Greetings!
Exciting times in Central Virginia as we work together to create a better way of matching volunteers to the needs of the community!
It doesn't happen overnight as we wish it could so we'll be providing updates along the way. We have an aggressive target -1st quarter 2010.
What is One for Another? 60 Days Young!
It's the Volunteerism Project that originated from the Community Impact Forum held in May 2009. The project was one of 5 presented to the Committee in August for funding set aside by United Way of Central Virginia to address gaps within the community. Project launch was September 1, 2009!
The goal is to enable volunteers to match their skills, desires and availability with the needs and volunteer opportunities throughout the Central Virginia Region 2000.
It's a project currently in the discovery phase --
Creating a Volunteer Opinion Group to learn more about what volunteers want from the experience and how servicing one another can fit into today's lifestyles and life situations. If you'd like to participate sign up here. Participation is all by email. Respond to ~10 minute surveys and provide your input regarding questions that arise throughout the project.
Meeting with Service Providers to learn more about how they recruit volunteers, reporting needs and challenges experienced.
Researching and talking to vendors about web-based systems to meet the requirements we learn from the volunteers and service providers.
Applying for grants to prepare for the promotion to be done on behalf of all service providers to promote volunteerism.
and more...
We have a name and logo, assembled a strong Advisory Council, met with many organizations, obtained a technology advisor and there's more to come!!
A Few of the Things I've Learned
The list is long and exciting! Just to name a couple of fun facts I didn't know .... did you?
Region2000 refers to the 2000 square miles in Central Virginia (see the sidebar to see what areas are included). I thought it referred to the millennium. My apologies to the group for misunderstanding!
Australia has a lot of good volunteering habits and a big thank you goes out to the Roanoke Council of Community Services for hosting Martin Cowling, People First - Total Solutions of Melbourne, Australia to speak at their annual meeting. Martin provided some excellent insights regarding the different volunteer trends by age groups that we should be preparing for ...and we will ... helpful information will be incorporated in training sessions and other methods of getting the word out to benefit Central Virginia.
There is a Department of Volunteerism located in Richmond, VA -- Nikki Nicholau and Cathy Walker are great resources and working hard to make helpful "connections". View their site for additional information.
The Problem with Thanking People...
you don't want to miss anyone. The importance of those two words is immeasurable and often feel inadequate. However, they come from the heart and below are some of the people and groups I'd like to thank...
The Community Impact Committee and the United Way Board for approving the project. Three excellent team leaders: Elizabeth Austin, Randy King and Martha Jones - you'll hear more about them as the project proceeds. Hopefully we'll add a couple of others too. The Volunteer Opinion Group (VOG) for their input in the electronic questionnaires. A very helpful and supportive Advisory Council - members listed to the left.
Stimulus Advertising for the great program name and logo.
The many non-profits and business volunteer representatives that have given of their time to share their volunteer needs and recruitment processes.
Thank you!
Until next time....
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." Winston Churchill
Sincerely,
BJ McGraw
Project Director, One for Another
