coordinate meal deliveries for individuals in need.
I have been working in the non-profit sector and supporting volunteers in the Ottawa community for the last five years.
-------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Javier Clavelo Robinson - OAVR Programming
I am currently a job developer at Vanier Community Service Centre. I previously worked for the Ontario Soccer Association, the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa and the Catholic Centre for Immigrants, where volunteer management has been central in my career.
My first experience as volunteer coordinator came at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. In Canada, working with volunteers has been very encouraging and has allowed me to see first hand the impact of volunteers in our community.
I was introduced to OAVR by then chair Dan Dubeau and joined as a member in 2012. A year later, I joined as a Board member and have stayed since, fulfilling various responsibilities such as secretary and more recently as part of the programs team. OAVR has been an extended family in my community work in Ottawa for the past eight years. It is a group I can count on for wisdom and guidance on how to best support such an important asset in our community.
I continue to spread the word about the value of volunteerism in Canada, especially among newcomer professionals, and I hope to stay involved in the field for as long as I can.
In my spare time, I love spending time with family and friends, as well as running, swimming, dancing and being outdoors. I am also an announcer for triathlon, road running and track and field.
|
|
Looking to shake things up this year - spinktank presents the Top 20 Ideas in Volunteer Engagement for 2020. The book is organized into three sections, which include:
- Trends: This section includes articles that are a key concept or trend that is already impacting our work, or has the potential to do so in the future.
- Evolving Our Practice: This section helps pluck some key ideas and opportunities for improvement in the field.
- Reframing Our Role: The final section of the book introduces articles that question if we’re really standing where we think we are, where we should be and provides ideas for new places to go.
To download the ebook click here!.
|
|
|
Nominations are Open for the 10th Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards!
|
|
|
|
Volunteer Ottawa (VO) will be holding its 10th Annual VOscars Awards Gala on the evening of April 23, 2020 at Ottawa City Hall. The VOscars celebrates Ottawa’s vibrant volunteer community and gives special recognition to those individuals and organizations that have made a difference in our community.
The 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient is Jacquelin Holzman, a dedicated volunteer and community builder.
Nominations for all other categories are now open! Including the Mayor’s Award for Volunteer Spirit; Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award; Outstanding Senior Volunteer Award; Leadership in Corporate Volunteerism; Professional Leadership Award and, Outstanding Volunteer Program Award.
Click here to submit a nomination.
The deadline for volunteer nominations is Wednesday, February 12, 2020.
|
|
PAVRO -> May 14-15 2020 in Toronto
VMPC National Conference -> June 8-10 2020 in Saskatoon.
|
|
Join us on LinkedIn and stay connected - we are posting new content all the time, including events, webinars, articles, surveys and much more!
Click here to join.
|
|
Want to go down memory lane?
You can check out past OAVR newsletters here!
|
|
|
|
Webinar January 28
Within your organization it is important to create a culture of inclusion and engagement of volunteers. But, it often can be hard to recognize how your current culture is perceived by volunteers, and how to identify what changes need to be made to make volunteers feel more welcome.
This webinar will help you identify how your organization's current culture is shaping or limiting what volunteers do, and provide steps you can take to start to create more understanding, respect, and appreciation for engaging volunteers.
To learn more and register for this webinar on Creating a Culture of Volunteer Engagement, click here.
|
|
|
Webinar January 29
Not sure what you should include in your posting for volunteer opportunities?
In this webinar hosted by VolunteerMatch you will learn how to make the most of your account and what best practices you should be using when creating volunteer opportunities to post online. If you want your volunteer opportunities to stand out then follow the eight step guide provided - everyone can use some new tips on volunteer recruitment!
To learn more and register for this webinar by VolunteerMatch on Best Practices for Recruiting Online, click here.
|
|
|
Webinar February 4
Do you talk the talk but don't walk the walk! Well it is time to start!
Learn how to effectively delegate volunteer engagement and management work to volunteers so you have the opportunity to "think bigger." In the webinar, hosted by VolunteerMatch you will discuss evaluating your program for volunteer engagement, determining how best to deploy volunteers, creating a communication plan, screening and training volunteers to be an important part of your volunteer recruiting, retention and recognition plans.
To learn more and register for this webinar on Walking the Walk: Engage Volunteers in your Volunteer Engagement Program, click here.
|
|
|
Webinar February 5
Single days of service is becoming more and more popular among volunteers. Are you unsure how to create meaningful work that can be completed in a single day by a large group of diverse volunteers?
This webinar will walk you through the first steps for incorporating single days of service into your program, and help you begin to think more creatively about volunteer engagement. You want to create opportunities of real impact for groups to do in a single day that will still support your mission.
To learn more and register for this workshop on Single Days of Service: Make 'em Work! click here.
|
|
|
|
Workshop February 12
Curious about learning more on both the characteristics of quality performance indicators and the process, as well as the other key elements of a performance measurement strategy?
This workshop has been specifically designed for those working in performance measurement and program management in the not-for-profit sector who want to better understand the core concepts and best practices of performance measurement strategy and execution.
To learn more and register for this workshop on Performance Indicators for Performance Measurement and Evaluation, click here.
|
|
|
Workshop February 12
How long do volunteers usually stay with your program? Do you struggle with keeping them interested, involved and engaged? Are you struggling to find ways to best use their volunteer resources?
This introductory workshop will take you through the volunteer cycle, including planning, recruitment, orientation, supervision, and recognition. You will learn how all of these stages interlink, and how they all contribute to excellent performance and volunteer retention.
To learn more and register for this workshop at Volunteer Ottawa on Volunteer Management 101,
click here.
|
|
|
e-Volunteerism Free Articles of the Month
|
|
|
The late Susan J. Ellis, Rob Jackson and Erin R. Spink use this Points of View to present a provocative and much-debated topic: What really makes someone a skilled and effective volunteer engagement professional who can train colleagues to work well with volunteers? Check out this article to find out more!
|
|
|
|
“People just don’t commit like they used to!” is a common complaint of leaders of volunteer engagement who find themselves confronting the new trend of shorter-term volunteers. This article offers tips and strategies to help with recruiting volunteers seeking shorter commitments to fit their busier lifestyles.
|
|
|
|
Interested in reading more? Subscribe to e-Volunteerism to get access to current volunteer management articles in each quarterly issue, and 18 years of archives!
|
|
|
OAVR's Mandate:
 To promote professionalism in volunteer resource management To support our members in the pursuit of their goals To provide a forum to share information and resources To network with peers
OAVR's Goals:
Exchange ideas and resources
Share information and concerns
Networking
Socializing
Offering support and encouragement to members
Liaising with organizations involved with volunteers
Promoting professionalism among our members
Assisting our members with their professional development
|
|
|
PDU Reminder:
Don't forget that Professional Development Units can be applied to written submissions to this newsletter!
If you're working towards or maintaining your CVA or a similar certification, part of the application process requires a minimum number of PDUs.
So get writing and share your expertise with your fellow volunteer managers by submitting your articles to newsletter@oavr.ca!
Publishing:
Writing related to volunteer resources management (blogs, articles, research reports, website content, etc.)
500 words = 2 PDUs
|
|
|
|
|
|
