PAVRO and Learn2 have created a fantastic virtual conference focusing on teaching you how to effectively connect with others. Learn2 will guide us through their Communicate Naturally program, teaching us how to build meaningful relationships and create strong connections.
Each half-day session begins at 9:30am and wraps up at 12:30pm (there will be a scheduled break).
Your registration secures you two half-days of content that you can use right away. Day One (Oct 1) will focus on the tools of effective communication, including how to appreciate the connection between people’s communication preferences and work styles. Day Two (Oct 8) will build on the discussions, questions, concerns, and connections made on Day One as Learn2 creates a customized program just for LiVE attendees.
Registration is capped to ensure maximum interaction between participants, so secure your place today.
PAVRO LiVE: Creating Connectionsis perfect for volunteer engagement professionals at all career stages!
It is also a great training platform for leading volunteers involved in fundraising, training/orientation, community outreach, and client engagement roles at your agency.
all virtual, all impactful, all in!
PAVRO Member: $99 + HST (price goes up Sept 2)
Non-Member: $119 + HST (price goes up Sept 2)
NEW THIS YEAR Group Registration: $265 + HST (allows a PAVRO member and 2 guests to attend)
Payment options
On-line: VISA or Mastercard
Cheque (cheques must be received no later than Fri Sept 18, 2020)
Early bird pricing will be in effect until September 1st
Questions? Please contact PAVRO and include the phrase Conference Question(s) in the subject line.
Lorna Catrambone
PAVRO’s Co-Director, Member Services
Lorna has worked in the non-profit sector for the majority of her career; from program management, with a community social services organization, to fund development for a national health charity. The constant in her career has been a passion for supporting volunteers while they contribute to the success of the organization.
A desire to expand Lorna’s formal education in the field of volunteer engagement led her to complete the Humber College Volunteer Management Leadership Certificate in 2016.
Lorna volunteered to join the PAVRO Board of directors so she would have the opportunity to network, enhance skills, and support PAVRO’S mission and vision.
In her current role as Regional Development Coordinator for Threads of Life, a national charity supporting families who have experienced a work-related fatality, life-altering injury or illness, Lorna works closely with a wide range of volunteers, and contributes to the organization’s volunteer engagement and management strategies.
In her personal life, Lorna enjoys spending time with her husband and two teenage kids, her extended family and friends. She is an avid reader who also loves the outdoors and travelling.
Welcome to PAVRO’s Board, Lorna!
Jessica Pang-Parks
PAVRO's Secretary
Jessica Pang-Parks is passionate about stewarding relationships, developing and improving processes, and coaching and mentoring others. She is excited to join PAVRO’s dynamic Board as Secretary and looks forward to continuing to give back to the volunteer engagement sector.
At the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Jessica worked as Ontario’s Senior Specialist, Volunteer Engagement, providing subject matter expertise to employees at head office and in communities across the province. In her past role as Volunteer Toronto’s Education Coordinator for the Grassroots Growth project, Jessica provided specialized training and resources to volunteer-run organizations across Toronto.
As the 2018-2019 President for TAVA (Toronto Association for Volunteer Administration), Jessica led the executive committee to provide meaningful and relevant professional development programming to colleagues across the volunteer engagement sector.
Jessica actively volunteers on the Leadership Team for Parkview Neighbourhood Garden, where she contributes non-profit governance knowledge and manages the group’s social media accounts. She also volunteers as an Advisor to the Volunteer Service Department at Shelter Movers and serves as a Volunteer Facilitator on their Training & Education Team.
Jessica lives in North York with her husband Jason and her cat Junior. Jessica is a lifelong learner and loves gardening, cooking and eating.
Welcome to PAVRO's Board, Jessica!
COVID-19 AND VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT SURVEY PHASE II
If you're a leader of volunteers or a volunteer, share your perspective on the impact Covid-19 is having on you through spinktank's research on Covid-19 and Volunteer Engagement.
I am the Volunteer Coordinator at Ontario Shores for Mental Health Sciences and have been developing a revitalized volunteer program, one that reflects the diversity of the community. I am also an instructor for the online Volunteer Management Certificate course with Sir Fleming College.
I have been a volunteer many times and in various capacities. First, starting with PAVRO as the Conference Chair 2009 to 2011; various positions on the Board for my local AVA, DRAVA, including President 2015-16; and for the Board of Directors at Feed the Need Durham 2016-17. All of these roles helped me gain the perspective of a volunteer, and gave me the insight to be a better leader for those volunteers within my own programs.
The most challenging aspect of my career has always been the constant advocacy for the profession of volunteerism for both the administrators and the individuals volunteering.
Coming on board, to be part of the PAVRO Conference Committee, was an exciting opportunity to be part of the professional development for this field which unfolded abruptly into a new and exciting challenge. I credit the progress and ultimately the success of this virtual conference on the amazing talent and passion of this small but committed group of volunteers (Helena, Kristen, Deb, Tracy and of course Johanne Deschamps!). I am grateful to have these partners who are so supportive, and continue to be, throughout this challenge!
Helena Finn-Vickers
I will be celebrating 15 years as the Manager of Volunteer Resources and Spiritual & Religious Care, Patient Experience at Lakeridge Health this coming September! My background was seniors' activity centres and not-for-profits which actually put me on the path of volunteer engagement as my passion. The hospital setting has always been an interesting challenge—ever more so right now with none of the 1789 affiliated volunteers able to help us currently inside our hospitals.
It is absolutely the people I have the pleasure and privilege to interact with that keep me in this profession. I don’t have as much opportunity to interview new volunteers now, or meet people and hear what drives them to get involved (and later what keeps them involved), and I miss that. But that is what empowers me to want to do everything I can to make their volunteer experience a positive one. I have also loved my involvement and the people on the Boards of both DRAVA and PAVRO and now find myself wondering what the next volunteer challenge will be for me personally!
As a hospital system with five separate Auxiliary bodies, I am developing more empathy to their expressed concerns about levels of influence and decision-making authority. Balancing the best interests of individual volunteers, Auxiliary priorities, my departments’ activities, and set goals and projects, with what the organization wants and needs from all of us is a constant challenge requiring more hours in a day than I sometimes feel I can give. But I will keep trying.
As the Past President of PAVRO I was tasked with supporting recruitment efforts for the Board, and it was crystal-clear that finding the right Conference Chair was my top priority. One day it hit me that while I have never planned a conference, my dear friend and colleague Sharon has. For some reason she said yes immediately when I called her up to propose we co-chair the 2020 Conference. And right away we got to work recruiting our small but mighty team. We were very grateful to all who applied and are thrilled with our dedicated and resourceful committee whocontinue to put together a unique and exciting conference, no matter what COVID-19 throws at us.
Deb Wach
I am the Manager, Volunteer Services at Community Living Mississauga. Community Living Mississauga is a non-profit charitable organization that supports over 3,000 people, who have an intellectual disability, and their families. Our mission is to provide support to individuals who have an intellectual disability to ensure their quality of life in the community is meaningfully improved. I am responsible for volunteer and student placement engagement that supports our mission.
There are so many things that I like about my work with volunteers but the thing that motivates me most is seeing people achieve their personal, educational and career goals because of their experience volunteering with us.
The most challenging thing for me is not being able to see our volunteers on a regular basis. Community Living Mississauga has a centralized volunteer recruitment process for our many community supports and programs, and I am responsible for recruiting, orienting and training volunteers. After this is completed I assign them to a field site Supervisor.
I decided to volunteer for the 2020 Conference Committee because I had dinner with the Conference Committee at the 2018 conference in Mississauga. They were such a fun, enthusiastic and inspiring group that I decided, when I could carve out the time, I would offer my support to a conference.
Tracy Drenth
I'm the Coordinator of Volunteer Services at St. Joseph’s Health Care, London. We have nearly 1,000 volunteers across all five of our sites, who assist in 87 distinct program/service areas and contribute over 90,000 hours annually.
I love that our volunteers are so dedicated to St. Joseph’s. We have a number of volunteers who have been with us for over 30 years!
The most challenging issue for me would include the health requirements that the volunteers need prior to starting their position. This can sometimes be a barrier for them due to the wait time and cost.
I volunteered for the 2020 PAVRO Conference Committee because I enjoy collaborating with colleagues, near and far, to create opportunities and enhance the volunteer experience at any organization. I love to meet new people and thought this would be a great way to put some of my talents to work in order to benefit our profession!
Kirsten Loblaw
I am proud to have worked in the non-profit sector for over two decades. I've worked in positions that have focused on the leadership of volunteers, fundraising, and event planning. I have been the Administrator for Volunteer Services for the London Public Library for the last 8½ years. I have been an active member of the Executive for my local AVA, LAVA, for a decade.
My favourite part of working with volunteers, and my own volunteering, is the ability to make great connections. I love helping volunteers find an opportunity that both meets their needs, as well as develops skills and forms new relationships. I am a life-long learner and love the opportunity to learn new things. It's one of the reasons I have stepped forward to take on the role of Vice-President of LAVA this September.
I feel very lucky to have such a popular program and work with over 450 volunteers annually. As the sole staff member in the department, my biggest challenge is finding the balance between finding rewarding opportunities and respecting the unionized environment. It's about good relationships, clear boundaries, and remembering that we work with humans not robots.
I have now attended five PAVRO LiVE conferences. Each one brought learning opportunities, fun experiences, and valuable connections across the province. I felt it was my time to give back and help create this environment for other PAVRO members. We could not have expected this year to turn out as it has when we started, but planning the 2020 PAVRO LiVE conference has been just as rewarding and valuable. It's been a great group of people to work with, and I know we've done our best to make sure this conference will be worth the wait!
Thank you all for your many contributions to October's LiVE Conference!
Alison Cairdvolunteered as a member of the PAVRO Board of Directors for several years and was formally recognized for her dedication and contribution as a recipient of the Linda Buchanan Award for Administrator of the Year in 2004, and the President's Award for exemplary leadership, innovation and fundraising in 2008. In 2020, the PAVRO board recognized Alison's contribution to the field by renaming the Young Leader Awardin her honour after her passing.
Many thanks to those who have left their memories of Alison on our Memory Walland/or made a gift in Alison's memory.
Heather is a Volunteer Engagement Professional. You met her last month in her new role as a PAVRO Board Director. As the PAVRO Director, Communications, she has the privilege to work with a fantastic team of PAVRO members and industry leaders. This engagement keeps members and subscribers informed about industry trends, provides information on member benefits, and, most importantly, encourages contributions by PAVRO members and partners to the various networking, sharing, and learning platforms maintained by PAVRO. These platforms include PAVRO's e-Powerline, the Member Discussion Forum, PAVRO’s blog, and collaboration with the Webinar team.
As a result of Covid-19 and the Canadian Cancer Society’s need to restructure, Heather has found herself with the gift of time to dedicate to preparing to write the CVA certification examination, as well as to participating in a variety of webinars, to expand her knowledge, that will help volunteers and leaders of volunteers come out stronger during this pandemic.
Two fun facts about Heather: she holds a black-belt, 1st degree, in Aikido, and she once drove Marc Garneau around Calgary when he was the Honourary Patron of Hope Air during the Commercial Business Aviation Conference in support of Hope Air.
Welcome to PAVRO's Communications Team, Heather!
Tasha McPhee
Content Curator
PAVRO’s e-Powerline Newsletter
Tasha’s career in the charitable sector began twelve years ago with Goodwill Industries of Toronto, Eastern, Central and Northern Ontario. After supporting the implementation of their first formal volunteer program, Tasha completed her certification in Teaching and Training Adults. She then took on a Learning and Development role, leading multiple workforce integration programs and initiatives.
Tasha joined the YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka in 2016 and is currently the Manager of Volunteer and Employee Development. She is the Chair of her Y’s Volunteer Product Group and Manages a Leadership Development Program.
Tasha joins the PAVRO Communications Team as Content Curator for e-Powerline. To this team she brings her passion for volunteerism along with her keen interest in the new frontiers of the sector.
Welcome to PAVRO's Communications Team, Tasha!
Ruth Pentinga
Editor
PAVRO’s e-Powerline Newsletter
For over 18 years (until May 2020), Ruth worked in the volunteer engagement sector in Toronto.
Most recently, Ruth was the Director of Volunteer Resources with Yonge Street Mission (YSM). There, for 13½ years, she led the department that managed over 3500 volunteers annually.
Ruth got her Masters of Theological Studies (MTS) from the University of Toronto in May 2019. Over the years Ruth recognized that she had a real passion and aptitude for editing, so recently she took the Editing Certificate program at George Brown College in order to add some credentials to her practice and passion. Besides her Volunteer Management Certificate, Graphic Design Diploma, and her Management Certificate, she also has an honours BA in Women’s Studies and Sociology from York U.
The reason Ruth no longer works in volunteer management is because she, and her husband Andrew, moved to Cornwall Ontario in May 2020 to embrace a little slower-paced, quieter, more nature-filled life. Yes, their sons will visit them there!
And there, Ruth is launching her new freelance editing business.
Ruth is thrilled to keep her toe in the door of the voluntary sector and to connect with you fabulous people by volunteering as PAVRO’s e-Powerline newsletter editor.
Welcome to PAVRO's Communications Team, Ruth!
Denise Hawken recently held the role of Social Media Volunteer but, for now, she has had to step back due to her workload. We look forward to Denise rejoining the team as soon as her schedule allows.
We are all knee-deep in the Covid-19 reality and contingencies.The unique challenges of our beloved field of Volunteer Engagement is taking some hits and also demonstrating amazing resolve, creative solutions, and new directions.
This global experience has demonstrated that we share a common vulnerability and reminds us, as a human race, that we are one.
The Member Discussion Forum is here for us all!
We can all learn from each other and share resources and knowledge through this unique and valuable province-wide vehicle.
Feel free to ask questions, post responses or answers, comment on articles... The sky's the limit.
On June 16th a member used the Discussion Forum and asked the following: Topic: Volunteer Records- Privacy Act, Standards or Legislation
What are the privacy standards or acts that apply to volunteer records management in organizations that share volunteer data among their provincial or national bodies? Do these standards apply to the storing, protection and privacy of volunteer’s personal information?
If no standards, can you please share your best practices regarding “record keeping” storing and privacy related to volunteers personal information for large non-profits, with multiple semi-autonomous sites?
Please feel free to help your associate member out with this one!
To access the Forum from your account, simply follow these 3 easy steps!
PAVRO COVID-19 RESOURCES For Volunteer Engagement Professionals
Looking for information that's relevant to our field? We've got you covered! Check out our ever-growing list at COVID19 RESOURCES
If you have resources or information that you would like to share, please submit to pavro@pavro.on.ca
#Wereinthistogether
An Invitation
We invite you to submit an article/story/other, to our newsletter, that will inspire/inform/illuminate your voluntary sector colleagues.
Creating Connections is the theme for our August to October 2020 newsletters
PAVRO reserves the right to edit the content of any e-Powerline Newsletter article/story/other submission and also reserves the right to decide when to publish any accepted submissions. All submissions to PAVRO’s newsletter will be given freely and honourably and no remuneration will be expected or given for any submission.
Please send all article/story/other submissions to pavro@pavro.on.ca
PAVRO will publish your full name with any article/story/other. If you wish to not have your name published, please submit this request in writing at the time of submission.
For your information, members are invited to make any comments on published articles through the PAVRO Members Discussion Forum.
Thank you for contributing to the volunteer management profession and PAVRO.
We appreciate your contribution(s).
When you Connect... just think of the possibilities!
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PAVRO's e-Powerline Newsletter!!
