President's Message
AL!VE Board President, Michelle Raymer, CVA  Wrapping up our highlight of the executive committee, I’d like to lift up the amazing VP of our Programs and Advocacy Committee, Darlene Laird, CVA. As the Skilled Volunteer Strategy and Engagement Manager at Habitat for Humanity International, Darlene is already a leader in our field, and I’m so grateful she shares her many talents with AL!VE. After joining the board in 2022, Darlene immediately jumped in, proving her effectiveness and reliability. She skillfully facilitated a book club on the Power of Moments that was very impactful for all of us who participated, including our own “moment” of speaking with the author! In 2023 she was called upon to lead the Programs and Advocacy committee, AL!VE’s largest committee, and has risen to the challenge and continued the growth and success of their work. Darlene leads with thoughtfulness and grace, considerate of those around her and not afraid to ask important questions. Thank you, Darlene, for all you add to our Board. I look forward to continuing to learn with you!
I’d also like to take a moment to thank all of our dedicated, passionate, inspiring, thoughtful, and fun Board members. We held a Board retreat last month and I was blown away by their energy, ideas, and commitment to AL!VE’s mission and members. I could not wish for a better group to work with, feel so lucky and humbled, and cannot wait to see what this group will accomplish. More to come!
Michelle
In This Month's Issue...
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Volunteering and Civic Life in America Open Comment period
Advocacy Alert!
Currently, AmeriCorps is soliciting comments concerning its proposed renewal of the Current Population Survey Volunteering and Civic Engagement Supplement. This survey is the basis of the Volunteering and Civic Life in America research, and the source for longitudinal data about volunteering for our profession.
AL!VE encourages its members to review the proposed survey and submit comments by the 5/30 deadline encouraging the inclusion of volunteer-focused questions, as it is a critical dataset for our field. AL!VE will be submitting comments incorporating the following key points:
- The importance and practical utility of currently included questions about employer supported volunteering (WP2), informal volunteering (7), volunteering (16), clarifying what volunteering is (16a), frequency and amount of volunteering (16d and e), and online or in-person volunteering (16f).
- Opportunities to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected by
- Splitting question WP2 to ask about volunteering and pro bono services separate from donating to a charity to measure the rate of employer supported volunteering separate from financial donations.
- Reinstating previously removed questions on types of volunteer activities and organizations, how they became connected to their primary volunteer activity, how many organizations they volunteer with
- Incorporating new questions asking respondents who are not volunteering what barriers prevent them from volunteering and asking volunteers if they donate financially to the organizations they volunteer for
This is important data for measuring changes in our field, and the only source for this critical information. Your help ensuring this dataset focuses on volunteerism and the information we need to be effective strengthens our profession. The deadline for comments is May 30.
Announcing The Volunteer Managers Hybrid Conference Speaker Lineup!
AL!VE – Better Impact – VMPC present
The Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference
Tuesday, October 18 –
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM Pacific
9:30 - 3:30 PM Mountain Standard time zones
10:30-4:30 PM Mountain Daylight Time
Wednesday, October 19
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM Atlantic
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM , Eastern
8:30 AM -2:30 PM Central time zones
This is the volunteer management conference presented by AL!VE, Better Impact, and VMPC (Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada). Now in its ninth year, this year's topic will focus on the quickly changing landscaping of technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI).
The generation of volunteers in the not too distant future will be very different compared to volunteers now. How can we prepare our policies, programs and recruitment in an inclusive, responsible, and creative way that looks to leverage technology in a human world?
Our current streaming event will consist of three 25 minute presentations, local discussion in smaller groups, followed by a moderated discussion with the other presenters (think Ted talk meets late night tv), including responding to questions from the audience.
The broadcast will be streamed live in the United States and Canada, with the likelihood of an audience of 1000 or more. In order to participate, you will need an internet connection strong enough to handle audio/video streaming and adequate computer or external speakers.
You can learn more about the conference by watching this informational video, and by visiting the main conference website.
Presenters for this years Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference are:
Rob Jackson has almost 30 years experience working in the voluntary and  community sector, holding a variety of strategic development and senior management
roles that have focused on leading and engaging volunteers. Rob will be our host and facilitator for the day.
Beth Kanter is a well-established international nonprofit thought leader and author. Her first book, The Networked Nonprofit,  introduced the sector to a new way of thinking and operating in a connected world. Her second book, Measuring the Networked Nonprofit, is a practical guide for using measurement and learning to achieve social impact. Her third book, The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact Without Burnout, was the first book to advocate for personal and workplace resilience in the nonprofit sector. Her fourth book, The Smart Nonprofit, examines the impact of artificial intelligence for nonprofits. Beth will be presenting about keeping the human and inclusive touch in technology.
Stephan Dobri, Neil Squire Society : Stephan has always been  interested in using engineering to help improve the lives of other people. The desire to help others lead him to complete his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering with the Building and Designing Assistive Technology (BDAT) Lab at Queen’s University, where he learned more about universal and user-centred design, and assistive devices. Stephan will be presenting creative ways technology is helping volunteers and programs.
Tony Goodrow, CEO, Better Impact. Tony Goodrow is the founder and CEO of Better  Impact, a software company that has been helping leaders of volunteer since 2001. He and the Better Impact team of 30 now work with over 3,000 organizations around the world. Tony will be presenting about the responsible and secure ways to manage technology.
Dates are confirmed for October 17 (Pacific & Mountain times) and October 18 (Central, Eastern, & Atlantic time zones) Same content both days, broadcast in appropriate timezones for each day)
Registration is available for host sites on June 1, 2023 OR now for individuals.
Host Site Registration Fees (open June 1, 2023 at www.betterimpact.tv/vmhc):
$600 for general public
$550 Service Enterprise members OR AL!VE Local Association Members
$50 early bird discount if registered by July 15, 2020
Individual Registrations (open now, here)
$50 US for AL!VE members
Informational webinars for host sites will be held throughout the summer. Sign up from our calendar. If you register as an individual, we will send you further information after registering.
Informational Webinars to learn more about being a host site (register from our calendar or from the links below):
All times Eastern:
June 6 Noon
June 12, 2 PM
June 22, 3 PM
July 6, Noon
July 18, 2 PM
July 26, 2 PM
Aug 8, Noon
Aug 21, 2 PM
June AL!VE Academy
The Relationship Between Volunteer Roles and Well-Being: Using Data to Create Mutually Beneficial Position Descriptions
Monday, June 12, 4-5pm
Presented by Courtney Tull, CVA, DSocSci
Register here
This presentation discusses the current knowledge regarding the relationship between volunteer roles and well-being. The data highlights why it's important to ensure volunteers are serving in a way that not only matches the mission of the organization but also in a way that is fulfilling for them. I also discuss my data collection techniques from designing my own mixed-methods research study and approachable ways for volunteer managers to collect and use their own data to strengthen their programs.
Learning Objectives
- Begin understanding data about volunteering and health..
- Increase the effectiveness of your volunteer recruitment through detailed position descriptions.
- Considre collecting data on your own volunteer population in order to better serve them.
About Our Presenter:
 Courtney Tull is an experienced leader and presenter specializing in volunteer management, community engagement, and social science. Courtney earned the Delaware Service Impact Award from the Governor's Commission on Community and Volunteer Service in 2018 as a result of her AmeriCorps service. She has completed extensive research on the relationship between volunteer roles and well-being and has presented her findings to various audiences across the United States. Courtney recently relocated to Orlando, Florida where she enjoys getting to know her new community, sitting on her balcony to read and look for new healthy recipes, and caring for her guinea pigs.
Welcome New CVAs!
Congratulations to these AL!VE members
who earned their CVA this Spring!
Arielle Hirt
Casey Nichols*
Chelsea Ann Pagulo
Christopher Auerbach-Brown*
Dana Ashlee Pratt
Elizabeth Hodgkins*
Gabe Taylor
Jared Peer
Julie A. Greene*
Lynn Cohen*
Mel Henry
Paige Stein*
Robin Adair
Savannah Heath*
William D. Webber
Dee Dee Martin
(* Denotes those who attended the CVA Study Group Community of Practice)
The next CVA Study Group COP will begin later this summer. Watch the June or July newsletter for more details!
Join an Upcoming Community of Practice!
UPCOMING COP DATES
June 6, 3pm, Food Banks
June 7, 2pm, Emergency Response
June 7, 3pm, Advisory Boards & Committees
June 20, 2pm, Rural Programs
June 20, 2pm, Literacy Programs
June 21, 12pm, Book Club
June 26, 2:30pm, National Networks
June 26, 3pm, AmeriCorps Seniors
June 28, 1pm, Animal Welfare
June 28, 1pm, Local Associations
*All times listed in Eastern Standard Time
Learn more about Communities of Practice and sign up via the AL!VE calendar.
Presenter Boot Camp Completes Successful First Sessions
"Producer" Paula Allen Congratulations to the 21 graduates
of the first Cohort for Presenter’s Bootcamp!
We had a wonderful time this Winter learning from each other and developing virtual presentation skills.
The next cohort of Presenter’s Bootcamp is scheduled for February and March of 2024. If you are interested in being a part of the talented workgroup of volunteers who will iterate and present Bootcamp, fill out our volunteer interest application for the program. Last chance to express interest for the workgroup is June 5.
If you are a member and interested in attending Cohort #2, registration will open December 2023, so mark your calendars!
2022 Annual Report Now Available
AL!VE is proud to present its first-ever Annual Report highlighting accomplishments from a variety of our programs in 2022! Please take a moment to read about our programs and feel free to share report with colleagues who may be interested in joining AL!VE.
View AL!VES 2022 Annual Report Here
Service Enterprise Diagnostic & Debrief: Learn Your Organization’s Strengths and Areas of Opportunity When it Comes to Strategic Volunteer Engagemen
Kayla Paulson, Service Enterprise Administrator AL!VE is thrilled to have Service Enterprise Training and Implementation Hubs located across the country and some national trainers that round out our service areas; with this network, we are able to help nonprofits build their capacity to effectively and efficiently leverage volunteers to deliver their social mission. The full Service Enterprise Change Management Program that brings together a multi-level, cross-functional team within an organization and takes them through a year-long transformation has been around for over a decade. More recently though, we have begun to offer the Diagnostic & Debrief Service that typically kick-off the Service Enterprise Program as a standalone offering.
When an organization is ready to “hang the mirror” and really reflect on its current organizational practices and policies for engaging and supporting human capital, but isn’t at a place where it can fully commit to the guided change management process it can opt-in to participating in a research-based self-assessment diagnostic. A Service Enterprise trainer facilitates the diagnostic process and upon completion meets with the organization facilitating a debrief session walking them through the report of the current state and tailored suggestions for improvement. If an organization has a positive assessment and is poised well to participate in the full program, they can choose to opt-in to the next available cohort. Other times it is used as a very comprehensive form of an internal volunteer engagement needs assessment and serves as a tool to help with strategic volunteer engagement planning.
Since many of our Training and Implementation Hubs leverage local, state, and federal funding to offset the cost please contact your local Hub or contact Kayla Paulson at ServiceEnterprise@VolunteerALIVE.org or (319) 310-0901 to learn more about the offering and to get a price quote.
Upcoming Conferences
America's Service Commissions National Service Training Regional Events
America's Service Commissions, in partnership with state and territorial service commissions, is pleased to announce the dates for our 2023 National Service Training regional events. The theme for the 2023 trainings is “Expanding What's Possible.”
June 7-8, 2023: Virtual
Visit www.nationalservicetraining.org for more information.
Points of Light - Registration now open!
- Experience more than 50 workshops with actionable takeaways led by industry experts.
- Engage in compelling leadership discussions highlighting best practices in the social impact space.
- Connect with 1,000+ fellow change-makers.
Reserve your spot at the conference by registering today!
Attending Points of Light? AL!VE and Service Enterprise members invited to a happy hour!
If you're an AL!VE or Service Enterprise member, you're invited to a happy hour, co sponsored by Better Impact & AL!VE. Appetizers and beverage tickets available, while they last. 
- When: June 14, 7-9 pm
- Where: a Rooftop Bar nearby, just a short walking distance from the conference hotel. We will email you information when you register.
Preregistration is required, here Feel free to show up late or leave early as you like.
AL!VE on the go: May Edition
AL!VE's Association Manager Gretchen Jordan has been 'on the go', traveling for work and play. In May, AL!VE was represented at:
- America's Service Commissions National Training in New Orleans, LA where the board also met to hold a strategic planning retreat
- Gretchen also visited with AL!VE members Cindy Self, with Catholic Charities and Shannon Murphy with The National WWII Museum.
- Charleston, West Virginia
 America's Service Commissions National Training East
- Gretchen met up with AL!VE members Tara Herbert and Sarah Short with the United Way of Huntington county.
- While in Pittsburgh, Gretchen met with AL!VE member Kelly Gascoine with the
 Carnegie Science Musuem, and AL!VE Board  Member Ashley Rieser with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
Gretchen will be attending the Midwest Conference on Volunteerism in Indianapolis June 8, and the Points of Light Conference in Chicago - please find her and say hi!
Watch your inbox for an invite to meet up with Gretchen at these locations (more locationsTBA:)
 Fort Wayne, IN
Chicago, IL
Spokane, WA
Portland, OR
Las Vegas, NV
Denver, CO
Topeka, KS
Dallas, TX
AL!VE Standards at Local Association (DOVIA) Meetings
Looking for a subject matter topic for your upcoming Local Association (DOVIA) meeting? The new AL!VE Standards for Organizational Volunteer Engagement are a great conversation starter and are sure to get your members brainstorming. The standards are designed to be applicable to volunteer engagement professionals at any level of experience and are adaptable enough to be used across different industries.
You’ve already achieved Standard #2 (Professional Volunteer Management and Professional Development) by being an AL!VE member and keeping up-to-date on best practices in the field. Go you! Check out more of the Standards and action steps here.
Want to request a speaker from AL!VE to present a more in-depth look at the standards virtually at your next local association meeting? Let us know.
Volunteer With Us!
Time commitment usually entails one meeting a month, with 1-2 hours working independently on a project or with a team. Volunteering with AL!VE looks great on a resume!
These Committees are seeking AL!VE members to join:
Finance: Do you have skills or interest in fundraising? Help AL!VE build capacity for volunteer engagement!
AL!VE is currently looking for volunteers to join the Funding Development Committee. If you have skills in fundraising, giving plans, sponsorship development, or grant writing we would love to have you join the committee to help AL!VE build and support a strong foundation for volunteer engagement across the globe! Learn more (or express interest) here:
Membership: Membership Committee members have a 3-5 hourly commitment per month; meet monthly and work on projects independently. Tasks Include: new member calls, developing member benefits, local association mentoring & handbook/development, developing member materials, and presenting member webinars.
Visit our volunteer page to apply and get started!
Updates to the AL!VE Website
Not finding what you’re looking for on the AL!VE website?
No worries - we’ve made a few changes to make things more accessible! You can now find  Al!VE Academies, Better Impact & Hybrid Conference, Mentor Program, Impact Awards, and Presenter’s Bootcamp under the “Get Involved” drop down.
All resources such as professional standards, advocacy, ethics, trends, DEAI, and general management under the “Resources” drop down.
Take a few minutes to scroll through the updated website; we hope you find it easier to use!
Don't Miss Emails from AL!VE
We send this newsletter monthly, and an additional 3-4 emails per month. If you didn’t get it in your inbox please check your junk/spam folders (if you find it there right click it and choose Junk/Spam and then select Never Block Domain). If you don’t find it that was you may want to ask your IT to whitelist volunteeralive.org.
You can also try to whitelist at your email level by following the directions linked below (sometimes you may need admin permissions):
Whitelisting for Gmail
Whitelisting for Office 365 Outlook
Whitelisting for Outlook ios
If you need more assistance or haven’t been able to access the email please email manager@volunteeralive.org so that we can follow-up and do another test email after volunteeralive.org has been whitelisted on your account.
Member Benefit: Portfolio Manager
Welcome to Our Newest Members!
AL!VE Member Welcome Webinars
New to AL!VE or just want to check in?
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. We also are giving away some cool door prizes too ! The next one is April 10. Register from our calendar.
Our second member social is a great time to just hang out, connect and network with your peers! Need to get ideas or share a challenge or success? Our topic for this session will be about discussing summer programming. We will have some door prizes, too! The next member social is May 24 @ 5 PM E and will last 45 minutes. You can also register from our calendar. read more...
Thank You to Our Returning Members!
Fill Your Calendar with These Great Events!
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