The following post was written by our Manager, Training and Outreach, Leanna Hill. On October 1st we are thrilled to be welcoming Leanna back after her one year maternity leave.
Inspiring someone to give their best. Knowing who needs to be where, when. Remembering who’s about to graduate, and whose son’s getting married, or who needs a special ‘thanks’. Being one step ahead – a cheerleader, a mediator, a coach; ultimately supporting an organization’s ability to thrive and achieve its mission. The people who support and lead volunteers fill big shoes.
If you work in the non-profit sector, I can safely say you’ve worked alongside a volunteer (after all, every non-profit is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors).
If you’ve been to a non-profit hosted special event (like the Fringe Festival, Film Festival, Tea Festival, Buskers Festival etc…), you’ve probably been welcomed and served by a volunteer.
From front lines to behind the scenes, when volunteers show up it’s because someone has made it easy for them to do so. It takes organizational skills, people skills, communication skills, hard work and a sense of humour to effectively engage volunteers. Coordinating, managing, leading volunteers – however you say it – there’s an art and a science to it.
Beth Cougler Blom and I are thrilled to be co-teaching Volunteer Victoria’s Leading Volunteers: Foundations in Volunteer Management course again this year, starting October 30th, 2013.
Our goal is to connect leaders of volunteers to the tools, policies, networks and philosophies that underpin strong practices of volunteer management through interactive and participant-led discussion and assignments.
This blended learning course (one day in person and 4 weeks online) gives participants an opportunity to delve into what makes an exceptional and effective leader of volunteers today: from the tools of the trade to the most up-to-date policies and practices.
Past participants have run the gamut of experience: from long standing coordinators of volunteers; to folks who lead volunteers as a small sliver of their daily responsibilities; to volunteers themselves who want to increase the effectiveness of their volunteer-based groups. Participant response to the newly revised course has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to another successful session.
People are what bring an organization’s mission to life. When volunteers are well supported, and able to share their talents to the best of their abilities, organizations can accomplish great things.
For more information or to sign up, check out our website or give us at call at 250-386-2269.
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Previously offered as the “Overview of Volunteer Management” this newly developed and enhanced course is offered in a blended learning model, consisting of one day in person and four weeks online.
Participants will learn to plan a successful volunteer program; recruit and screen potential volunteers; orient, train, supervise and recognize volunteers effectively within their program; and evaluate and market their program effectively.
Note: A limited number of $200 bursaries are available to Volunteer Victoria agency members in good standing. Please see the Bursary Information Sheet for more details.