Volunteer Management Skill Development Workshops

Raise the ability of all your team members, from executives to front-line service providers, to welcome community volunteers and enable them to do their best, time and time again. AAN's Volunteer Management workshop series, presented by Energize, Inc., will be a combination of Web-based presentations by nationally-recognized trainers with on-site group exercises and discussions led by local experts and facilitators.  

Workshops Held Each Month

The Challenge

Does everyone in your organization know how to partner with volunteers and enable them to contribute their highest potential toward the most critical priorities?

According to Volunteering In America, Alabama ranks 38th in the nation for number of hours contributed by Alabamians yet we're one of the most philanthropic states in the nation.

Has our sector inadvertently run off volunteers over the course of time? Or are we not recording and reporting our volunteers time?   Source: http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/AL

“Research clearly shows a gap in readiness—while organizations are willing to take on additional volunteers, there is a real world shortage of effective volunteer resource management practices…

…training staff how to work with volunteers can address a range of challenges and close the readiness gap.”

—Building Capacity for Civic Engagement Brief
The Center for Volunteer Innovation
National Services Assembly

The Solution

Tap the enormous capacity of volunteers with strategic goals and a workforce prepared to welcome and maximize community participation. 

The Alabama Association of Nonprofits, in partnership with Energize, Inc., is pleased to offer a series of monthly half-day workshops teaching the best practices of today’s volunteer management utilizing the nationally recognized Everyone Ready® program. The workshops are presented by Energize, Inc., an international training, consulting and publishing firm specializing in volunteerism, with the largest Web site in the world designed for leaders of volunteers. Learn more about Energize, Inc.

Everyone Ready® Volunteer Management Workshops being offered will include, but are not limited to:

Building the Foundation for Volunteer Involvement
Trainer: Susan J. Ellis
This seminar presents the basic principles of volunteer management including what needs to be in place to support volunteer engagement (establishing policies and allocating resources for volunteer and employee accomplishment), and the 12 elements of successful volunteer management. This seminar sets the stage for learning about volunteer management and prepares you to participate knowledgeably in all the learning opportunities Everyone Ready has to offer.  Learn More

Designing Work for Today's Volunteers
Trainer: Steve McCurley
Volunteers are interested in work that provides them with significant and interesting experiences. Learn to meet this challenge and develop meaningful assignments for volunteers—work that benefits both the organization and satisfies today’s volunteer. Learn More

Generations: Adapting to Volunteers of Different Ages
Trainer: Peter C. Brinckerhoff
The clock is ticking and seismic change is coming – is your organization ready to accommodate all age groups and their differences? Generation change affects everything, including volunteering. How will you adapt to the retirement of the Boomers? The GenXers who are being followed by Millennials? And what about volunteers who are even older and younger than the people in the paid workforce? LEARN MORE

New Approaches to Volunteer Recruitment
Trainer: Susan J. Ellis
Freshen your approach to recruiting volunteers by considering what you are asking volunteers to do, new places to look for volunteers, creative ways to present the opportunities you need to fill, and if new online tools, such as social networking sites, are right for you. LEARN MORE

Interviewing, Screening and Placing Volunteers
Trainer: Andy Fryar
Discover how an effective interviewing and screening process assures you maximize the potential of each volunteer applicant, minimizes agency risk, and is a key step to great retention and volunteer program peace of mind.  LEARN MORE

Bridging the Gap between Volunteers and Employees: Keys to Effective Partnership
Trainer: Steve McCurley
One of the universal challenges in volunteer management is assuring that employees and volunteers who work together on a daily basis are enthusiastic and supportive of each other. This seminar examines the root causes of possible tension, analyzes the employee perspective, and discusses ways to improve attitudes and practices throughout the organization.

Effective Supervision: A Seminar for Busy Staff Who Partner with Volunteers
Trainer: Betty B. Stallings
Betty Stallings addresses the special challenges of supervising a volunteer work force. She provides a framework in which to consider the principles of supervision, including the attitudes, tasks, and skills needed to do it most effectively.

Volunteer-related Issues in Risk Management
Trainer: Linda L. Graff
The seminar defines risk management, with special attention to the risks that arise out of the implementation of a volunteer program and out of the actual work done by volunteers.

Keeping Volunteers Motivated (So They Stay!)
Trainer: Betty B. Stallings
Avoid the costly “revolving door” of people who lose their initial motivation and enthusiasm and ultimately stop volunteering. This Seminar will help you create an environment conducive to keeping volunteers motivated, committed, and onboard!

Handling Challenging Behavior by Volunteers
Trainer: Steve McCurley
Dealing with difficult volunteers is not an easy or pleasant task, and is one that is often uncomfortable for those who believe that tolerating poor behavior is necessary when it comes to volunteers. This seminar will stretch your thinking and give you practical suggestions. If you've encountered challenging behavior from volunteers, don't miss this opportunity to take a closer look at methods and examples for improving the situation.

Cutting-edge Trends and Issues in Volunteerism
Trainer: Susan J. Ellis
There are all sorts of world events and social/cultural changes that impact volunteer involvement today. Because of the rapid pace of change, it is important to stay informed about current key trends and issues affecting both volunteers and the organizations in which they serve. This seminar will surface current forces at work and will allow participants to identify trends of greatest concern to their settings.

Program Cost:  $25 per person for AAN members / $40 per person for non members.

Program Hours:  8:30am - 11:00am

Training Locations:  Anniston, Auburn, Birmingham, Decatur, Dothan, Florence, Jasper, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa.

If volunteers are critical to the success of your organization then Register Today by visiting our Training Calendar to find the next workshop nearest you.