The Value of Volunteerism

A Conference for Nonprofit Professionals

Your experience begins NOW.  Send us your stories of inspiring volunteers!

• Did a volunteer ever add value to your life or to the lives of your clients, friends or loved ones?

• Do you have a story of volunteering that may inspire other volunteer managers?

• How has working with volunteers impacted you and added value to your life?

Your stories will be woven into key portions of the conference.

Keynote speaker Deb Ruggiero begins our conference by sharing some of your moving stories and her own anecdotes about the “Amazing Women” she has highlighted on her television and radio program over the years. Look for our “Story Wall” where people can read more of these inspiring words  throughout the day. Attendees will be invited to write their comments and reflections or add stories of their own as the conference progresses.

Stories should be 500 words or less, include your name, phone number, agency name and contact (if applicable)*. Send stories by Friday, February 16th to info@vcri.org   *See www.vcri.org for further story requirements, restrictions, waivers, etc.

Featuring Keynote Speaker - Deb Ruggiero

Director of Community Development for Citadel Radio

Deb is also the creator and host of “AMAZING WOMEN,” a radio show that airs Sunday mornings on WPRO AM and on television Wednesday nights on RI PBS. AMAZING WOMEN celebrates the accomplishments of Rhode Island women who make a difference in our community in areas from healthcare to education to public service. Deb Ruggiero is very active in the community herself. She is a founding board member of The Women’s Fund of RI, the past president of the board of the American Lung Association of Rhode Island, and a former Big Sister. Deb also teaches Broadcast Advertising and Marketing Research at Providence College and is an Amazing Woman in her own right!  Learn more at www.amazingwomenri.com

Conference Fees:

Members: $100

Non-Members: $140

All Payment checks must be postmarked & credit card payments processed by March 2

REGISTER EARLY and pay only

• $85 for Members

• $125 for Non-members

Payment checks must be postmarked & credit card payments processed by February 16 to qualify for discount.

FAST, EASY & SECURE  Click here to Register and Pay Online! 

Click here to download a pdf of the conference brochure

Click here to submit an inspiring Volunteer Story

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE

MORNING

8:00 - 8:30 Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 10:00 Opening and Keynote Session

10:00 - 10:15 Break

10:15 - 12:15

Putting your Strategic Plan into Action Part 1

Leading Positive Change in Uncertain Times

Emotional Intelligence: The Secret to Success in the Workplace

Effectively Manage Your Contacts Panel

Planning for the Service Learning Expansion

Politics of Change Workshop Part 1

AFTERNOON

12:15 - 1:00 Lunch I Speed Networking &

Personal Value of Volunteerism Energizer

1:15 - 2:00 Speed Networking &

Personal Value of Volunteerism Energizer Lunch II

2:00 - 2:15 Break

2:15 - 4:15

Putting your Strategic Plan into Action Part 2

Creating a Welcoming Environment for People w/ Disabilities

Working w/ National & Community Service Programs

The Value of Knowledge: Beyond the Position Description

Service Learning Panel

Politics of Change Workshop Part 2

4:15 - 4:30 Closing Remarks

Morning Sessions

Planning for the Service Learning Expansion

Virginia Law, PeacePaths & Pamela Welling,

JWU Feinstein Community Service Center

In 2007, all public high school students will be required to participate in service learning to graduate. Come explore the value of service learning to youth, YOU and to the community, while learning fun, engaging strategies for encouraging and recruiting greater volunteerism among youth.

Leading Positive Change in Uncertain Times: An Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry (AI)

Tony Silbert, MSOD, Co-founder and Principal of Innovation Partners International

Change... Can you handle it? Come to this interactive seminar and experience a collaborative and strength-based approach to change that is turning problem solving on its head. Learn how organizations are achieving rapid positive results across industry — from nonprofits, to government agencies, hospitals, schools, and businesses around the globe. Participants will receive a brief introduction to Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and engage in activities that build new knowledge and skills for leading, managing, and sustaining positive change.

Emotional Intelligence: The Secret to Success in the Workplace

Dianne Flaherty, LICSW, The Providence Center & Elaine Poncelet, LICSW, Private Practice

The emotional maturity of employees and volunteers directly impacts their behavior, helps reduce conflicts, increases individual responsibility, improves team effectiveness and enhances leadership potential. Recognizing the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in the workplace and making efforts to develop it is a critical step towards reducing risks and enhancing overall organizational performance.

Effectively Manage Your Contacts Panel Discussion

Joanne Crossman & Lisa Cisco, JWU Professors in Professional/ Strategic Communications & Katje Fuson, Big Friends Little Friends

What’s the best way to recruit or contact your volunteers? Beyond e-mail, phone, bulletin boards, IM, and text messaging… Are you missing a valuable opportunity because you are NOT using the latest communication tools and strategies? Come exchange your best practice stories with colleagues and hear from our panel on suggestions for using the right communication tool for the right people at the right time.

Afternoon Sessions

Service Learning Panel

Doreen Holmes, Mary House & Laurie Horta, JWU Feinstein Community Service Center, Jane Deming, Providence Animal Rescue League, Geraldine Mejia, Met School Intern & Michelle Cox, Met School Advisor.

Hear from a panel of nonprofit volunteer managers and school liaisons on how they have incorporated service learning into their core values and actions. Get some real life “tips and tricks” to prepare your organization and manage this new type of volunteer.

The Value of Knowledge: Beyond the Position Description

Valerie Ann Leduc, VCRI Board President & Shirley Hardison, Beacon Hospice Volunteers

Does your organization provide its volunteers with a handbook of policies, procedures and expectations? Does that handbook state your mission, vision and true purpose in the community? If not, then attend this workshop and learn the tools needed to communicate the true value of your organization, maintain that value by avoiding conflicts and misunderstandings and shed light on the full value of the volunteer as community ambassador for your agency.

Creating a Welcoming Environment for People with Disabilities

Kathleen Samways & Lucy Bayard, National Inclusion Disability Project

Are you taking full advantage of the inspiring, productive and valuable resources people with disabilities can bring to your organization? Find out some easy things you can do to attract and retain volunteers with disabilities. Learn about disability awareness, person-first language, universal design in the workplace and position descriptions. Let’s make inclusive volunteering a core value in our community!

Working with National & Community Service Programs

Vincent Marzullo, Corporation for National Service & Rick Benjamin, RI Service Alliance

Come explore the value that National & Community Service programs (VISTA, AmeriCorps, RSVP, etc.) bring to RI and nationwide, from their vital role in supporting the American culture of citizenship, service and responsibility. Learn how your agency can be a project sponsor or partner with these unique and exciting community service programs!

Full Day Sessions

Politics of Change Workshop

Umberto Crenca, AS220 & Adam Reich, Practicing Democracy Project

How do a group of people effectively work together to make change in the world or in an organization? By addressing the concept of “leadership” as a series of practices, this workshop helps people find the skills and inspiration to more powerfully address the problems that they see in their organizations and in their communities. Participants are shown how to turn “disorganizations” into “organizations” by building relationships, interpreting experience, and mobilizing action.

In this interactive workshop, participants will reflect on how the learning concepts relate to their own organizations and their own lives. By the end of the workshop, you will be able to articulate your own collective “story of hope,” and a strategy for putting that story into practice as they return to work in their respective organizations.

** Designed for Vista & AmeriCorps members, however, all conference attendees are invited to join this day long session. (Limited to 100 participants)

Putting your Strategic Plan into Action

Craig Wright, Textron HR Director

So you have a strategic plan and in print it looks marvelous, but how are you going to mobilize and translate ideas into sustainable action? Come learn how to best communicate your nonprofit’s core values to the community through implementation of your strategic plan. Learn key steps that are essential to successfully launching your nonprofit to the next level. Become skilled at developing and enhancing your list of required actions, devising implementation steps, and assuring accountability with your board and staff.

** We encourage several participants from the same agency to attend together, with all levels of experience. Bring your organization’s strategic plan with you for possible use in practical exercises. Laptop with Excel helpful.