Welcome to the United Way Volunteer eNewsletter for organizations involved in volunteer engagement in the UWDATS region. Our goal is to provide helpful best practice tips, volunteer management resources, and highlights about volunteer opportunities. We want to make this a helpful resource for all the organizations our Volunteer Center serves. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

Tina Hasken
United Way Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
IN THIS ISSUE
Alliant Energy Volunteers in Action

3 sites + 75 volunteers=
 Projects completed and spaces ready for our community to enjoy!
MLK National Day of Service
Thank you Dubuque for joining together and creating such an impact for our Homeless population! 316 volunteers contributed 948 hours to construct 113 fleece blankets and 4 boxes of knit hats. These items were distributed to our homeless and shelter populations.  
HOW TO CONTACT 2-1-1 Information & Referral Helpline:

Call  Landline: 2-1-1
Any phone: 319-739-4211
Toll free: 1-866-469-2211

Online:
FirstCallForHelpIowa. org

If your agency has had any programs updates, please notify 
2-1-1 at mlerch@hacap.org or smoffett@hacap.org
Volunteer Best Practices
Demonstrating the Impact of Your Volunteer Program
Demonstrating the overall impact and value of your volunteer program can be one of the more difficult, yet more important aspects of volunteer management .

Demonstrating impact helps to:
  • Build support and recognition in your community
  • Recruit capable volunteers and staff members
  • Attract the attention of potential funders
  • Maintain strong relationships with current funders
The more you can demonstrate that your program is making an impact, the more support your organization's mission will receive.

So, how do you demonstrate the impact of your volunteer program?
  • Keep organized records of volunteer activity. This starts with the simple track of volunteer hours by using easy-to-understand time sheets such as Get Connected.
  • Have the dollar value of your volunteers' work handy to demonstrate your programs value and impact.
    • Did you know the estimated value of time in 2016 was $22.77?
  • If your organization is not providing a direct service, use quotes and stories about the work your volunteers are doing to help quantify your volunteers' impact.
Volunteer Spotlight
Days of Caring 2017 
Great news from this spring:  Days of Caring 2017 was a success! 

Dubuque Days of Caring took place on Friday, April 28th throughout our community.
 
We are very pleased to announce that in 2017:
  • We assisted 45 different local non-profits with a total of 53 separate projects
  • 1230 volunteers were deployed
  • An equivalent of 5,533 hours were donated by our volunteers
  • A total dollar value of the supplies and time given to our non-profits equals $129,634 
For 2017 we donated more time overall and were able to increase our assistance to our community over the previous year! Watching the event grow every year is amazing.

We are pleased to announce that April 27, 2018 is the date for next year's event.


WANT FREE REGISTRATION? 

Volunteer Iowa has just released this survey that will help agencies and volunteer centers across the state measures the involvement of volunteers and improves the programming & services offered, allowing for better support of organizations with their engagement of volunteers.

We are collecting this information to deepen the understanding of the impact of volunteers and best practices across Iowa.

The survey is open to all nonprofit organizations, service clubs, schools, and local, county, and government agencies in the state of Iowa.

There will be a drawing for all participants to win a FREE registration to the  Iowa Nonprofit Summit ( October 24-25, 2017).

The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and will be open through  June 12, 2017. Get started now at  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PGPYPKN.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Michelle Raymer, Volunteer Iowa, at  michelle.raymer@iowaeda.com.

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
LET US SHOWCASE YOURS IN THE FUTURE



Mentor Dubuque

Mentor Dubuque is looking for adults to volunteer as a mentor to a youth living outside of Dubuque. Mentoring is playing in the park, shooting hoops, eating pizza, etc. We ask mentors to spend about 4-5 hours each month with their mentee. Staff are available to support the match. There is an option to mentor a child with your partner (couple matching).

Sherrill area: We are looking for two men interested in mentoring.

Bernard area: We are looking for one man interested in mentoring.

St. Donatus area: We are looking for one woman interested in mentoring.

Maquoketa area: We are looking for three men and one women interested in mentoring.

**Mentors must be 18 years or older








ARC Corporate Games 
June 23, 2017
Port of Dubuque

Silly games for a serious mission!!!

This fundraising event helps support our mission of empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to achieve their highest quality of life. We need many hands to make this event successful. From the planning of stages to take down- volunteers play a vital role in the Games.

We will need volunteers for set up, working games and tear down of the event.

We are also looking for teams of family, friends or co-workers to compete in the Games. There are prizes for the Best Team Spirit and Best Dressed! Show us your creativity! You can also win the Athletic Supporter Award by raising the most money and take home the coveted "Chicken on a Stick Trophy."

** Must be 21 years or older to register
**Register by June 16, 2017
**This is an outdoor event
** Rain date: June 29, 2017 at Port of Dubuque




America's River Festival
June 9 & 10
Port of Dubuque

Help the Dubuque Jaycee's at America's River Festival in the beer tents. Duties include serving beer, taking tickets and stocking coolers. For volunteering your time you will receive complimentary admission for the night.

Each night you will get to hear great bands such as Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Thursday, Old Dominion on Friday and Styxx on Saturday.

**Must be 21 years or older
**This is an outdoor event
**This event is not wheelchair accessible
**Snacks will be provided
**Wear comfortable shoes



GET CONNECTED CORNER


Volunteer Management Tip! 

Set up your Get Connected agency profile and keep your volunteer needs and events updated so volunteers can find you easily.



United Way is very pleased to offer Get Connected as the latest way we give our neighbors the opportunity to care for one another. We sincerely hope you enjoy using Get Connected to give back!


The Volunteer Center at United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States is generously funded by the Volunteer Generation Fund.


LIVE UNITED
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"The world is hugged by the faithful arms of volunteers." ~Terri Guillemets