PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
Dear VAN Members,
I wrote earlier in the year about civic pride. I recommend going back to that July edition of VANtage and watching the linked speech (if you need the links again, read the transcript here or listen here).
Again, there are many other people who are more qualified to speak on current events. I’ll list my favorites below. First, take care of yourselves! Save this list for later. Hopefully this list isn’t too controversial. Views are my own and not representative of VAN.
-Support artists in your favorite medium: music, visual arts, theatre, etc. Watch RENT. I’m sure someone local will do it in an upcoming season. There’s always the 1996 cast recording or the 2005 movie for a quick fix.
-If you are religious, open yourself to some other cultures that practice your faith. I really enjoyed The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.
-If there is a time that people in power cross a line for you, peacefully protest. If other people say there is a line that has been crossed for them, keep an open mind. I credit reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X for opening my worldview to different lives lived.
-Support local journalism. That’s already lots to read, but for context there’s always Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
-And this is one I haven’t seen from anyone else recently, which surprises me. Don’t just passively invest. Talk to your bank or a financial adviser about it. There’s a few different terms or philosophies that might appeal to you. Some are “Impact Investing,” “Socially Responsible Investing (SRI),” and “Environmental, Social, and Governance Investing (ESG).” For context, I recommend Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut.
We just so happen to have our next Professional Development meeting at a library! Get a library card and see if any of my recommendations are good. Feel free to recommend your favorites to me as well. I’m always open. See you November 21st.
Galen Roth, CVA
Volunteers Manager at the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio
VAN President
VAN SURVEY: Make Your Voice Heard!
The VAN Board is asking for input as we plan the 2025 Professional Development line-up. Please take a moment to share your thoughts here so we can better serve our members (and potential members) with quality professional development sessions that meet your needs! Please complete the survey by Nov. 20.
NOVEMBER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Topic: Coalition Building & Youth Engagement with Gabriel Day of DRIVE
Are you hoping to engage more volunteers and partners to scale your organization's impact in the new year? Gabriel will be sharing insight about building coalitions to scale and deepen your impact. Gabriel serves as the Outreach Coordinator for DRIVE and Youth Pastor at Hope City Church where he mobilizes volunteers to engage hundreds of youth across Central Ohio each week. Come to learn and bring your questions about building partnerships in the nonprofit, business, and faith-based community here in Central Ohio!
- Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024
- Time: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
- Location: Columbus Metro Library - 96 S. Grant Street Meeting Room 1A
- Agenda Details: The morning session starts at 9 a.m. with a light breakfast, coffee, and an interactive professional development presentation. The PD session wraps up by 10:15/10:30 a.m., with the last portion of the meeting set aside for questions & networking.
SAVE THE DATE for VAN Gives Back on Dec.19 as we volunteer our time at the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio for our special holiday PD edition. It's always great perspective to volunteer for other organizations to gain valuable insight into managing volunteer engagement, not to mention, doing and spreading good at a time when it's needed the most. We hope you can join us!
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:
- Taking the Pulse of Our Nation's Civic Health: Join AmeriCorps webinar on Nov. 19 to take a comprehensive look at how Americans make a difference in their communities and promote the common good. Learn more and register HERE.
- MLK Day 2025 Projects: It's time to start planning your MLK Service Projects for 2025. Get ideas for how you can create community for collective impact through national days of service 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.
Need to renew your VAN Membership or know someone who might be interested in joining VAN? Visit us online at vancentralohio.org!