OAVR Newsletter - April 2019
There is one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life - reciprocity.
- Confucius
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We are pleased to announce that our AGM will take place on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 4:30pm at the Delta Hotel on Lyon Street. This will take place on-site during the Synergize: Collaboration in Action conference (PAVRO and VMPC).
We will also have a presentation from Blake Daly regarding HourThanks. This is a new app designed where local businesses can offer community volunteers discounts to products and services. The app launched on April 1st and is a great way for us to offer additional thanks to our volunteers.
After the meeting, please join us for dinner. We've made reservations at 3 Brasseurs on Sparks Street. This will be a great networking opportunity as this is one of the conference dinner events and we'll be seated close to them.
At the AGM, OAVR will draw one winner for a gift certificate to 3 Brasseurs.
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Happy National Volunteer Week!
How are you celebrating? Send your stories and pictures to newsletter@oavr.ca to be featured in a future newsletter!
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Speaker Sessions Filling Up!
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Synergize: Collaboration in Action is now sold out!
If you grabbed your ticket, make sure to register for your workshop sessions before April 25th! The sessions are filling up quickly, so book early to see your favorites.
If you didn't buy a ticket in time, click the link below to join the waitlist!
Join the Waitlist
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Thanking Volunteers? There's an App for That!
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Happy volunteer appreciation week everyone!
As part of the celebrations, our team at HourThanks ( www.hourthanks.ca) has launched the pilot version of our mobile rewards App for volunteers. What started as an idea at Carleton for how to build community, has turned into a reality and is now thanking volunteers by connecting them with rewards from local, socially minded businesses!
Our community partners (e.g. Pure Kitchen, Pure Yoga, Freshii, House of TARG, etc.) are all excited to thank volunteers in Ottawa with discounts and freebies, and we are excited to be working with volunteer managers who want to thank their volunteers with this free and easy to use App! If you are interested in learning more about how you can start thanking your volunteers with HourThanks, connect with us at hello@hourthanks.ca. We would love to hear from you!
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The Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) Foundation supports families, youth, children and seniors to achieve personal success through education, employment and community engagement initiatives. They invest in opportunities to support tenants experience enhanced quality of life and wellbeing.
They are currently looking for a full-time Program Coordinator to support community initiatives, assist with special events, and other duties.
If you have a "can-do" attitude, are compassionate and passionate about supporting clients, and have a G license, apply today!
Click here to learn more about this position.
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Webinar - April 11
So many programs and organizations depend on volunteers that have been with them for years. What happens when those volunteers start to get older? If your volunteers are aging, this session can help.
Learn strategies for identifying the signs of aging in place - volunteers who continue to do the same work even though their capabilities have changed - and how to start a conversation about that change.
Managing the transition as well as creating new options for aging volunteers will be covered, and we'll discuss what to do when the situation can't be solved amicably.
To learn more and register for this free webinar on Managing an Aging Volunteer Corps, click here.
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Webinar - April 11 & 16
Volunteer appreciation is a core strategy, not only because it's the right thing to do, but also because regular gratitude will boost your long-term results and engagement with volunteers.
Gestures big and small can be meaningful to your volunteers, but many nonprofit staff are still using outdated ideas about motivation. Don't become a revolving door for underappreciated board members and volunteers.
In this webinar Volunteer and Board Appreciation on a Shoestring - How to Recognize and Inspire Deeper Commitment to Your Cause, we'll share simple ways you can keep volunteers and Board members motivated and engaged all year long.
To learn more and register, click here.
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Webinar - April 16
Volunteer engagement is changing. What do you need to know about social media as a volunteer program manager? How can you use social media to promote your volunteer opportunities and recruit volunteers?
This webinar on Social Media and Volunteer Engagement will offer an introduction to including social media in your volunteer recruitment and retention plans.
Learn why social media matters, the do's and don'ts of managing social media tools, and more!
To learn more and register for this webinar, click here.
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Workshop - April 17
Social media isn't easy. Sure, you can wrap your head around it and use it, but are you using it effectively? You won't know if you aren't measuring the results of your efforts.
In this 3-hour interactive workshop from Volunteer Ottawa designed to Fill your Social Media Toolbox, look at all the platforms you have, and the tools needed to use them effectively.
Learn what social media platforms your organization should be on, and how to effectively manage your organization's social media accounts.
To learn more and register for this webinar, click here.
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Webinar - April 18
Is your organization open to engaging volunteers in new ways? Often one of the biggest challenges to a new model of volunteer engagement is the resistance of paid staff.
Often attitudes and fears of our co-workers prevent us from expanding the work that volunteers do. But, if you've never worked with volunteers before, it can be scary.
In this webinar from Learning Center to Build Staff Buy-In for Volunteer Engagement, learn strategies for working with paid staff to engage volunteers, and what you can do to alleviate some of those fears.
To learn more and register for this webinar, click here.
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Webinar - April 18
In this webinar titled 5 Simple Ways to Boost Your Nonprofit's Media Relations Strategy, join Antionette Kerr to learn how to make your G.R.E.A.T. (Goal-oriented, Responsive, Empowered, Attractive and Targeted) media-relations strategy.
Gain understanding in the areas of why you should establish media relations goals, how to create a two-way relationship with journalists, how to have an empowered media strategy, how to make your mission, programs, and even data appealing to media outlets, how to be more strategic in 2019, and more!
To learn more and register for this webinar, click here.
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Webinar - April 30
Interviewing each prospective volunteer can seem overwhelming, but it's one of the best ways to ensure that the volunteers you recruit at the volunteers you need.
This webinar on Successful Volunteer Interview Strategies introduces a variety of question types used in volunteer interviews and offers strategies for honing your interview skills.
Materials will be provided to help you implement this process in your organization, so you can learn how to recruit and train a volunteer staff to assist with prospective volunteer interviews.
To learn more and register for this workshop, click here.
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Webinar - May 2
You have a potential donor who wants to learn more about your organization. How do you prepare for the meeting? You may be wondering what to say and how to say it.
Don't panic! If you have ever reached this point and struggled with your confidence to make the ask, this webinar will prepare you for the next big meeting.
In this webinar on The Assertive Ask, learn from Kristal Johnson the 5 critical steps you should take to prepare yourself for the big meeting, how to build your confidence even if you are an introvert, two key areas to focus your conversation, and more!
To learn more and register for this webinar, click here.
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e-Volunteerism Free Articles of the Month
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Unleashing the Untapped Power of Volunteers as Advocates
Rob Jackson and Erin R. Spink as an important question: In responding to scandals and controversies that have tarnished the previously good name of trusted organizations, why aren't nonprofits making the most of some of our most passionate advocates - volunteers?
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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!
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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
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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
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