A Community of Practice is a group of volunteer engagement professionals that meets virtually to share issues, strategies and best practices, get and receive colleagues' support, make connections, and provide an opportunity to share information, experiences, and resources specific to the industry/structure or community they serve.
Meetings are held at least quarterly (check our calendar or newsletter for dates) and will last no more than one hour. Discussion topics will vary depending on issues affecting COP members in their programs.
Each COP has a Facilitator who works with AL!VE to determine the needs of the COP, and AL!VE members can suggest meeting topics for future COPs through their 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.
Interested in starting a new Community of Practice? Apply as a volunteer to get started.
Literacy Community of Practice is a group of professionals with the interest of improving literacy levels for youth and adults. We convene bimonthly to offer support, share best practices, provide a safe space for discussion, and networking.
For more information contact Brandy Tolbert, or Wendy McClure, Facilitators.
2023: February 21, April 18, June 20, August 15, October 10, December 19
Quarterly COP Meetings are held virtually on a variety of topics pertaining to administration of a local association of volunteer engagement professionals (Dovias, AVA, etc). Past topics have included Board Recruitment and DEAI, Financial Management, Membership and Marketing, Social Media, and Revitalizing your Organization. Check our calendar for future discussion topics. Meeting notes, resources, and handouts are posted in the 'file archive' section of our website. All involved in leadership with a local association in the US are welcome!
2023 Dates: March 29, June 28, September 27, November 2 (Summit)
September/October Book: Brag Better by Meredith Fineman
Synopsis:
This effortless and unapologetic approach to self-promotion will manage your anxiety and allow you to champion yourself.
Does talking about your accomplishments feel scary or icky because you're worried people will think you're "obnoxious"?
Does it feel more natural to "put your head down and do the work"?
Are you tired of watching the loudest people in your industry get disproportionate praise and rewards?
If you answered "yes" to any of the above, you might be self-sabotaging. You need to learn to Brag Better. Bragging Better doesn't require false bravado, talking over people, or pretending to be more qualified than you are. Instead, Fineman advocates finding quiet confidence in your opinions, abilities, and background, and then turning up the volume. In this book, you will learn the career-changing tools she's developed over the past decade that make bragging feel easy, including:
If you're ready to begin Bragging Better--to telling the truth about your accomplishments with grace and confidence--this book is for you.
2023 Dates: May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20, October 25 (November & December off for the holidays)
Each year millions of Americans with mental illness struggle to find mental health care. Despite the passage of the Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act of 2008, significant barriers remain which keep many Americans from accessing mental health treatment and support. As individuals struggle to access care, a common form of support many turn to are community based or national short term services such as crisis hotlines. With the existence of organizations like The Crisis Text Line and 988, the growth of these platforms and the increasing supply and demand of volunteers to help staff the lines has created a need for professional staff to oversee quickly scaling volunteer bases that are at risk for burnout and tertiary trauma as a result of exposure to graphic and intense feelings of suicide, among other things. Despite these risks, the need and desire to hold space for those in crisis, has created a need for volunteer engagement professionals to navigate creating engagement and community for these amazing volunteers.
Through connection and an open forum, we will discuss how we can best support volunteers in the mental health field in the hopes of creating sustainable and healthy volunteer experiences.
2023 Dates: July 13, October 11
2024 Dates: January 12, April 13
The Fall 2023 Study Group is now underway. The Spring 2024 Study Group registration will open in January.
It will be led by facilitators who have earned their CVA certification.
We will contact you with the zoom login information after registering.
* If you are not yet an AL!VE member, you are welcome to attend the first session, but we request you join as an AL!VE member to attend further sessions. (Your $75 AL!VE membership will also give you a $50 discount to sit for the CCVA Exam!)
If you're interested in learning more about the Certification in Volunteer Administration in general, visit the CCVA website for information sessions about the exam and application and upcoming information sessions from CCVA.
This is 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 is a time for networking, sharing ideas, asking questions, and brainstorming with your peers.
2023 dates: January 26, March 23, May 18, July 20, Sept 21, Nov 16
2024 dates: January 18, March 21, May 23
Join in the conversation about volunteers programs that manages volunteers who respond during an emergency. This is a very broad range from citizen corps, Red Cross, government, state, federal and non-profit. Share success and struggles during blue skies, gray skies and black skies. How to keep your volunteers engaged year around when things are (enter Q word here). Between meetings, share burning questions or share resources on the Emergency Response Volunteer Programs message board here (Must be signed in to Member Log In). This is where we can share best practices, ask questions, brag, vent and connect.
2023 dates: March 1, June 7, September 6, November 1
2024 dates: March 14, June 20, Sept 19, Nov 14
Join in the conversation around faith-based volunteering and engagement! Whether your organization engages faith-based groups or your organization is faith-based, this is an opportunity to network, share experiences, ask questions, and brainstorm with peers working in the faith space. Discussion topics will be sourced from the group to ensure these conversations are helpful and applicable to your work.
2023 Dates: May 11, August 10 & November 9, 2 PM Eastern
This COP is for those managing an AmeriCorps Seniors program(s) as a grantee or sponsor. This includes Foster Grandparent Program (FGP), RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program), and SCP (Senior Companion Program. Join us as we are a sounding board for sharing best practices and resources that are unique to federal grants and the older volunteers we work alongside.
2023 dates: February 27, March 27, April 24, June 26, July 24, August 28, September 25, October 23, November 27, 3 PM Eastern
This is involved in managing volunteers at food banks, food pantries, hunger relief, nutrition or food-focused community organizations. These organizations use volunteers in unique and creative ways, especially during times of crisis like the pandemic. Join your hunger relief colleagues virtually to discuss your challenges, successes, and to share ideas.
2023 dates *New dates added* : February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11, August 1, September 5, October 3, November 7, December 5
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.
2023 dates: January 17, February 21, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 19, August 15, September 19, October 17, November 21, December 19
Let's talk about County Government volunteer programs. This community of practice discusses the challenge and successes of operating a volunteer program within a government structure.
2023 dates: February 10, May 19, August 11
2024 dates: Jan 18, April 18, July 18, Oct 17
The past few months have especially created some challenging situations. Let’s support each other! Health care (hospitals, blood banks, health care facilities, long-term health care, and other related organizations) has some unique situations, requirements, and environments for volunteers! Join your colleagues in discussion about your questions, situations, needs, and share your experiences with others as well.
2023 dates: January 12, March 9, May 11, July 13, September 14, November 9
2024 dates: Jan 11, Mar 14, May 9, July 11, Sept 12, Nov 14
To attend a Community of Practice (COP),
Interested in starting a new Community of Practice? Apply as a volunteer to get started.