VANtage: August 2024
Alaina Reimer | Published on 8/14/2024
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
Dear VAN Members,
I hope everyone is staying cool! We’re in that stretch of time between Independence Day and Labor Day without any scheduled holidays. Hopefully you’ve taken some time for a vacation! I am this year, but I haven’t every year. Sometimes you just can’t step away.
When I get bogged down it helps to always look to the next thing. It’s been soccer this year for me. The US men’s team crashed out of one tournament earlier this summer. That’s okay because now there’s men’s and women’s soccer at the Olympics! (And how about USA men’s and women’s gymnastics and USA women’s rugby!)
That mentality also helps me get through some of these Dog Days of Summer at work. I have that vacation coming up. After that there’s some fun volunteer projects coming up at the Furniture Bank to look forward to. Putting in the work now will help to make those circled dates fun and not something to dread as it arrives. You probably already know that, but it’s good to pause and recognize the hard work.
Our next circled date on the calendar for VAN is Thursday, August 15th! We’ll see you there!
Galen Roth, CVA
Volunteers Manager at the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio
VAN President
Reminder to Renew:
You can sign up for a VAN membership any time. Historically summer was the time to renew. Please make sure to renew your membership! Log in to the VAN website periodically at vancentralohio.org to make sure you don’t miss your time to renew. Remember, all current members will be able to attend the live VAN hosting of the AL!VE Conference on October 23, 2024 at the Main Library.
August Professional Development Meeting
VAN Professional Development Meeting
Topic: Roundtable Discussion on Days of Service
The 9/11 Day of Service and Make A Difference Day are coming up. Let's talk about who to invite, how to set up, and some best practices! Current President of VAN Galen Roth, CVA will lead the discussion.
When: Thursday, August 15th, 2024, 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM
Where: Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Branch Room 1A, 96 S Grant Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
+ Bring a friend! The first meeting is always free!
+ We ALWAYS have coffee, a light breakfast and excellent networking!
+ SAVE THE DATE for our next Professional Development session on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 at 9 a.m. and EVERY THIRD THURSDAY of the month!
+ Meetings are located at the Main Library unless indicated otherwise.
JOB POSTINGS:
Our website is full of job listings in central Ohio! If you're a VAN Central Ohio member looking for a position working with volunteers, you can click here to access the page. There are many local openings including positions at Canine Companions, BESA, Ronald McDonald House, and MORE! Postings are updated throughout the month, so log in and check back often!
VAN BOARD OPPORTUNITIES:
Are you passionate about volunteer administration? Are you looking to give back in a big way while learning and growing professionally? Then joining the VAN Board may be the right fit for you! We are currently seeking value-added members to join our team in the following openings: Professional Development Co-Chair. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to take that next step in leadership and professional growth. If interested, please email groth@furniturebankcoh.org with a copy of your resume.
OTHER UPDATES & HAPPENINGS:
- SHARE YOUR VOICE! Help advocate for our profession that we all know and love. Professionals in volunteer engagement play a crucial role in managing and coordinating volunteers, contributing significantly to community and organizational success. Despite having a certifying body*, we are not currently recognized as a profession by the Department of Labor - US Bureau of Labor Statistics. By advocating for an official occupational code, we can ensure our profession receives the recognition and support it deserves. Learn more and submit your feedback HERE by Aug. 12.
- Columbus Academy Annual Service Day: Friday, Aug. 30 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm - Does your organization need a group of approximately 10 teen volunteers (who come along with 1-2 adult chaperones) to help with various service projects? Reach out to the Columbus Academy's Service Board Advisor, Christy Bening at beningc@columbusacademy.org for more info.
- Looking to Increase Senior Volunteer Engagement in your Organization? Check out THIS article for some great tips.
- Since the next ServeOhio Conference isn’t until March 2025 we want to invite our members to the AL!VE, Better Impact and Hybrid Conference 2024. I think this year’s topic should be a fantastic one for all our members, no matter what your experience level is in managing volunteers. Every currently active VAN Member is invited to join us for the virtual conference!
- Topic: “Creating Influence in Your Organization: Thinking Beyond ‘A Seat at the Table’”
- When: Wednesday, October 23
- Where: Virtually hosted at the Columbus Main Library
- FREE for VAN members to attend! More details to come as we get closer to the date!
We hope to see you at an upcoming VAN PD Session soon!