PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
Dear VAN Members,
We recently got our regular material for the woodshop donated again. It’s stark white, and it makes very pretty pieces of furniture when it’s all said and done. We had been reclaiming wood that didn’t need to be painted or refinished in any way. We also had a lot of ready-to-assemble kits donated. That meant more volunteers got to just build.
That’s what most people want to do when they come to volunteer here. Sanding and painting is the least popular job. Now that we’re back to painting things white, I’m asking people to do things they don’t want to do for free. Like Tom Sawyer. But not the awesome Rush version of Tom Sawyer. And I always feel a little bad about it, so I guess not the Mark Twain version, either.
My mindset has been to let the volunteers take on as much of the fun stuff as possible. That means I’m left with the not-fun-stuff (including painting when I can’t convince anyone else). And we seem to be expanding the scope of what we ask of our volunteers. And that leads to maintaining a lot of things that aren’t necessarily directly related to the job I was hired to do. What can a volunteer manager do about this?
I’m hopeful that question is answered by the AL!VE conference later this month. Join us for a full-day conference based around Creating Influence in Your Organization: Thinking Beyond ‘A Seat at the Table.’ Information on how to register is below!
Galen Roth, CVA
Volunteers Manager at the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio
VAN President
OCTOBER AL!VE CONFERENCE:
There is NO regularly scheduled Professional Development session this month. Instead, plan to join us on Oct. 23 for the hybrid AL!VE Conference.
Conference Topic: Creating Influence in Your Organization: Thinking Beyond 'A Seat at the Table'
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Columbus Metro Library - 96 S. Grant Street - Meeting Room 3B (please note different room location)
Details: Join us for the hybrid AL!VE Conference facilitated by Rob Jackson where attendees will be equipped with creative strategies to ensure our organizations are embracing volunteer engagement in the best ways possible. Join us at 9:00 a.m. for coffee, breakfast and introductions. The conference kicks-off with a welcome at 9:30 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m. Breakfast & Lunch provided by VAN. Networking & discussions throughout the day.
Register: Conference attendance is open to all VAN Members. Not a VAN member yet? Become one today here and then register for the conference here. Please register by Monday, Oct. 14 so we have a count for food.
**REMINDER: NO PD SESSION ON OCT. 17.
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 opening: 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:
- MLK Day 2025 Projects: It's time to start planning your MLK Service Projects for 2025 and Serve Ohio is offering grants to help support your community service projects! To qualify, projects must take place between Jan. 1 - Jan. 31, 2025. Learn more and apply HERE.
- Presenter Opportunity! The ServeOhio conference is scheduled for March 7, 2025 and they are looking for workshop presenters! This is a great chance to share your successes and help others in our profession learn and grow in their roles. Learn more and submit your workshop proposal HERE.
- AL!VE, Better Impact and Hybrid Conference 2024. We think this year’s topic should be a fantastic one for all our members, no matter what your experience level is in managing volunteers. Come learn with us as we watch the virtual sessions together and have topical discussions throughout the day. Every currently active VAN Member is invited to join!
- Topic: “Creating Influence in Your Organization: Thinking Beyond ‘A Seat at the Table’”
- When: Wednesday, October 23, 2024 - this is an all-day conference, plan for 8 am - 4 pm *light breakfast & lunch included
- 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!
- Texas Volunteer Management Conference, Oct. 10-11, 2024: This 2024 conference looks to offer an excellent learning line-up! Can't make it to Dallas? No worries, the virtual option looks just as great as being in-person and for a fraction of the cost. Virtual: $120. Americorp/Student Rate: $50. Details HERE.
Need to renew your VAN Membership or know someone who might be interested in joining VAN? Visit us online at vancentralohio.org!