Volunteer Manitoba’s Post

People are at the centre of association life, which is why we focus on them when we do our work. It could be members, volunteers, suppliers, partners or staff. The personal experience is our motivation. Either way, TouchPoint’s Focus on people carries us through not just this month, which is when we celebrate National Volunteer month, but the entire year. #associationmanagement #focus #eventmanagement #celebratevolunteers

In today's post from ORIGINal Thoughts, Jennifer Mahar explains why it's so important, professionally and personally, to volunteer. She also dives into what factors to consider when deciding where to commit your time. If you're looking to volunteer, be sure to check out this post for practical insight and guidance! https://lnkd.in/e2b7_x7p

Book now for our Growing Great Volunteer Teams Workshop! Facilitated by Megan Thorn from Exult. Friday 17th May, 9.30am - 1.30pm Pacific Surf Lifesaving Club 26 Marine Parade, Napier Free. Limited places available so book now! 06 391 5476 or info@volunteeringhb.org.nz   Do you wish you had more people helping out, more often? Do you attract a steady stream of volunteers but find they never stick around for long?   This workshop gives you practical ideas for making your organisation a place where everyone wants to volunteer.   Learn what drives people to volunteer and discover simple strategies for ensuring your volunteers get what they need to stay involved. In this workshop you will discover:   •         If your organisation is ready for volunteers •         How to ensure your organisation offers a good fit for volunteers •         The difference between recognition and appreciation. •         What being part of a team really means to volunteers •         What makes a volunteer experience go from good to great?

Tomorrow! I am thrilled to join the Alliance of Women in Workers' Compensation webinar discussing board engagement. One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from senior leaders is how they can learn about board work or to join a board. This will be a great conversation with Artemis Emslie and Dana Genheimer. #AllianceWC24 #insurance #boardservice #boardmember #careerplanning #career #professionaldevelopment #workerscomp #riskmanagement

What advice do you have for students considering a volunteer experience? Our contest winner says “For students considering a volunteer experience, my advice is embedded in the transformative power of commitment and resilience. Firstly, commit wholeheartedly to the cause you are volunteering for. Passion and dedication are motivations for meaningful impact, so choose an organization that aligns with your interests. Welcome the journey with a perspective that values the process as much as the results. There may be moments of frustration or challenges where immediate outcomes are not satisfactory, but don’t be disappointed. Persistence is key. Your efforts contribute to a larger picture. Additionally, take the opportunity to network and expand personal connections. Building relationships within the organization and the broader community not only improves your experience but also serves as a useful asset for personal and professional growth. Actively promote the organization, share your experiences, encourage others to join, and influence positivity. Embrace the learning curve, celebrate small victories, and recognize that your efforts boost the impact of your volunteer journey.”

Top questions we hope to answer- How do you get on a board? Does being on a non-profit board help? Where and when to start?

In honor of #nationalvolunteermonth and #volunteerappreciation week, we are #ontheblog today sharing meaningful ways to include your #volunteers as #donors. Check it out and share YOUR #tips with us! "Volunteers are your organization’s most invested constituents. They are 4x more likely to give and give 10x more, on average, than non volunteers. If you are not including volunteers in your development plan, you are missing out!" #fundraisingstrategy #wednesdaywisdom #nonprofitmanagement

What a topic to tackle: volunteer comfort and care . . . I'm still mulling over some of my takeaways from the conversation, including 🫂 - responsible comfort and care of our volunteers is about relationships and culture more than policy. Individuals have different needs; we need to entrench a culture of checking in, encouraging/respecting boundaries, asking for feedback, celebrating as a team. 🍶- even though, being intentional about the minimum standards for comfort, and caring for the physical, social, cultural and psychological wellness of the volunteer is a program responsibility and should be codified. If they're doing the work they need to have the tools to do it, and the resources to do it safely. Water and hats on hot days; checking in after an emotionally taxing responses. How does this look at your organization? 🤝 - volunteer comfort and care is embedded across the volunteer lifecycle. It starts with solid understanding of the scope of work and appropriate placement, continues as we provide training and enable the work, and is ever present in how we appreciate volunteers, how they engage with the work, etc, etc. Just like justice, equity, diversity and inclusion work, comfort and care isn't a project or initiative on the side, it's to be entrenched and cultural. Thanks Alex and Kamak for the super conversation this morning!

One of my top recommendations for anyone curious to pursue a new career path or expand inside your leadership in a new way - yet not feeling confident that you embody the skills for that path - is to volunteer in a project that piques your curiosity and feels fun. I recommend this because your greatest credential for any career path is your natural born genius ~ the gifts you carry innately and no one had to teach you. These gifts come out (and you can see them) when you have a chance to play without the pressures you might face inside a job. In volunteering, you are free to just be you and see where that takes you. A unique volunteer opportunity coming up is to share your gifts to support the 2024 Democratic National Convention that is happening in Chicago this summer. If this feels fun to you, you can consider it a chance to play, let your gifts shine through, and let the magic happen from there. One of my close contacts is leading the organization of volunteers for the convention and activities beforehand. If you’re interested, start by filling out this interest form and for the neighborhood ambassador add: Ross Mantell. If you’d like I can make a personal introduction too.

If you missed our live Webinar, feel free to listen and learn anytime! We are here to help keep your ministry safe and on mission. The Webinar covered: HOW TO RECRUIT BETTER AND MORE VOLUNTEERS 1. Tell a Better Story 2. Find a Friend 3. Recruit Based on Giftedness, Not Need. CULTIVATING A HEALTHY VOLUNTEER CULTURE 1. Expect Excellence 2. Develop, Don't Just Delegate 3. Appreciate/Celebrate Privately and Publicly