December AL!VE Academy - Break Through Status Quo Problem-Solving and Learn New Skills to Test Solutions Before you Build With Heather Hiscox, December 2, 2025 @1PM Est - 60 Minutes

If you have worked in volunteer management for three months or 30 years, you know the importance of listening and making every volunteer feel special. But what do you do when needs shift, capacity shrinks, and new ideas emerge? How do you move through uncertainty with the evidence you need to make decisions and influence your organization?
Heather Hiscox, Founder and CEO of Pause for Change, will walk through key skills of the PAUSE framework to help you brainstorm inclusively, operate from abundance, go bold, know what strategies will work before you invest time and resources, reduce your risk, and learn quickly and creatively.

Heather Hiscox is a Frustrated Changemaker on a mission to change the way WE change the world. Heather is the founder and CEO of Pause for Change. The PAUSE method is a proven framework that helps changemakers address difficult challenges and pursue promising opportunities. These skills help organizations be certain about which solutions will create the greatest impact while using fewer resources and less time. Heather is the author of No More Status Quo: A Proven Framework to Change the Way We Change the World. Heather speaks at conferences and events about social impact (nonprofit, local government, and philanthropic) disruption and innovation, and has launched several ventures that benefit the social impact sector, connecting organizations to the training, skills, and resources they need to deepen their impact.

The Lie That Is Holding Volunteer Managers Back

Reimagining Volunteer Redirection for Sustainable Community Impact
Wednesday December 3, 2025 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Register HERE

Volunteer redirection is often viewed through the lens of risk management. In this session, we’ll challenge that perspective and reimagine redirection as a tactic to educate community members, show genuine care for their wellbeing, and foster transparency and trust. Through case studies, interactive discussions, and practical tools, this session will explore how ethical redirection can lead to genuine transformations by addressing evolving community needs and volunteer motivations. This session will use Mentimeter, allowing the audience to easily share insights, ask questions, and brainstorm opportunities.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
· Apply redirection strategies at each stage of the volunteer engagement cycle (with a focus on opportunities in the planning, recruitment, orientation and training, and recognition phases)
· Develop strengths-based redirection messaging that aligns with volunteer motivations and community needs
· Prepare for community-centric redirection conversations that foster transparency and trust
· Meaningfully steward individuals and groups who are redirected from volunteer service

• March 28
• June 17
• September 12
• December 4

• Member benefits
• Resources & where to find them
• Association goals for 2025
• Discuss what's happening in the field on a regional or national level
• Bring your own topic - have a question you need to discuss? We're happy to connect.

Meetings will be held bimonthly (every 2 months).  Following meetings will be 10 AM Pacific, 1 PM Eastern:   

2025:  February 13, April 10, June 12, Aug 14, Oct 9, Dec 11

The COP - Animal Welfare is designed to include a broad range of animal welfare organizations such as animal shelters, rescue groups, foster-based programs, sanctuaries, direct care for animals, and humane education programs. The objective of this COP is to connect volunteer engagement professionals within these organizations to share resources and best practices. This informal venue encourages open discussions for anyone seeking or offering advice in tackling the unique challenges facing volunteer leaders in the animal welfare field.

Click here to join the community and participate in our upcoming meeting.

Communities of Practice are an AL!VE member benefit; however, anyone is welcome to attend their first meeting with out being a member. Email info@volunteeralive.org for a free trial.  You can learn more about membership here.

This virtual Community of Practice supports volunteer engagement professionals managing programs in and across rural communities. These monthly peer-to-peer sessions address some of the challenges that come with operating in geographic areas with lower population numbers and that are located outside of more suburban and urban areas. Members use these sessions to troubleshoot issues, to give and receive support, and to share strategies, best practices, and resources for effective volunteer program management.

2025 Meetings will be held (All times 2 PM Eastern):
January 21, February 18, March 18,
April 15, May 20, June 17,
July 15, August 19, September 16,
October 21, November 18, December 16

Click here to join the next meeting.

COP's are an exclusive AL!VE member benefit.  Anyone is welcome to attend the first COP meeting, but after the first meeting we ask you become a member.  Learn more here.