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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Greetings Members and Member Organizations,

My choice phrase of the season: Change and Collaboration. The one constant for the foreseeable future is CHANGE. Another constant is COLLABORATION. 

I must always be flexible, and without collaboration with external partners and my agency team, I cannot succeed. That is why I am excited about our next Professional Development virtual session! Madeleine Bogard, Besa's Coordinator of Corporate Volunteer Engagement, will join us to share their engagement strategy with corporate volunteers. Our speaker will give us insight into how they are being creative with volunteer engagement during these difficult times, and how to make the greatest impact through these partnerships. 

I consider all of our volunteers as key front line team members. They put themselves in harm’s way every day. I salute all of them and those of you who continue to work to increase their safety, so they can continue the vital work in our communities, especially now! Our organization is committed to being your partner in the dissemination of information about events, recruitment strategies, and how to increase volunteer involvement.

Gerlinde Higginbotham
VAN Central Ohio President


AUGUST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

VAN Professional Development Meeting
Topic: Executing High-Impact Corporate Volunteer Activities presented by Madeleine Bogard of Besa
Time: August 20, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) over Zoom
Description: Besaconnects people and businesses with local charities - from food pantries and community gardens to homeless shelters and diaper banks. With your help, we provide support to those who need it most. Madeleine Bogard, Besa's Coordinator of Corporate Volunteer Engagement, will share more about Besa, what makes a high-impact corporate volunteer opportunity, how COVID-19 has changed the corporate volunteering landscape, and more. If you have any questions that you'd like answered during this presentation, please email Madeleine (madeleine@givebesa.org).

Join Zoom Meeting on Thursday, August 20th at 9:00am
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88981075091?pwd=czdqenQ3elJlajJPOVduL2x3bkxvZz09
Meeting ID: 889 8107 5091
Passcode: 932719

One tap mobile
+13126266799,,88981075091#,,,,,,0#,,932719# US (Chicago)
+16468769923,,88981075091#,,,,,,0#,,932719# US (New York)

Click here to listen to a recording of July's PD Meeting.
Password: .phBA9*S


MEMBERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS

It’s that time of year!
Most VAN memberships have expired on 6/30/2020. To renew your membership please visit: https://vancentralohio.org/and follow the prompts for membership renewal.

Questions? Contact Membership Chair, Betty Blockinger, bkblockinger@columbus.gov 

Please complete this lightening-quick 2-Question Survey! 
We would like to understand how our members have been impacted by this pandemic.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K9SNMLF


MICRO-GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Rally For Recovery - Presented by Volunteer United
Rally for Recovery Week is a great opportunity to engage new volunteers in your work. United Way of Central Ohio has a limited amount of funds available to help your organization engage volunteers and complete a project that will create a positive change for your organization or within the community. Click Hereto submit a project proposal online no later than August 20, 2020. Project must take place during Rally for Recovery, September 28 - October 4, 2020. Request must not exceed $500 .Funds may only be used for projects that help your organization or the community with COVID-19 relief efforts. 


COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER
VAN Professional Development Meeting
Topic: Engaging Corporate Volunteers, Presented by Natalina Fickell of Grange Insurance
Time: September 17, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) over Zoom