| AL!VE Impact Award Nominations Opening SOON!
Do you know a Volunteer Engagement Professional who deserves to be recognized for the impact they make in their organization? Is that person YOU? Nominations will open on July 1st for the AL!VE Impact Awards. Join us in recognizing the Emerging and Exemplary Leaders in our field by nominating someone by August 15th. |
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How does it work?
You fill out the form on our website to nominate yourself or someone else who deserves the recognition. We will reach out to the nominees with an application and ask that it be returned no later than August 15th.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of judges. Winners will be announced at the AL!VE Better Impact Hybrid Conference on October22 & 23, 2024! We will celebrate these amazing winners all year long! Who can be nominated? Anyone who has served in the Volunteer Engagement Field for a minimum of three years. AL!VE Committee members can be nominated. AL!VE Current Board members cannot. There are two categories of awards, Emerging Leader and Exemplary Leader.
What are the award categories? Exemplary Leader - The nominee must have been involved in volunteer engagement for at least 8 years with volunteer engagement as their primary responsibility or have been significantly involved in education or research in the field of volunteer engagement.
Emerging Leader - The nominee must have been involved in volunteer engagement for 3 to 7 years with volunteer engagement as their primary responsibility and have been involved in education or research in the field of volunteer engagement. What do the winners get?
Eternal professional bragging rights! A fancy-dancy framed certificate! Three recipients will be selected from each category and receive $500, $250, and $125, to be used for professional development. |
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BONUS June AL!VE Academy:
Career Pathways for the Volunteer Engagement Professional Presented by Cathy Thoma, CVA and Megan Vixie, MPA, CVA, PHR, SHRM-CP, CEC Tuesday, June 18, 3pm Eastern
There is a lack of data that speaks to the career pathways for a volunteer engagement professional, causing many professions to leave the field in search of other advancement opportunities. Join us for an exclusive session where the Association for Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE) unveils groundbreaking insights from a comprehensive national survey.
Delve into data on career pathways for the volunteer engagement professional, competencies essential at every professional level, and the current and potential pay and benefits practices shaping the field. Be among the first to gain access to this roadmap for success, empowering both practitioners and employers with the knowledge to chart a course towards professional advancement and fulfillment.
This presentation was given and the Points of Light Conference in Houston, Texas earlier in June 2024. |
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About our Presenters:
Cathy Thoma, CVA, is the Director of Volunteer Resources at Hammer Residences, Inc., a non-profit in Minnesota supports individuals with developmental disabilities in homes and apartments, helping them to live their lives to the fullest, and oversees a volunteer base of 500 combined individuals and organizations. Not only does Cathy lead volunteers, but she cannot help but be one herself!
She is also serving as the incoming President for the Association for Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE) and has chaired AL!VE’s Program and Advocacy Committee. Prior to working in volunteer engagement, Cathy earned her Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and held several roles in Human Resources.
Megan Vixie, MPA, CVA, PHR, SHRM-CP, CEC, is a respected and collaborative executive with 15+ years of leadership experience utilizing human resource strategy to execute the strategic direction of organizations. She currently is the Chief Engagement Officer for Beach Cities Health District (BCHD), one of the largest preventive health agencies in the nation, and has served as President of the Association for Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE).
Megan is responsible for all human resources management which includes designing and implementing the infrastructure to manage BCHD’s network of more than 1,000 community volunteers. Megan also serves as a Certified Executive Coach, specializing in career planning and leadership development for the emerging leader. |
| Standing room only as Cathy & Megan present at the Points of Light Conference! |
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President's Message - Cathy Thoma, CVA |
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Dear AL!VE Members,
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Karmit Bulman, MAVA’s (Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement) Executive Director, for her advocacy and leadership in the volunteer engagement field. Karmit announced she would be departing MAVA in June, after almost 9 years in her role there. |
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During her tenure, Karmit led the growth in MAVA’s mission and impact. The organization increased its reach through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming, as a Service Enterprise Training and Implementation partner, its VISTA capacity building program and so much more.
Karmit had previously served on the AL!VE board, where she shared her knowledge and insight, helping AL!VE to accomplish goals and objectives. |
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Karmit will now be moving onto a new opportunity as the Executive Director of the Eastside Learning Center in St. Paul, MN. As with MAVA, I know that with Karmit’s leadership and expertise, she will have as great an impact on that organization as she has had in the volunteer engagement sector. With gratitude, Cathy |
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| 2024 Volunteer Managers Hybrid Conference October 22 or 23, 2024 'Creating Influence in Your Organization:
Thinking Beyond a Seat At The Table' The theme for the 10th anniversary of the Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference is Creating Influence in Your Organization:
Thinking Beyond a “Seat at the Table”
Rob Jackson will join us as this year's conference facilitator. Presenters include Adam Janes, Tracey O'Neill, Nicole R. Smith, and Sarah Sukhram. Watch their video to learn more about them at the conference website.
Host site registration is now open! Individual attendee registration opens July 1st. Learn more at a 30-minute informational session - dates and times are on the conference website.
This event is produced and sponsored in conjunction with Better Impact and VMPC. |
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Announcing AL!VE's NEW Ambassador Program The AL!VE membership committee has developed an Ambassador Program where you can share with your peers about AL!VE and all the great resources AL!VE members enjoy in three ways: |
COMING SOON! We are reinstating the AL!VE app for iPhone and Android and will have all the form links you need to be an AL!VE Ambassador on-the-go!
Questions? Contact the membership committee. |
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For Further Reading: Mastering Volunteer Management:
Strategies for Success Volunteer management is a crucial aspect of running successful and impactful programs for nonprofit organizations, community groups, events, and more. Effective volunteer management ensures that volunteers are engaged, motivated, and contributing effectively to the organization's goals. Check out this great blog post from our sponsor, Better Impact, to dig uncover 15 best practices for managing volunteers. |
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ALIVE is excited to announce that Better Impact is an official Gold Sponsor of AL!VE! In addition to sponsoring AL!VE’s annual Impact Awards and partnering on the annual Hybrid conference, Better Impact is increasing their support to advance AL!VE’s mission to provide networking, professional development, mentoring, and advocacy for our peers. Learn more about AL!VE’s sponsorship opportunities here and learn more about Better Impact here.
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Attention Local Associations:
We are so excited to share that AL!VE is in the early planning stages to produce a National In Person Conference Spring 2026!
We are looking for Local Associations to be the host site for the AL!VE National Conference in 2026. Your input is invaluable to us as we begin the planning process for this significant in-person event.
Your input will help us in determining the feasibility and potential success of hosting the AL!VE National Conference in your area. |
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SEI Spotlight: Leveraging Service Enterprise's Growth & Change Characteristic to Better Deliver Your Mission
For more than a decade, the Service Enterprise Program has been helping organizations transform the way their organization embraces volunteers. Organizations continue to go through the process of renewing their national accreditation in strategic volunteer engagement because they continue to see the benefit in pushing past their current norm to doing better and being better for the communities they serve. When an organization excels at Growth & Change, they are investing in developing their volunteers and staff alike, fostering synergy between them, and focusing on continuous improvement. They organizations are open to new ideas and ways of doing things.
How does your organization ask for and listen to ideas from community members, clients, and volunteers? Share what has worked for you, your organization, and your community on our Padlet and check what others have added. Many AL!VE Members are already leaning into the Growth & Change Characteristic. Service Enterprise is a catalyst to get your organization to really lean in.
To learn more about how you can transform your organization contact our National Service Enterprise Administrator, Kayla Paulson, at ServiceEnterprise@VolunteerALIVE.org or visit volunteeralive.org/serviceenterprise. |
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Board Member Spotlight:
Mark Heffner, CVA Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at ADAPT Community Network
(formally United Cerebral Palsy NYC)
Mark has led volunteers for more than 20 years in the areas of cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and homelessness. Prior to choosing volunteerism as his career, Mark taught Special Education for those who are disabled or differently abled. In his current role, he is able to do both! His role was created to build a volunteer program serving those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in an agency setting. Mark will be facilitating the NEW Disablity COP, and is on the Programs and Advocacy Committee and is the Chair of the 2024 Impact Awards. Learn more about the Impact Awards at the top of this newsletter; register for the Disability COP from our calendar. |
| | Board Member Informational Sessions Coming Soon! Tuesday, June 25, 1-1:30pm, EST
Have you ever thought about becoming a board member for AL!VE? We invite you to attend our upcoming information sessions in June and July in preparation for open nominations. |
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| Upcoming Events & Opportunities |
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Upcoming Communities of Practice: June 18, 2pm - Literacy June 18, 2pm - Rural Programs June 20, 2pm - Emergency Response June 20, 2pm - Disability *NEW* June 21, 12pm - Book Club June 25, 1pm - Animal Welfare June 26, 1pm - Local Associations July 2, 3pm - Food Banks July 3, 1pm - Transportation July 11, 12pm - Health Care *All times Eastern* |
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Other Upcoming Events:
June 27 & July 10 - CVA Credential Information Session June 18 - June Bonus AL!VE Academy June 26 - AL!VE Member Webinar - All are welcome!
July 1 - AL!VE Impact Award Nominations Open! SAVE THE DATE:
10th Annual Hybrid Conference:
October 22 & 23, 2024 | |
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Local Associations
The next Local Associations Community of Practice is scheduled for June 26, 1-2:30pm EST. The second quarter topic will be a meeting and event planning refresher. The discussion will also include: - Event Varieties (Breakfasts, Coffee Hours, Mid-Day, Happy Hours, Book Clubs, Professional Development Training)
- Out of the Box Ideas
- Planning Calendars
- Increased Costs
Anyone involved in leadership at your local association (DOVIA, AVA, etc.) are welcome to attend! Upcoming 2024 Local Association COP Dates: September 25 2024 Summit: October 30 |
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Volunteer With Us!
Looking to get involved further with AL!VE? Join us as a volunteer! Volunteering is a great networking opportunity and a chance to gain new skills and areas of expertise. There are a number of areas of support needed. Most roles are designed with a time commitment of 3-5 hours per month. Training is provided and the networking and professional development is a benefit all committee members enjoy!
Technology Committee - Join our newest Committee! Do you have a knack for technology and a keen interest in assisting AL!VE in selecting the most suitable platforms for our organization's needs? Whether it's streamlining virtual folder organization, providing support for web platforms, or navigating through the digital landscape, we welcome your expertise and enthusiasm to help drive our technological initiatives forward. Join us in shaping the future of AL!VE's digital infrastructure!
Advocacy Committee - Updating Resource Pages on a regular basis
Advocacy Committee - Partnerships and Collaboration - facilitate with our local, regional, or national organizations or colleagues Programs Committee - Presenter Bootcamp Tech Support and Producer Membership Committee - Support AL!VE's member benefits, Ambassador program, and local association mentoring & professional development.
Development Committee - Members with fundraising, grant-writing, and grant-researching skills are invited to join this committee. Join the development committee and help build new funding streams for AL!VE! |
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Become a 2024
AL!VE Academy Presenter! |
AL!VE Academy provides high-quality varied educational opportunities designed to help leaders in volunteer engagement. These sessions build and strengthen leadership, management, and/or technical skills.
We are currently seeking proposals for presenters of monthly AL!VE Academy sessions for 2024, especially in the area of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). If you're a subject matter expert in DEI and volunteer engagement and are ready to share your knowledge with your peers, please consider submitting a proposal below! |
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New Partnership Alert! The American Association for Museum Volunteers & AL!VE
The American Association for Museum Volunteers (AAMV) and the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE) are excited to announce a new partnership between our organizations. AL!VE is a national membership organization of leaders and professionals in volunteer engagement, aiming to advocate for the recognition and appreciation of volunteer management across organizations. The missions of AL!VE and AAMV align closely, and it is with great pride that we announce this partnership.
AAMV is joining AL!VE as a member organization. AAMV Members will now receive a few of the AL!VE member benefits. As of today, your AAMV membership affords you access to the Museums and Cultural Institutions Communities of Practice (COP) session and AL!VE Academies, plus full access to past recorded webinars. Additionally, AAMV is honored to take over the Museums and Cultural Institutions COP sessions moving forward. Additional details about these sessions will be forthcoming, but for now, please save the dates for the following COP Sessions, as you are not going to want to miss them.
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Welcome to Our Newest Members! |
Cathleen Anthony Madeline Mangas Gabrielle Odeh Kelly Deschamps Becca Barnes Reagan Maldonado Rachel Valdes Paige Ward Laina Wells Erin Kelly Emily Pinedo Danelle Castle Angel Torres Ellen Gartside Keita Cole Jessica Sabin Traci Buck Wendi Geller Beth Healey |
| New to AL!VE or just want to check in?
Find out what's happening or get a quick fix of networking with your peers! New members will get a brief overview of our mission, benefits, activities and committees. We also are giving away some cool door prizes too!
Upcoming Member Webinars:
June 17, 4pm - AL!VE Networking Social June 26, 3:30pm - New Member Webinar |
| Thank you to Our Renewing Members! |
Briana Mays Patricia Wright Melissa Gomez Susan Sanow Julienne Springer Elizabeth Rachchh Megan Vixie Chelsea Bowers Jessica Goff Heather Cowles Michael Mullan Susan Wolford Sarah Mackey Trudi Campbell, CVA Tracee Patterson Margaret Thompson Casey Nicols Urkovia Andrews Joey White, CVA, CNP Gina Bingham Christine Rechsteiner Shirley Conger |
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Be Sure to Whitelist our Emails! |
We send this newsletter monthly, and an additional 3-4 emails per month. If you didn’t get it in your inbox please check your junk/spam folders (if you find it there right click it and choose Junk/Spam and then select Never Block Domain). If you don’t find it that way you may want to ask your IT to whitelist volunteeralive.org. You can also try to whitelist at your email level by following the directions linked below (sometimes you may need admin permissions): Whitelisting for Gmail
Whitelisting for Office 365 Outlook Whitelisting for Outlook ios If you need more assistance or haven’t been able to access the email please email manager@volunteeralive.org so that we can follow-up and do another test email after volunteeralive.org has been whitelisted on your account. |
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We've been working on cleaning up our website and making resources more easily accessible. The tabs at the top of our page have changed and been reorganized! About: Find information about AL!VE like annual reports and meeting information, Board of Directors, mission, vision, and values, and more. Membership: Find information about becoming a member or renewing your membership. Learn & Connect: Find ways to learn and connect with other AL!VE members like AL!VE Academies, Communities of Practice, Mentorship Programs, AL!VE Impact Awards, and more.
Support AL!VE: Learn about ways to support AL!VE like the Ambassador Program, Sponsorship, Donations, shop our t-shirts, presentation opportunities, volunteer and intern opportunities.
Resources: Find resources to support your work as a volunteer engagement professional like AL!VE Professional Standards, Advocacy, Trends, DEAI, International Journal of Volunteer Administration (IJOVA), and more.
Service Enterprise Program Overview: Learn more about the Service Enterprise Program and how to get involved. Looking for something specific? Try utilizing the search feature by clicking the magnifying glass on our website. |
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