PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
Dear VAN Members,

I’d like to start by extending a warm welcome to our newest members—I'm thrilled to have you join the Volunteer Administrators Network of Central Ohio! Your dedication to volunteerism and service strengthens our collective impact, and I look forward to the connections and growth we will foster together.

February holds special significance as we celebrate Black History Month—a time to honor the cultural richness, resilience, and contributions of generations of African Americans. Many of these individuals, deeply rooted in faith, love for their communities, and an unwavering belief in a brighter future, have paved the way for us to serve and lead in meaningful ways.

As I reflect on what has shaped my own "why"—the purpose that fuels my passion for service—one person who stands out is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday we honored in January. His words continue to inspire:

"Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

Dr. King’s message is a powerful reminder that service is not about titles or accolades—it’s about heart, purpose, and action. As volunteer administrators, each of you plays a crucial role in empowering others to give back, and for that, I sincerely thank you. Your work drives change, fosters community, and advances the field of volunteerism in ways that make a lasting impact.

I invite you to join us for this month's Professional Development Session on Thursday, February 20th, at 9:00 AM in Room 3B at the Columbus Metropolitan Library (96 S Grant Ave, Columbus, OH 43215). We’ll be exploring how to celebrate and show appreciation for volunteers—a vital part of sustaining engagement and impact.

Thank you for all that you do—I look forward to seeing you soon!

In service,
Leachuin Dean
President, Volunteer Administrators Network (VAN)

• Date:  Thursday, February 20, 2025
• Time: 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• Location: Columbus Metropolitan Library, 96 South Grant Ave., Columbus, OH 43215-Meeting Room 3B
• Agenda: The morning session kicks off at 9 a.m. with a light breakfast, coffee, and an engaging professional development presentation. The session concludes around 10:15-10:30 a.m., followed by a dedicated time for questions and networking.
• Topic: Volunteer Appreciation - Start planning for National Volunteer Week now!

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 the Alzheimer's Association, BESA, and MORE! Postings are updated throughout the month, so log in and check back often!

• SAVE THE DATE for a VAN SOCIAL on Friday, March 7 immediately following the Serve Ohio Conference Networking Hour! For those attending the Serve Ohio Conference, VAN will host an off-site happy hour/social immediately following the conference. We invite you, your colleagues and friends to join us to learn more about VAN, meet board members, network with members, share shop, enjoy conversation, and light snacks (alcoholic beverages may be purchased separately). Location TBD but will be in the general area of the conference, which is located in Grandview at the Grand Event Center. More details soon!
• Serve Ohio Conference | March 7: Not Registered for Serve Ohio yet? Not to worry, the early bird rate has expired but the conference is still open for $225 per attendee. See the agenda and register HERE.
• Global Youth Service Day: Making plans for Global Youth Service Day? Head HERE to check out some resources!
• National Volunteer Week is April 20-26 this year! Check out resources from Points of Light HERE to get a head start in planning engaging ways to show love to your organization's volunteers! This will also be our February PD topic, so be sure to join on Feb. 20 at the Main Library, Room 3B.
• Volunteering and Civic Life in America: According to the research, more than 54% of Americans (or, 137.5 million people) informally helped friends, neighbors or community members at least once a month. And, in Ohio, more than 2.8 million residents served more than 182 million hours through various organizations. Check out the findings through AmeriCorps HERE.

Need to renew your VAN Membership or know someone who might be interested in joining VAN? Visit us online at vancentralohio.org!