June 2018

Free Volunteer Management Webinars on Demand
If you missed any of our winter webinar series, don't fret! You can access four new volunteer management trainings here.

* Risk Management, presented by William Henry, Volunteer Insurance Specialist at CIMA

* 3 R's: Recruitment, Retention and Recognition, presented by Jody Weyers, CVA, Donor Recruitment Account Manager at American Red Cross Badger-Hawkeye

* Redirecting the Passion of a Volunteer, presented by Barry Altland, writer, speaker, non-profit executive, thought leader and published author of the book, "Engaging the Head, Heart and Hands of a Volunteer"

* Tips for Successful Grant Writing, presented by Rachel Stankowski, Project Manager and Grant Writer for the Marshfield Clinic Health System - Center for Community Health Advancement

Each webinar is one hour, and includes handouts and slides. Schedule time to watch, re-watch, or send them on to a colleague!

Ms. Shawn Steen was nominated for the WVCA Professional Achievement Award by her supervisor at the Literacy Network of Dane County, Jennifer Peterson. Below, we have summarized the impressive nomination letter:

Shawn has served as Literacy Network's Director of Volunteer Services since 2010. Shawn has placed nearly 2,000 volunteers over the years. Her professional achievements include moving the organization away from a "warm bodies" recruiting approach to using thoughtful position descriptions, annual applications, placement calendars, and more effective processes. Shawn has also increased retention through improved data tracking and regular surveying to ensure volunteer engagement. She supports staff program managers as they work with volunteers, and constantly seeks to improve processes and practices around volunteer management. What's more, her communication with volunteers is infused with the enthusiasm, humor, and high expectations that characterize her work.

Shawn has a strong record of volunteering, including eight years as a member of the board of Dane County Administrators of Volunteer Services (DCAVS) as well as a member of the Speakers Bureau for United Way of Dane County. Shawn also volunteers as an event/promotions assistant at community radio station WORT (89.9 FM), and enacts her commitment to democracy as a Chief Elections Inspector.

In many ways, Shawn personifies how non-profits can make their greatest impact: when love and care for others are scaled up with technical prowess and efficient, people-centered processes, lives can be changed for the better.

Congratulations, Shawn! Your extraordinary efforts are appreciated by coworkers, peers, and volunteers alike!

Below is a list of sample social media posts you can copy or adapt for upcoming volunteer-related days. Tying your opportunities to action on these days and promoting volunteer holidays can help you gain volunteers and increase awareness of your organization. Click each date headline for the link to the official resource center (if applicable). These links include FREE promotional posts, ideas, and more information. If a link is not provided, no official resource center exists. However, Volunteer Wisconsin encourages you to use our provided text and graphics, Or, like Volunteer Wisconsin on Facebook and share our posts to your page!

Friday, June 1-Children's Day
Does your organization work with or for children? If so, Children's Day is an easy way to get your followers to interact with your organization or share information. Find and share a powerful statistic that pertains to your organization's mission: education, abuse, hunger, learning, etc.

Post to share: It's Children's Day! We want to celebrate every child for being their extraordinary selves. As Whitney Houston sings, "I believe the children are our future, Teach them well and let them lead the way... Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be".

Wednesday, July 18-Nelson Mandela Day
A day to celebrate and further the work of humanitarian Nelson Mandela, observed on his birthday, July 18. Official resources are available, however you will need to provide basic information about your organization to unlock the free resources.

Post to Share: Mandela Day calls on us all, every day, to make the world a better place. Each year on July 18 we look back on what has been done, and look forward to what will be done. What will you do to make the world a better place today?

Sunday, August 19-World Humanitarian Day
Post to Share: "Every year on World Humanitarian Day, we shine a spotlight on the millions of civilians around the world whose lives have been caught up in conflict. On this day we also take a moment to honor the brave health and aid workers who are targeted or obstructed as they set out to help people in need, and pay tribute to the government employees, members of civil society and representatives of international organizations and agencies who risk th eir lives to provide humanitarian aid and protection." - UN Secretary-General, António Guterres

Connect With Us On Facebook 

Connect with  Volunteer Wisconsin on Facebook to see our featured Volunteer Rock Stars, browse volunteer content you can share on your page, keep up-to-date, and more! 

Have a great summer,