Centennial Flight Centre’s Post

As a parent, you always hope to see your children grow into individuals who make a positive difference. Seeing Arden recognized as Volunteer of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards is, of course, a proud moment. But what’s even more fulfilling is watching the impact of his nonprofit, Sports4Kids-CA, unfold. For two years, he’s worked tirelessly to bring sports opportunities to kids who might not otherwise have access. 🏀⚽ Just yesterday, I stopped by one of his sessions at a local elementary school. Watching 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders—whom don’t have regular PE classes in their schools—get their only physical activity for the week was both heartwarming and eye-opening. It’s easy to overlook how something as simple as a weekly soccer or basketball session can make a difference, but the science backs it up. 📊 According to a study published (https://lnkd.in/g2FymJ3H ) in PLOS ONE (with over 11,000 children aged 9-13), participation in team sports leads to: 🔵 10% lower anxiety and depression scores 🔵 19% lower withdrawal and depression scores 🔵 17% lower social problems 🔵 12% fewer attention problems 🔵 20% fewer instances of rule-breaking behavior In a world where mental health challenges are rising at an alarming rate, especially among youth, providing access to sports may seem like a small thing. But over time, these small, consistent efforts can change lives—physically, mentally, and emotionally. 🌱 What might start as just a game can evolve into something much more: a foundation for resilience, confidence, and long-term well-being. When you consider the percentages from the study—those 10%, 20% reductions in mental health challenges—applied across schools, communities, and generations, the potential impact is enormous. These small actions, when repeated over time, can accumulate and create lifelong benefits for children and, ultimately, healthier, stronger communities. 💪 Thank you to everyone who has supported Arden—and to all who work tirelessly to make a difference in young lives. 🙏 #Sports4MentalHealth #PhysicalEducation #PhysicalHealth

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Some of the work i contributed to during my volunteering in Human Appeal:

It's National Volunteer Appreciation Week, a celebration placing the spotlight on inspiring figures whose invaluable seeds of kindness through volunteering are bettering the community and our world in general. Ideas to Observe National Volunteer Week: - Get involved: Do more than applaud; let your impact be felt. Look around your own community to find various ways in which you can lend your support. - Spread the Word: Volunteers are often overlooked. Be part of the movement to call on more volunteers by using your social media handles to share the message. - Say Thank You: Appreciating volunteers goes a long way to making them feel good about their impact and driving them to do more.

Veteran Housing Corp says that IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF A PERMANENT AND LASTING SOLUTION TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND HOMELESSNESS, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM! THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS BROKEN AND NOT WORKING FOR AMERICAN TAXPAYERS Veteran Housing Corp would ask every TAXPAYER to demand and get answers from their elected and appointed government officials the below questions as they relate to any affordable, workforce, or supportive housing project in your community! 1. How much local, state, and federal funding, tax credits, or other government benefits or incentives did the project receive? 2. What is the affordability period for each project? Is the affordability period permanent and in perpetuity? 3. What guarantees exist have your local, state, and federal government officials obtained in writing that rents will not go up or that tenants will not be displaced or evicted after the "affordability period expires? Every local, state, and federal housing authority and affordable or workforce housing stakeholder should adopt the State of Vermont's "permanent affordability" policy as a model for all future government funded or subsidized housing projects or developments, no exceptions! https://lnkd.in/eFEUC8c8 Additionally, local, state and federal housing agencies should look to the Helsinki, FINLAND MODEL of ending homelessness by providing affordable housing for all 'It’s a miracle': Helsinki's radical solution to homelessness https://lnkd.in/er9HZSQU Even the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development AGREES THAT adopting FINLAND'S MODEL OF ERADICATING HOMELESSNESS may be of great value to resolving the affordable housing and homelessness crises in America https://lnkd.in/gkSZWYRU

As we kick off National Volunteer Appreciation Month tomorrow, I'm reminded of the profound impact that building genuine, meaningful relationships can have on volunteer retention within the nonprofit sector. My time with the Boy Scouts of America underscored the value of these connections, showing that beyond traditional management techniques, it's the personal, individualized approach that truly makes a difference. At the core of keeping volunteers engaged is recognizing their unique motivations and dedicating ourselves to developing real connections with them. This means being actively present at events, not just overseeing but participating and showing genuine appreciation for their efforts. Personal gestures like handwritten thank-you notes, acknowledging personal milestones, and remembering important dates demonstrate care and foster a deeper bond with the organization. Creating a sense of community among volunteers, where they can connect and support each other, also plays a crucial role in retention. This approach not only makes volunteers more likely to stay but also turns them into ambassadors for the cause, driven by their strong connection to the mission and to each other. The key to successful volunteer retention lies in these strong, genuine relationships. By focusing on individual connections, personal recognition, and fostering a sense of belonging, we can create a volunteer base that is not just committed for the short term but deeply dedicated to the cause for years to come. This month, let's celebrate the power of these relationships and the incredible impact they have on our missions and the volunteers who help propel them forward. So take the time to show your volunteers how much you appreciate them in a unique and meaningful way to them. #volunteers #leadership #nonprofit #thankfulforvolunteers

“Do you have a case study?” This is probably the question I have heard most in my career. So I really want to SHOUT here is a CASE STUDY 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️ Paula Blomster and the team at Finland’s largest congress centre and EAIE: European Association for International Education realised they could implement ISO20121 within their event so they took action and made it happen 💪 Warning: if you are ready to take action this case study will empower you but if you aren’t ready to take action you will read this and want a different case study that matches your circumstances more 😉 #eventprofs #sustainability #eventscreatechange

Dear ITAA members, I hope all of you had a safe trip back home and spent a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday break with your family and loved ones. I couldn’t be prouder with the conference we had in Long Beach this year. Everything ran smoothly, mostly. The presentation rooms were full. Posters were inspiring. Pecha Kucha presentations offered a new way of getting more information in a shorter time frame. The design exhibits were beautiful and innovative. I was extremely happy to see everyone enjoying each other’s fellowship and friendship. We now have one more month left in 2024 and I would like to emphasize once again that ITAA has accomplished so much. During my speech titled, “It’s Time to Soar,” on Thursday morning, I asked to see how many people in attendance volunteered for ITAA in any shape or form. Almost everyone in the room raised hands. I was Initially surprised initially then quickly became so proud. I realize that I should not have been surprised at all. After all, we are “the” premier professional organization in the field, and without everyone’s involvement and volunteerism, this organization would not work. So, of course, everyone is involved in, volunteer for, and help ITAA. So, I am saying this once again before this year is over. Thank YOU all for making ITAA what it is today. We need all of you to continue to make ITAA the premier professional organization. Before closing, I would like to address an important correction. Continuous improvement is essential for maintaining productivity and ensuring the success of our organization. We learn from our mistakes and actively plan to prevent them in the future.  With that in mind, we introduced our new corporate partnership program in 2023; allowing our corporate partners the opportunity to select the specific event or event provisions they wish to support based on their chosen level of partnership. This year, both ITAA and our corporate partners communicated that Bloomsbury “sponsored” the opening reception and the Thursday lunch, and that Humanetics “sponsored” the Friday lunch and inadvertently failing to mention that Humanetics sponsored our fantastic new name badges. Upon reflection, we realized that the use of the term “sponsor” caused some confusion among our members, leading them to believe that these corporate partners covered the entire cost of the meals. To clarify, ITAA wishes to emphasize that our intent was to acknowledge Humanetics' extensive “diamond membership” and Bloomsbury’s generous “gold membership.” The purpose was to publicly recognize these organizations, not to imply that they funded the full cost of these meals.  We have learned a valuable lesson about the importance of careful word choice, and we appreciate your understanding and patience as we continue to improve. I wish all of you, your family and loved ones, happy holidays and great new year of 2025! I look forward to hearing from you all next year. Ha-Brookshire Jung, ITAA President 2024

"Help! My volunteer is challenging my decision. What should I do?" If a volunteer you're managing challenges a decision you or your team has made, here's the first thing you should do: celebrate! Yes, really. Celebrate. When a volunteer pushes back on a decision, it shows they're invested in the work you and the organisation are doing. It demonstrates their sense of ownership. Think about it, they care deeply about the cause, the project, the organisation's goals — so much that they're willing to risk social discomfort to share how they feel. Sure, sometimes it might not be communicated in the most constructive way. Other times, they may not have appreciated all the complexities that constrained the decision-making process. But you can follow up on those things in your regular one-to-one meetings. However, in the moment, celebrate and use it as an opportunity to recognise their contributions: "Thanks for sharing your concerns—that can't have been easy. I can see you really care about this. Here's what I'm going to do…" So, the next time a volunteer challenges a decision, take a moment to celebrate their engagement. They're challenging because they’re invested. They're challenging because they care. #VolunteerManagement #Volunteers

Did you know: As many as 30% of association members have either volunteered in the past or are currently volunteering at their association, according to new research from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). The takeaway? Volunteers make up a significant — and valued — portion of an association's workforce at any given time. When you rely on volunteers to advance your association's mission, effective volunteer management is critical. But there are also barriers to it, including finding the right people to contribute, fully utilizing their skills, interests, and availability, and measuring outcomes when committee assignments are complete. Here are three best practices drawn from ASAE's research and how Lineup can help you follow them. https://lnkd.in/e5VjCucv