Last month, AL!VE's board of directors gathered for the annual board retreat to solidify goals for 2021, review long term goals from our strategic plan, and continue working towards our efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion for our association.  I am honored to work with such a committed, energized board that will take AL!VE to the next level of innovation and leadership. We look forward to sharing with you our updated strategic plan soon as we refine our goals and add some new ones!

Don't forget, next month we are kicking off the next round of AL!VE's Emerging Leaders Mentor Program!  We have many amazing mentors lined up to donate their time to you and your professional development.  Please take advantage of this amazing benefit to connect with your colleagues and receive individualized career development tailored to your specific goals. 

Lastly, I want to wish all those preparing to take the CVA exam in April good luck in their studies. AL!VE's CVA study group launched last month and we look forward to being your study buddy! Reminder: Applications to take the CVA exam are due by March 1st. AL!VE members also receive a discount on exam fees!  Learn more here. Thank you for taking this next step in your career to become certified.

Take care everyone and please stay healthy and safe!

New to AL!VE or just want to check in?  

Next Member Welcome Webinar:
February 23,  1 PM Eastern

Find out what's happening or get a quick fix of networking with your peers! New members will get a brief overview of our mission, benefits, activities and committees...

Thank for your joining us!
Katrina Blatt 
Kyla Brittain
Jennifer Clark Robertson
Cheryl Coleman
Concetta Gibson
William Henry
Oriana John
Laura Klein
Nicole Mantz
Adrienne Polumbo
Ashley Rieser 
Tom Schermerhorn

Dallas Association of Directors of Volunteers
Member Since: 11/02/2009

Alison Reed
Member Since: 04/23/2015

Carla Lehn
Member Since: 08/01/2017

Shelly Kaiser
Member Since: 01/01/2018

Rachel Krempasky
Member Since: 12/13/2018

Susie Ryks
Member Since: 02/15/2019

Paula Allen
Member Since: 02/27/2019

Motria Hodowanec
Member Since: 04/29/2019

Amy Rothery-Colin
Member Since: 02/11/2020

Tanya Eastman
Member Since: 03/04/2020

Kassia Reedy
Member Since: 03/25/2020

Facebook: @Volunteeralive
Twitter: @VolunteerALIVE​
Instagram: @Volunteeralive
LinkedIn: View profile here

Don't forget to check out AL!VE's newsfeed on our home page for regular updates from our profession. Here's what you may have missed in this last month to catch you up!
 

• Points of Light Announces New Volunteer Platform

• Non-Profit Times Commentary: A V-Shaped Recovery for Volunteering?

• Texas Volunteer Management Conference release RFP for May 2021 Conference

We are here for you! Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@volunteeralive.org or visit our website at www.volunteeralive.org.  While you are there, you can also:

• Read the latest news about the profession

• Submit a calendar or news item

• Check out the resources page

• Find volunteer opportunities

• ...and more!

GAVA Q1 EVENT: TRAINING VOLUNTEERS ONLINE
02/16/2021

AL!VE Member Welcome Webinar Feb 23, 2021 1 PM Eastern
02/23/2021

March 3 AL!VE Academy, 1 PM E: Navigating Difficult Situations: Effective Solutions for Everyday Challenges Presented by Beth Steinhorn
03/03/2021

3/3/21 - AL!VE Transportation Community of Practice Noon Central, 1 PM Eastern
03/03/2021

3/4 AL!VE Health Care Communities of Practice Meeting Noon Eastern
03/04/2021

AL!VE Networking Event-Open to All March 9, 6 PM Eastern 3 PM Pacific
03/09/2021

Rural Programs COP (managing programs in Rural or Frontier Communities)
03/16/2021

AL!VE COP Book Club: Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People March 16-May 25
03/16/2021

AL!VE COP Book Club: Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People March 16-May 25
03/30/2021

AL!VE Local Associations Quarterly Meeting: Financial Frameworks for Local Associations
03/31/2021

AL!VE Local Association Leadership Professional Devopment: Financial Frameworks for Local Associations
03/31/2021

Emerging Leaders Mentor Program
April - September 2021
 

AL!VE is dedicated to the professional growth and development of leaders in volunteer engagement. The purpose of the Emerging Leaders Mentor Program is to provide a platform for AL!VE members to connect, share best practices and position themselves as leaders in the field through ongoing professional development and skills building.

For more information about this program, commitments and requirements, etc., please visit our website here. The mentorship will commence during the months of April - September 2021.

MEET THE MENTORS:

Our seasoned, experienced AL!VE members are donating their time and talent to you! If you are interested in participating in this program, please learn a little bit about our mentors to help you determine who may be a good match for you! Click here to see our mentor list for the Spring/Summer 2021 program.

Interested?
If interested in becoming a mentee: Complete the mentee application here. 
 
Applications are due by Sunday, February 28th!
 
IMPORTANT: Save the date for mandatory orientation that will be held on March11th, 2020 at 12pm PST/3pm EST. Mentors and mentees will attend to learn more about one another before selecting their preferences for mentorship.
 
If you have any questions about this program, please contact us at info@volunteeralive.org.

The Programs & Advocacy Committee has nearly ALL AL!VE Academy Webinars scheduled into 2021.  


MARCH:
Navigating Difficult Situations: Effective Solutions for Everyday Challenges
Presenter: Beth Steinhorn
March 3rd, 1-2pm EST

APRIL:
Make it Personal - Building Inclusion in Your Volunteer Corps: Practical Exercises, Success Stories, and Cautionary Tales, with Paula Allen, Emilie Bromet-Bauer, and Nicole Smith  April 23, 2021 - 2 - 3pm EST  (REGISTRATION PENDING)

MAY:
Advocacy: Saying No to the Wrong Things So We Can Say Yes to the Right Things
Presenter: Alana Knoppow
May 12th, 2-3pm EST

Have an idea or would like to present for a future webinar?  Learn more here.

If your Local Association (DOVIA, AVA, DOV, etc) is an AL!VE Local Association member, or if you belong to a Local Association, please read and pass along these updates!  For more information about joining AL!VE as a Local Association, learn more here.

• Professional Development for Local Association Leadership, Boards, etc.

March 31, 1-2:30 E, AL!VE will present a professional development opportunity for leadership for our local association members.  REGISTER HERE.

Financial Frameworks for Local Associations
How does the status of your local association affect your filing status? Do you need to hire a CPA or conduct an annual audit for the IRS? How do you add checks and balances into your work for transparency?
Financial matters are one of the most talked about discussion topics in local association meetings, and we have put together a solid presentation to help you gain knowledge and give you a workplan to keep your local association on track. We will be sure to discuss the following areas:

• Role of the board and treasurer
• Budgets
• By-Laws
• Bank Accounts
• Taxes and filing status
• Local Government Documentation
• Accountability
• When do you need an external audit or CPA?
• We will provide valuable resources to participants, so be sure to join us for this knowledge packed session on financial management for local associations.

• Website listing

  • Please review our listing of local associations here.  You can also send edits from this page too.  We plan to update this listing this year, you will be contacted by a member of our committee.

• Calendar

  • Have a conference, training, or other professional development opportunity?  You're welcome to list on our calendar.  Submit here.

• Local Associations Summit - NOVEMBER 4, 2021 1-3 PM

  • The summit for 2021 date is set!  Mark your calendars!
    The first national summit of Local Associations was held in November 2020 via Zoom.  We've sent out a recap and next steps from this event for those who registered.  If you would like to receive a copy, contact us.

• Free webinars

  • AL!VE Local Association Members enjoy the free monthly AL!VE Academy webinars - when registering, please enter your association's name or acronym so you won't be billed.  See the calendar for dates.  

• Communication

  • AL!VE Local Association Members are encouraged to forward this newsletter or send any pertinent information to their membership ! (Remember, we don't have access to your member information)

Join a Community of Practice!

The AL!VE Communities of Practice (COP) Program is designed to give AL!VE members networking and educational opportunities within their field of expertise. Led by AL!VE members and field experts, it is a time to share experiences, resources and recommendations with fellow AL!VE members. If you'd like to lead a COP in an area not listed below, contact us!

For more information about each COP, visit our COP webpage. 

Active COP's at this time (click on the day/time to register):

New!  Monday, March 1st Food Bank COP    3-4pm EST  Register here:
 
This is an AL!VE Communities of Practice for those involved in managing volunteers at food banks, food pantries, hunger relief, nutrition or food-focused community organizations. These organizations use volunteers in unique and creative ways, especially during times of crisis like the pandemic. Join your hunger relief colleagues virtually to discuss your challenges, successes, and to share ideas.  Subsequent meetings will be 5/3, 7/5, 9/6 & 11/1

COP Book Club:  NEW!
Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People March 16-May 25
 Join your peers for a book club discussion of 'Blind Spot:  Hidden Biases of Good People' by Mahzarin R Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald.
The discussions will begin on March 16 at 1  PM Eastern and continue every other week until May 25.  All times are 1 PM Eastern.  Register here.  To learn more, email our facilitator, Gretchen Jordan.
 

• Transportation COP March 3rd, 1 PM E

• Health Care Communities COP: March 3rd, Noon E

• Job Transition & Leveling Up COP: April 20, 1 PM Pacific
• ​Rural Communities COP: March 16, 11am PST / 2pm EST
• ​Cultural Arts COP: April 22, 12pm PST / 3pm EST
• CVA Study Group COP (full for spring term, Fall term opens May 2021)

• RFP's open soon and close March 15, 2021
• Host site registration opens mid May
• Individual registration opens mid May
• Informational Sessions begin early May
• Conference:  
  •     October 19, 2021:  Pacific & Mountain time zones
  •     October 20, 2021:  Central & Eastern time zones

Hosted by Points of Light, this year's theme for National Volunteer Week is Celebrate Service – an opportunity to shine a light on the people and causes that inspire us to serve. Volunteerism empowers individuals to find their purpose, to take their passion and turn it into meaningful change. When each of us, in our own way, answers the call to make a difference, we make progress in solving our most persistent problems, and create stronger communities and a more just society.

Free toolkit and more information here.

Need to plan a service project? See upcoming days of service to help you market your need:

Random Acts of Kindness Week (February 14 - 20)
https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/
Random Acts of Kindness Day^® is Wednesday February 17, 2021. Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 14-20, 2021. We are upholding this annual tradition of celebrating kindness because we know everyone can use more kindness in their lives. Scientific evidence shows us the positive effects of doing kind acts for others as well as receiving or even witnessing kindness. Even the smallest act of kindness can change a life. In 2021, we encourage everyone to Explore the Good and Make Kindness the Norm.

AmeriCorps Week (March 7 - 13)
https://americorps.gov/newsroom/events 
AmeriCorps Week is a celebration of all things AmeriCorps – from the programs and organizations that make this national service initiative possible in communities across the country, to the members who have pledged to “Get Things Done” since the program’s inception in 1994.

We're updating our member database to enhance our member networking benefit! 

When you register or access the members only system, you will be prompted to fill out the member skills database.  As this database grows you can search our membership to connect with a colleague regarding a specific skill - such as board development, social media, or fundraising. Please take five minutes and update  your skills on our database.  You can also go in an edit at any time.

Thank you!

PS:  Check to make sure messages from AL!VE aren't going in the spam folder.