GAVA News

GAVA is looking at hosting an in-person gathering in 2025! We invite you to share your thoughts and ideas on location for a 1-day gathering of GAVA members.

Share your input on gathering locations

1. Lead as a GAVA Board Member
   Join our Board of Directors and support leaders of volunteers across Georgia. This is your chance to support programming statewide. Step into a leadership role that matters!
   

2. Share Your Expertise as a Webinar Presenter
   Have knowledge to share? We’re looking for dynamic presenters for our upcoming trainings. By leading a session, you'll help equip others with the skills and insights they need to succeed, all while growing your own leadership and public speaking abilities.

Catherine Gillespie is Volunteer Coordinator at The Place. She received a BFA from Rutgers University and a MALS degree (minored in online learning & education) from Thomas Edison University.

Catherine had the wonderful opportunity to work in healthcare as a Hospice Volunteer Coordinator and became an End-of-Life doula. She also collaborated with Princeton University where she taught the end-of-life process to Princeton students. Using her certification as a Grief Counselor and bereavement background, she created and developed a Sitting Vigil program at Amedisys Healthcare for 30k employees via Relias education.

After a decade in healthcare, Catherine decided to return to the non-profit arena, where she manages 350+ volunteers, while developing a robust Volunteer Program that supports 5 departments in 2 locations, Forsyth & Dawson.

Are you missing out on the hidden potential of remote volunteer programs? Michele Wiesner, Director of Capacity Building at Hire Heroes USA and GAVA Board President, shares how to unlock this game-changer. Michele discusses the journey of building an effective remote volunteer program, highlights success stories of remote volunteers making significant impacts, and provides practical advice for nonprofit leaders to start or improve their remote volunteer programs.

Listen here: https://successfulnonprofits.com/portfolio/remote-volunteers/

Lara Tillery is the Manager of Volunteer Relations at NCCPA. A native of Atlanta, Lara received her Bachelor of Arts at Kennesaw State University. She has worked in the volunteer administration field for over 16 years. Prior to NCCPA, Lara was the Volunteer and Marketing Manager at CVI (Center for the Visually Impaired) where she worked with volunteers for over ten years. She transitioned to NCCPA and has been working there for six years.

A longtime goal of Lara's was to get her Certification in Volunteer Administration. In 2021 she achieved this goal. When Lara isn't working with volunteers, she enjoys making sterling silver jewelry, watching movies, spending time with family and friends and traveling.

Do you have a topic you're passionate about? Are you interested in sharing your expertise with a vibrant community? GAVA is seeking dynamic presenters and fresh topics for our upcoming virtual events. Whether it's innovative volunteer management techniques, leadership strategies, or community engagement, we want to hear from you! Presenters receive a free one year membership to GAVA.

Interested? Email programming@mygava.org and be a part of our mission to elevate volunteer administration in Georgia. Let's learn and grow together!

Learn the top challenges for leaders of volunteers, how volunteer services operate in different organizations, the sector's progress toward diversity and inclusion goals, how the pandemic impacted volunteer participation levels and where they're at now, and more!

Download the report here.

Congratulations to GAVA member, Carrie Jones, CVA, for recently earning the Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential from the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration.

Carrie is a Senior Recruitment Specialist at American Red Cross of Georgia.

 Learn more about CVA. 

Darlene is the driving force behind Habitat for Humanity International's Skilled Volunteer Strategy and Engagement initiatives, specializing in crafting dynamic resources, trainings, and best practices for the Habitat for Humanity affiliated network.

Darlene loves working with volunteers because of their passion and steadfast commitment to the mission. She oversees the administration of her organization’s skilled volunteer programs, including the RV Care-A-Vanner program, which has approximately 2,000 volunteers who travel around the country in their motorhomes to support local Habitat for Humanity affiliates. If you own an RV, consider making Habitat part of your journey, or even your destination! For more information about this program, visit: https://www.habitat.org/volunteer/travel-and-build/rv-care-a-vanners

Darlene currently serves as President Elect for the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE) and is dedicated to advancing the field and instigating positive change within the sector. Her leadership and passion for driving meaningful impact position her as an industry leader, inspiring others to join the movement towards building stronger, more engaged communities through the power of volunteers.

Thank you for all the amazing work you do each and every day in support of the amazing volunteers across the state of Georgia! In addition to celebrating volunteerism this month, be sure to join us for our April training coming up on Thursday! Look forward to virtually gathering with you then!

Cheers,
Your GAVA  Board of Directors