Meeting times are 3 PM Eastern on:
2024: February 7, May 1, August 7, November 6
For more information, contact COP facilitator Marcelle Austin.
Communities of Practice are an AL!VE member benefit; however, anyone is welcome to attend their first meeting with out being a member. After your first meeting, we request you join as a member to attend subsequent meetings. You can learn more here.
Presented by Dr. Allison Russell and Kayla Parker, University of Texas at Dallas
Dr. Allison Russell and Kayla Parker will discuss the findings of a recent study they conducted on the career pathways of volunteer administrators.
They interviewed over 50 volunteer administrators, discussing how they became volunteer administrators, what skills they need to succeed, and professional development in the field.
About our presenters:
Kayla Parker is a second year Ph.D student in the Public and Nonprofit Management Program at the University of Texas at Dallas. The focus of her studies are nonprofit management and volunteerism.
AL!VE Academy Webinars are free for Individual, Agency and Local Association members. The general public is welcome to attend, but will be billed $25 after attending and will receive a copy of the slide deck, recording, and attendance certificate upon request. If you registered as a Local association member, please be sure you have listed your local association's acronym or name in the registration. Learn more about AL!VE membership at our website.
Leaders in non-profit organizations and community groups increasingly understand that volunteers can be a critical resource for delivering on a mission. Effective people management and community engagement is imperative – whether they be paid or unpaid. As a result, employers expect that those individuals tasked with mobilizing and coordinating volunteer engagement demonstrate a thorough knowledge of effective practices and an understanding of how to apply that knowledge in support of real-world organizational priorities.
*note* When you register, you will be automatically be registered for all the future COP dates (listed below) and monthly reminders will be sent - the COP will use the same zoom link.
You may opt out by emailing manager@volunteeralive.org
2024 Dates:
Jan 2
Feb 6
Mar 5
Apr 2
May 7
Jun 4
Jul 2
Aug 6
Sep 3
Oct 1
Nov 5
Dec 3
For more information, contact facilitator Elizabeth Garrabrant.
To register, please continue with this form. You'll receive the log in information and reminders after registration.
Communities of Practice are an AL!VE member benefit; however, anyone is welcome to attend their first meeting with out being a member. After your first meeting, you must join as a member to attend subsequent meetings.
In this 30 minute call, we will highlight:
- Member benefits
- Resources & where to find them
- Associations goals for 2024
- 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.
Can't make this meeting? Check our calendar for the next date. They are about six weeks apart.
We look forward to seeing you online!
This is an AL!VE Communities of Practice for those managing volunteers in museums, galleries, cultural and arts centers. Join us as we discuss and share insights and experiences that we are all having in the arts education/enrichment communities. COVID has posed certain challenges and changes for us all so let’s rely on each other for ideas and inspiration! This will be a time for networking, sharing ideas, asking questions, and brainstorming with your peers. This COP is hosted by AAMV (American Association of Museuem Volunteers) members; all AAMV members may attend.
*Note, new dates & times*
2024: Jan 18, Mar 21, May 13, July 15, September 16, November 4- all dates Noon Eastern
*note* When you register, you will automatically be registered for all the future COP dates (listed below) and reminders will be sent - the COP will use the same zoom link.
You may opt out by emailing manager@volunteeralive.org
| Communities of Practice are an AL!VE member benefit; however, anyone is welcome to attend their first meeting with out being a member. After your first meeting, you must join as a member to attend subsequent meetings. *current AAMV members can attend anytime as part of our partnership* You can learn more here. |
Save the Dates: 2024 National Service Training
See you in Minneapolis or online!
America's Service Commissions, in partnership with state and territorial service commissions, is pleased to announce the dates for 2024 National Service Training (NST). The theme is Serve. Connect. Build.
Please consider joining us in-person* or online:
- April 24-26, 2024 · Minneapolis, MN
- May 14-16, 2024 · Virtual
*In 2024, we will be hosting one national in-person event, bringing together folks from across the country, rather than several regional events.
The primary audiences for NST are AmeriCorps State program and fiscal staff, state and territorial service commission staff, and commissioners. While not a primary audience, all other streams of national service — including National, Native Nations, VISTA, NCCC, Seniors, and VGF — are welcome and invited to attend.
We will update our event website as more information is available.
Each year, millions of Americans interact with our criminal justice system. The vast majority of these individuals will be compelled to complete community service hours as a part of their sentence- often in exchange for reducing fines or avoiding incarceration. While originally well-intentioned, court-ordered service programs often place undue burdens on folks who live at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities. For those convicted of crimes and recently released from incarceration, their first foothold back into the community is often nonprofit organizations, and yet, the opportunities for volunteers with criminal records are quite limited, and the amount of mandatory hours often creates financial hardship.
In this session we will discuss the history of community service & diversion programs, the staggering economic value that these individuals provide to the third sector, concerns around exploitation of this compelled labor, and ways we can provide more meaningful community service to reduce recidivism rates.
In this training, you will learn:
- Understand the historical context and evolution of court-ordered community service programs, including their initial intentions and their impact on individuals with intersecting marginalized identities.
- Identify the economic and societal contributions of individuals completing court-ordered service, while exploring the ethical concerns regarding the potential exploitation of compelled labor within these programs, especially in light of the barriers returning community members face in seeking employment.
- Explore actionable strategies and frameworks to create more meaningful, skill-building, and impactful community service opportunities, aiming to reduce recidivism rates and foster positive reintegration for individuals with criminal records.
Facilitators:
Bex Takacs-Britz (they/them/
Chris Boden is a passionate polymath with a storied life. He founded a little Makerspace that turned out to be kinda popular, wrote a few books, made a few videos that some people liked, survived being tossed into two different Federal prisons, and has lived a life through a lens throwing lightning bolts in front of thousands of people for decades. He’s a professional weirdo and rational optimist who is trying to balance misanthropy with philanthropy
Leaders in non-profit organizations and community groups increasingly understand that volunteers can be a critical resource for delivering on a mission. Effective people management and community engagement is imperative – whether they be paid or unpaid. As a result, employers expect that those individuals tasked with mobilizing and coordinating volunteer engagement demonstrate a thorough knowledge of effective practices and an understanding of how to apply that knowledge in support of real-world organizational priorities.
Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) is an international professional certification in the field of volunteer resources management
In this session, you will learn about the CCVA, why certification may be right for you, how the exam is created, what the application, preparation, and certification process is, and when you will be ready.
Upon registering, we will email you the meeting log in information (and a reminder, too).
(All times Noon E)
2025: Jan 9, Mar 13, May 8, Jul 10, Sept 11, Nov 13
January topic: The Cost of Volunteering
March topic: Volunteer Appreciation Week
May topic: Summer Student Opportunities
July topic: Including DEI in Volunteer Onboarding
September topic: Terminating a Volunteer
November topic: Making the Worst Volunteer Role More Appealing
Click here to register for the next meeting.
Not an AL!VE Member? Join Now
Want to try before you buy? Email info@volunteeralive.org to try your first session free.
For more information about this COP, please contact Marie Howell, Health Care COP facilitator.
Look forward to seeing you there!
To learn more about AL!VE Community of Practice, visit our website.
Communities of Practice are an AL!VE member benefit; however, anyone is welcome to attend their first meeting with out being a member. After your first meeting, you must join as a member to attend subsequent meetings. Learn more about membership here.
Those working at a national level face different issues than those operating on a local or regional level. Often national level leaders are engaged in big picture, strategic or policy decision-making. Sometimes those operating at a national level don’t work directly with volunteers, but rather help empower others in their organizations who do. Join the discussion to connect and learn from others working nationally. We invite anyone looking to brainstorm around the unique issues facing volunteer leaders on a national level. This COP group will be a chance to network, share expertise, ask questions, and solve problems with your peers.
*note* When you register, you will be automatically be registered for all the future COP dates (listed below) and monthly reminders will be sent - the COP will use the same zoom link.
You may opt out by emailing manager@volunteeralive.org
All times 2:30 Eastern
Jan 22, Mar 25, May 20, Jul 22, Sep 23, Nov 25
If you have any questions, please contact Sheri Wilensky Burke, COP Facilitator.
Communities of Practice are an AL!VE member benefit; however, anyone is welcome to attend their first meeting with out being a member. After your first meeting, we request you join as a member to attend subsequent meetings. You can learn more 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.
2024 Meetings will be held (All times 2 PM Eastern):
January 16, February 20, March 19,
April 16, May 21, June 18,
July 16, August 20, September 17,
October 22, November 19, December 17
To register for these dates, see the link below.
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.
To submit your event, click on the link below.



