Category: Latest News

You might occasionally note a Friday the 13th or remember March 15th (“Beware the Ides of March” the notorious date of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC and the turning point in Roman history.) But, sandwiched between the two last week was International Pi Day. You know Pi, 3.141592653 … a numerical dream date.

In 1706, William Jones (a Welsh mathematician) realized that, “The exact proportion between the diameter and the circumference [of a circle] can never be expressed in numbers.”

Now what exactly does Pi have to do with anyone who works or volunteers in a non profit in BC in 2015?

Well, funders recently reminded non profits of their need to divide their financial Pies using very precise terms. In the case of Volunteer Centres across BC, provincial and municipal governments reminded us that they only fund programs and services that have a direct benefit to the public. They need to ensure that one organization is not giving benefit from public funds to another organization. In legislation, accountability, and in Pie theories it makes complete sense.

But, let’s compare the math according to three theories in play and let’s use Volunteer Victoria’s E-Newsletter as our demonstration product.

Approximately 1,800 people receive the E-Link newsletter every other week. It costs $350 to produce in sunk costs per issue.

If Volunteer Victoria was ‘more business like’ we would simply calculate and share the cost. You, as a subscriber would each pay $4.66 a year. As you do not all read all the issues we may need to implement a user-fee model so you will have to pay $18.66 for each issue you read. (Plus shipping and handling costs, and GST) We won’t have the resources to track the outcomes when you learn about jobs, changes in legislation, or participate in non profit specific events or learning, but no big deal. It’s just business. Where would you like us to send your invoice?

In the funder Pie model, it gets more complicated and the model changes every fiscal year depending on the funders and how much Volunteer Victoria receives in grants. The production costs are the same, but the administration to manage the E-newsletter is significantly higher and we need much more information from you all to track who pays which portion of the cost on a monthly basis. It is not an exact science but basically:

– If you currently volunteer with a non profit – then the organization you volunteer with benefits from your learning, so we will have to mail them an invoice and ask them to pay the cost. If you volunteer at more than one organization, please let us know. We need to split the invoice.
– If you are a high risk individual, unemployed, or in a life transition the United Way or Island Health might cover a portion of the cost on a sliding scale from 10 to 100% of the cost. Where shall we send the balance of your invoice?
– If you are a youth under the age of 25, Coast Capital Savings and the Victoria Foundation will pay for the cost of your learning. You will not receive an invoice. Please remember to thank them!
– If you are not currently volunteering, not working in the sector, and have no affiliation with any non profit organization then you need to thank the Provincial and/or municipal governments for picking up your share of the cost of the E-newsletter. You will need to tell us which municipality you live in though, because not all 13 local governments fund us. Please do not forget to send us a change of address card if you move.

Now there is the reality of Pi.

Millions of mathematicians cannot divide circles into whole and precise numbers.  And surely the goal of the non profit sector is not to produce more brilliant mathematicians or accountants.

There will always be individual, volunteer, and organizational overlap – especially since the demand for services has grown, conditions are more complex, and we all need to attract more volunteers, more ideas, and more engagement from the whole community to address community-based challenges.

The non profit sector can and does track costs and we are accountable. But our primary purpose is not to divide Pi, but to increase the impact of the circle. In the non profit sector the sum of the whole is far greater then the sum of the individual parts.

And, if any one is wondering, the entire cost of E-Link next fiscal year and the entire benefit of your learning is courtesy of the Victoria Foundation.

This article is written by Lisa Mort-Putland, Executive Director, Volunteer Victoria.

We Got Engaged – Building Workplaces with Intention
March 24, 2015 – 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour

What if we.

• created workplaces with intention?
• developed organizations that were holistic – healthier, happier and more harmonious?
• nurtured a more effective and supportive work environment?focused on creative, innovative and transformative solutions?
• cultivated vibrancy, resiliency, and potential in ourselves and our work communities?

Spend a day, encouraged by industry peers, colleagues, and friends, who are supportive and collaborative, while enjoying speakers, participating, gleaning wisdom, and developing tools that resonate with you and your work.

Registration fee includes nutritional breaks and lunch.

Interested in showcasing your business at this event?  Contact Us

For the full line-up of speakers visit www.wegotengaged.ca

As someone pointed out yesterday, 2015 started with a bang! After nearly a decade of stable service, the “much loved” and much used database VolWeb suffered a major technical breakdown.

We knew more than a year ago that VolWeb was facing increasing risks and health problems.  And we all knew the day would come when VolWeb would do more than just show its age – it would face an age-related malfunction that would require critical and intensive care. And more than just a light sniffle, this breakdown has rendered the system completely inaccessible and it will take more than a day or two of rest to bring it back to full strength.

“Much loved” is an exaggeration. A big one! Like all tools and systems we usually only love databases when they work exactly the way we want them to. VolWeb didn’t have lots of bells or whistles, menu bars, or fancy videos. It was not shiny and new, and it did not do every thing we wanted. We never yelled “We love VolWeb” across the office. But, now that VolWeb is gone, we realize just how much we used it, needed it, and how much we will miss it.

Volweb was a workhorse, a constant companion, and a useful tool for thousands of volunteers and volunteer managers. It was developed a decade ago to support volunteer recruitment efforts for the 2010 Olympic Games and was later adapted for use by volunteer centres across the province. Since 2010 it has been lovingly cared for by the staff at the BC Games Society – who deserve massive thanks and admiration for their tremendous service and ability to keep VolWeb functioning with the smallest of budgets and tightest of timelines.

Volunteer Victoria has been working on a new database system called Volunteer Impact for more than 6 months. We had planned to launch the new system in February once all the technical issues have been solved, the data is clean, and everything functions as it should. But with the demise of VolWeb our ‘perfect launch plan’ has been shelved.

Yesterday we brought Volunteer Impact online so that we can provide continuous service to our member agencies and to the public. The new system is not perfect – but it has lots of new functions and features, and things to enjoy. And we hope in the not too distant future, we will hear member agencies and volunteers claiming to “love that new system.”

Volunteer Victoria turned 40 this week. Today we are officially 14,602 days old!

Relative to agencies like the Cridge Centre – Western Canada’s oldest non profit which formed in 1876 – we are still a baby. Still, 40 years of business is a big milestone and we are so grateful to all our former and current agency and individual members, board members, and staff and volunteers who have made and continue to make Volunteer Victoria vibrant and relevant.

We are blessed to have team members (paid and volunteer) whose faces still light up every time they help a potential volunteer connect and commit to a volunteer opportunity, and who delight in creating and sharing knowledge, and strengthening the non profit community. One of the many  joys of working with volunteers and the agencies who recruit and manage volunteers is the endless amount of potential that is harnessed on a daily basis and grows with every act of volunteerism. Regardless of age or stage of life, volunteers make a difference.

We also want to acknowledge and thank the many organizations, foundations, and individuals who have invested in Volunteer Victoria over the last 40 years – Victoria Foundation, United Way of Greater Victoria, Coast Capital Savings, Thrifty Foods, and the provincial and municipal governments – to name a few. An investment in volunteerism is more than just a good use of resources – it builds connections, increases health and wellness, and extends the bounds of possibility – for individuals and for communities.  By helping Volunteer Victoria, you have helped many.

So thank you for supporting Volunteer Victoria and for choosing us to be your partner in all things volunteer  and non profit related.  The first 40 years were fabulous and we can’t wait for the next stage of our journey.

Volunteers live long and prosper!

 

Did you know that James Bay is home to the largest concentration of seniors in the country?18.4% of the population in Victoria is a senior, meaning that not only does our community have a higher than average number of seniors, we also have a higher than average number of senior volunteers. And, as the large baby boom generation born between 1946 and 1965 reaches 65 years old we will have even more seniors volunteering.

For many years, the number of new seniors entering their retirement years and volunteering seemed to keep pace with the number of senior volunteers ‘downsizing’ their volunteer commitments. But, times have changed and seniors are healthier than ever before, living longer, and staying engaged in their communities and in their volunteer work. For the first time, we have an increasingly large number of volunteers aging in place and community agencies are now working with up to 4 generations of senior volunteers.

Organizations and volunteer managers recognize that while we often use the same term for people between the age of 65 and 105, individual senior volunteers have very different needs and very different reasons for volunteering and we cannot use the same management principles and set of expectations for every demographic group. Best practice says we have to anticipate the needs of our volunteers and our volunteer programs and adjust our practices to serve both.

After volunteering for 1, 10, 20, 30, or even 40 years, senior volunteers experience a wide range of feelings and choices regarding their volunteer work. Most seniors continue to volunteer because they know they contribute in meaningful ways and volunteering adds value to the community and their lives. When asked, senior volunteers also share their fears about aging in place – some have concerns that if they leave they can not be replaced and they worry about the consequences to the organization, others are concerned that volunteering adds stress and impacts their health, or organizational needs change and they no longer feel like they can keep up. Organizations also struggle to evolve volunteer positions filled by senior volunteers – often because they are afraid of the impact on volunteers who do not easily embrace change.

In the best cases, organizations have embraced the opportunity to ask senior volunteers what they want and need, what they need to learn, and how they will evolve their roles to meet their own emerging needs  and the needs of the organization. The most successful senior volunteer stories include elements of respect, good communication, a shared vision, and a plan for when and how change will happen.

We may occasionally toy with the idea of what to do with millions if we win a lottery  but I think this may be the extent of most people’s philanthropic dreams. (After a long and happy marriage my spouse and I have agreed to split the funds 50/50 and never to talk to each other about what we each did with our half.)

Besides, how much wealth does the average person really need to accumulate before they can make a difference for the things they care about in the community? If you are thinking millions or hundreds of thousands, think again. According to the book, “Excellence in Fundraising in Canada” the average gift in a will in Canada is $25,000 and the average monthly gift is in the $25 range.

$25,000 seems do-able and very meaningful. There is just one problem. We have to die to make the gift, so giving $25 a month seems far more reasonable. But, our wallets are usually filled with loonies, toonies, an old button from a shirt, 1o+ receipts, loyalty cards, an appointment card for a haircut etc. etc. etc. Finding the cash is the first problem and then there is the question of who do I give it to?

Do you remember the book, “The Wealthy Barber?” I have lived my entire working life by the Wealthy Barber principle of ‘saving first’ and it has provided me a guilt free life when it comes to spending. So I wondered, how many of us apply a similar principle to ‘giving first’ knowing that our monthly donations are whisked away at source through pay roll deductions, and our gifts add up over our lifetime? Without having millions to give, even the average joe has the opportunity to make it to the top of the philanthropy charts.

I suspect my thoughts have been driven by the United Way launch next week (September 17th at Spirit Square, City Hall. Bring a lunch, your family, and your friends!) The event nearly always feels a bit like New year’s Eve for me – a celebration that brings people together to look forward to a new year – and with the added benefit of not needing to stay up past midnight.

But more than just a one-time event,  the United Way Campaign is our community’s largest collective impact project – the bringing together of thousands of individuals who make the possible probable because they work together in a united way.

Most Canadians say that when it comes to what really matters, they want to know that they make a difference. I suppose our challenge is to think differently – instead of planning on building or winning enough in hopes of making a large legacy gift at some time in the future, why would’t we give what we can now so we get to witness the large difference we make in our community during our lifetime.

To learn more about the United Way visit http://www.uwgv.ca

The team at Volunteer Victoria has been musing on an idea for a couple of days now. After stumbling across a Fantasy Football League, we asked ourselves what would a Fantasy Non-Profit League in Victoria look like?

Of course, our Fantasy League might not  be called a ‘Non-Profit League” at all. There are many who advocate for a new name for our sector – a name that represents the quality of our outcomes and not the type of funding structure we work in. We think it might be fun to be called the “Fantasy Social Good League”, or the “Fantasy Making a Difference League”. If we are going to dream big we might even call ourselves the “Fantasy, We Always have the Resources we Need to Get the Job Done League,” but perhaps this is dreaming too big.

With 947 registered charities and several hundred more non-profits in Greater Victoria, the pool of potential Fantasy team members in the community is very large and very exciting. In a few short minutes we made a fantasy list of emerging and current managers and leaders who we think inspire our community to action and make real and sustained differences. There is no shortage of people or potential.

The pool includes current and recently retired Executive Directors, seasoned volunteer and program managers, financial management specialists, fundraisers, program and front line staff, and of course the central figures in all our organizations – our administrative colleagues. We also thought about our fantasy board members and volunteers – and the types of individuals we need to create a space and organizational culture where anything is possible and everything that needs to get done is achievable and manageable. In our Fantasy League we built a team who can create and sustain the conditions we need for individual, organizational, and community resiliency and good health- it was a blissful exercise.

Then we remembered the rules of the game – even though we may be able to create a Fantasy Team we cannot change the current and real-life conditions in which individuals and organizations work. Or can we? What can we do to reduce the risks in our environment and increase our successes and how can we commit to making the shifts that make a difference?

We probably won’t have much time in the fall to think about our Fantasy League, but we will be thinking about our reality league. While it is not all sunny days ahead, we think it remains the best league to play in.

 

 

It’s August – if you have been paying even the slightest attention to the calendar, the weather, or your vacation schedule, or if you are more than 4 years old, then you already know this. BC teachers are still on strike. You probably know this too.

Here are some things that perhaps you don’t know or perhaps you forgot in the excitement of summer:

• Victoria and Esquimalt Police departments stopped processing criminal record checks in July. (Both the Ministry of Justice and the Victoria and Esquimalt Police will continue to process CRC for individuals requiring a Vulnerable Sector Check). The Commissionaires Victoria will provide criminal record check services for volunteers living in Victoria or Esquimalt for the greatly reduced fee of $12. They will even come to your office to help process CRC applications.
• United Way recently announced a change to its funding cycle. Look for applications to appear this Fall for funding that begins in April 2015.
• The deadline for social service organizations to apply for Gaming Grants is November 30th. You can track all application approvals online.
• Grant application deadlines for Victoria Foundation and Telus are quickly approaching.
• 2014 looks to be a big summer in terms of staff changes at our funding partner organizations. Thanks to Catherine Schissel (United Way) and Gina Pecorelli (Telus) for your care and support and good luck in your new adventures.
• Just when organizations got logic models and theories of change vocabulary and practice under control, along comes Collective Impact. If you have a little time to invest in learning more about Collective Impact visit http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/collective_impact. Volunteer Victoria will host a Collective Impact Webinar in partnership with the McConnell Foundation in September.
• Norm Smookler is offering free Exceptional Leader evaluations to anyone in the non-profit sector. This is great tool to help you figure out your leadership strengths and preferences. Visit www.normsmookler.com/360-leader-feedback-tool.php for more information.
• Did you know that Service Canada has a program called Work-sharing? Work-Sharing is an adjustment program designed to help employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer. The program provides income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance benefits who work a temporarily reduced work week while their employer recovers. Work-Sharing is a three-party agreement involving employers, employees and Service Canada. Employees on a Work-Sharing agreement must agree to a reduced schedule of work and to share the available work over a specified period of time. The goal of the Work-Sharing program is to avoid layoffs and for all participating employees to return to normal working hours by the end of the agreement. Visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/work_sharing/ws_applicantguide.pdf for more information. And,
• If your organization is like Volunteer Victoria you are currently working on strategies to ensure that youth client needs will be met in the fall. We are working with three possible scenarios – no school, some school, or a complete return to school.

Who said August would be quiet?

Has your inbox been inundated this week with requests from all types of businesses seeking your permission to ‘stay in touch?’ Canada’s new Commercial Anti-Spam Law (CASL) takes effect July 1st, and while there is still time for non-profit organizations to become fully compliant, businesses of all shapes and sizes can only contact you via a commercial electronic method to seek your permission to stay on their contact lists until June 30th.

A “commercial electronic message (CEM) is a message sent by any electronic means (i.e., email, text, instant message, tweet) thats purpose or one of its purposes, is to encourage participation in a “commercial activity.” Commercial activity is defined as “any particular transaction, act or conduct that is of a commercial character whether or not the person who carries it out does so in the expectation of profit.”

Registered charities have been granted an exemption by Industry Canada from the new laws surrounding commercial electronic messages, (as long as the primary purpose of the communications is raising funds/directly supporting your core mission as filed with Revenue Canada). Please note that non-profit organizations are not exempt from CASL.

There is also a discrepancy between the  Industry Canada and the CRTC’s interpretation of the exemption.

Imagine Canada reported on June 24th 2014 that “The CRTC has yet to issue official guidance on the exemption as it applies to charities and has indicated that an FAQ document pertaining to registered charities will be issued in the coming weeks. As such, the full extent of the discrepancies between the interpretation provided by Industry Canada, the authors of the legislation and regulations, and the CRTC (who enforce the legislation), may only become clear after the legislation takes effect.”

To make sure that you have all the information you need to stay compliant visit the following resources:

http://www.fightspam.gc.ca
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/casl-lcap.htm
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ecic-ceac.nsf/eng/gv00521.html
http://www.imaginecanada.ca/who-we-are/whats-new/news/canada’s-anti-spam-law-casl-imagine-canada-seeks-clarification-crtc-about

The Victoria and Esquimalt Police Boards implemented a temporary stop to police information and background checks for all non-vulnerable sectors as of June 25, 2014.

The stop of information and background checks is a temporary measure while privacy recommendations by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner are considered and implemented. The review relates to privacy concerns regarding the potential disclosure of information about an individual’s mental health history or status.

What does this mean for agencies and volunteers? If your new volunteers live in the municipalities of Victoria or Esquimalt and are not volunteering directly with vulnerable populations the police services will NOT be able to provide your volunteer with a Criminal Record Check.  This includes individuals who may be volunteering with agencies who work with vulnerable populations (i.e. Child and youth serving agencies) but are not directly working with vulnerable populations (in positions such as board members.)

Volunteers who are working directly with vulnerable populations can still apply to the police services for a CRC or to the Ministry of Justice if your organization is registered with the Criminal Record Review Program. Volunteers in all other municipalities can continue to access CRC through their local police station.

If your organization needs CRC’s to be processed in the short-term both Back Check and the Corp of Commissionaires (a non-profit) complete CRC’s for volunteers for a fee. The cost of a CRC ranges from $43 to $60.

For more information please contact the Victoria Police Department at crcinfo@vicpd.ca