Sauls-Marks, Celeste - Task Force Leadership Team Leader

2008 Conference and Upcoming Events

editors@charitychannel.com — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:32:00 GMT

The planning for the 2008 Conference in Binghamton, New York on October 1-3, 2008 is rushing forward at breakneck speed. Please check the conference for more information as it becomes available. Also, I hope that you will consider presenting a workshop at the conference. Last year's presenters were top notch and everyone had a wonderful learning and networking experience. Presenters will recieve a 10% discount on registration. If you don't want to present, I hope that you will be there. Last year's participants all commented on the wonderful sessions and opportunities to learn and grow from one another. After all, it is about growing our skills as volunteer resources managers and learning from others!

Also, consider hosting a future conference. I know that it can seem daunting but you receive a lot of support as a conference host committee. The Dallas committee, composed of members of the Dallas Association of Volunteer Managers and the Tarrant Directors of Volunteer in Agencies, has a wonderful time organizing with the support of the national conference planning team. Many thanks also go out to Claudia Dalton for her hard work!

Lastly, AVRM would like to promote your local/regional conferences and events through the website and listserv. If you have an upcoming event that would be interest to professionals in your region or state, please email the details to me at celeste.sauls@avrm.org or celestesauls@yahoo.com. I will be happy to get them posted. While you are doing so, consider listing your local or regional DOVIA on the Registry. Just click on the Registry page and give us the information. You will be able to maintain the contact information as your organization's leadership changes.

As always, a big THANK YOU for doing what you do!

Celeste

Celeste Sauls Marks, CVA
President, AVRM

NOVN Presentation

editors@charitychannel.com — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:04:00 GMT

Today, I delivered at presentation to the National Organizations Volunteerism Network (NOVN) about AVRM and the work that is being conducted.

AVRM's First Steps

editors@charitychannel.com — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:47:13 GMT

Firsts present us with unique and truly special moments. Firsts, such as first steps, first words and first proms, create truly defining moments in our lives that will never be forgotten. AVRM’s first steps as a new organization include the first conference and the first memberships.

The conference, to be held in Dallas, TX on October 3-5, 2007, offers participants the opportunity to engage in meaningful learning experiences with some of the top trainers in the United States. This groundbreaking conference sets the tone for the quality professional development experiences the new association offers volunteer resources managers. Space is limited so register now for this “don’t miss” event. Early registration is open until September 3, 2007.

Cornerstone Memberships offer volunteer resources managers the opportunity to support their new association as a founding member. These members will provide an active voice in the development of the programming and future activities of the new association. Cornerstone memberships are available to the first 100 registrants. Lend your voice and your support to your association!

These two firsts offer truly unique opportunities for volunteer resources managers. I hope that you will take advantage of them and share them with others who have similar professional interests. The mission of AVRM is focused on meeting the needs of volunteer resources managers. Engage today and be a part of these firsts for your new association.

See you in Dallas!

Celeste

AVRM Incorporates

editors@charitychannel.com — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:31:00 GMT

The Leadership Team is proud to announce that the Association of Volunteer Resources Management (AVRM) incorporated on March 5, 2007. The first step establishes the new organization as a legal corporation. The filing for IRS tax exemption as a nonprofit organization will be the next step the new organization takes. The Leadership Team will continue to work as the new organization begins to set up the processes necessary for normal business operations.

The Leadership Team and the Taskforce of VRM Roundtable/AVRM continue to build dynamic new programming, partnerships and conferences that will enlighten, educate and foster the growth and sustainability of the profession as a whole. The primary goals of a new association will be to support and serve the professionals who work in volunteer resources management (VRM) through advocacy, educational programming and the provision of resources that meet the needs of the diverse field of VRM. The new organization remains firmly committed to the guiding principles: transparency, inclusion and diversity of thought and participation.

Opening the Door a Little Farther

editors@charitychannel.com — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:17:00 GMT

Can you see the light? The new organization is forming. VRM Roundtable has re-branded their website to the new www.avrm.org format. Please let us know what you think we continue to develop the services to support volunteer resources managers (VRMs) throughout the US. You can provide feedback at celeste.sauls@vrm-roundtable.org or on the listserv.

Opening the Door a Little Farther

editors@charitychannel.com — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:23:00 GMT

Celeste

Leadership Team Leader

Conversations

editors@charitychannel.com — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 17:13:00 GMT

Recently, at a community volunteer fair, a colleague shared her support for the VRM Roundtable and its efforts to approach the new association with diversity, inclusion and transparency. These conversations are not unusual and show the interest in the new association. The appreciation for the Task Force’s hard work and dedication always reminds me who we are working for – the volunteer resources manager (VRM). While many contribute tremendous talents and experience, we remain focused on the singular goal of creating an association that serves the needs of VRMs in the United States regardless of where they are located or the sector they work in. It’s about creating a dynamic organization that supports, engages and sometimes questions what it means to be a VRM today. I always welcome the questions and input about the project that are generated by these conversations because I know that the more conversations we have, the stronger the new association will be.

Celeste

Thankfulness for Volunteer Resources Managers - Happy IVMA Day!

editors@charitychannel.com — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 02:46:00 GMT

Every day, we have the opportunity to quietly accept the world around us or reach out and show our true appreciation for the tremendous work that is being done. Thankfulness springs from an awareness and genuine appreciation for a person and their contributions. Thankfulness is embodied in our societies when we are not only grateful for the contributions made by others but also when we pause and reflect on the nature of the contributions made by those around us. The dual nature of both awareness and appreciation increases the significance of heartfelt thankfulness. I am thankful for the work of professional volunteer resources managers (VRMs).

Every day, VRMs go to work mobilizing volunteers to address issues affecting communities around the world. They motivate, challenge and recognize the efforts of millions of volunteers around the world. They inform and educate volunteers so that they can understand the impact their work has and whom they are serving. They often work in difficult conditions with few resources. Yet these truly gifted professionals make the impossible happen every day.

Happy International Volunteer Manager Appreciation Day!

Thank you for all that you do for our communities!

Celeste

Celeste Sauls-Marks

Leadership Team Leader

VRM Roundtable/Association for Volunteer Resources Management

Transparency and Inclusion

editors@charitychannel.com — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:47:00 GMT

Central to the VRM Roundtable efforts to build a new national association for Volunteer Resources Managers (VRMs) are the guiding principles of transparency and inclusion. (Please refer to the FAQ section of the website for the full listing of the Guiding Principles. – I will put link in)

Transparency underlines the work of the Leadership Team and the Task Force as a whole. Every effort is undertaken with the vision of providing greater clarity and operating in an arena of forthrightness. Questions are honestly asked and answered in an effort to illuminate rather than obscure. This single Guiding Principle defines this project as an effort that actively seeks to support VRMs and include them in the development process.

The Guiding Principle Inclusion defines the project by bringing together the diversity of thought and experience of the whole field. Participation is not limited. Through the combination of the strengths of many, the whole becomes stronger.

While you may see these two words in the abstract, they are very important to the Task Force members. Any effort that does not attempt to understand the changing and developing nature of the field of volunteer resources management ignores the tremendous assets the field offers and limits its future growth and sustainability. VRMs are the driving force of volunteerism in the United States. Their collective wisdom and experience force us to reconsider former notions of growing and nurturing the field. By giving the professional VRM the voice to share their needs and concerns, the new association is reaching more broadly and substantively out to meet their needs.

This project does not seek to hand the field of volunteer resources management a turn-key organization that delivers services that the Task Force members think the field needs but rather allows those in the field to share what their needs are so that the Association can continually grow in ways that will meet those needs. Also, an in-depth survey reinforced what the field said.

When this project began, I continually heard the cry for change. VRMs said that their needs were not previously met and that prior efforts were cliquish and exclusionary. The VRM Roundtable is actively changing that paradigm with two words: transparency and inclusion.

Making a Statement

editors@charitychannel.com — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 21:31:00 GMT

Ann Richards said, "You know, really, you gotta make up your mind. You either just have to do something people forget about and pay no attention to, or you gotta make a statement." That’s what the VRM Roundtable project continues to do. Volunteer Resources Managers (VRMs) have said that they want new services delivered in new and more readily accessible formats. So we are developing those. VRMs have said that they have previously not received support so the VRM Roundtable is reaching out broadly into the community to serve the needs of as many VRMs as possible, whether they be paid or unpaid and irregardless of the sector they serve in. Perhaps, this was not the “statement” that Governor Richards intended in her remarks, but it is certainly applicable to this project.

Celeste

Celeste Sauls-Marks

Leadership Team Leader

VRM Roundtable