Learning and Volunteer Resources Department
From AFSWiki
AFS-USA is bringing together existing staff from several departments to form the Learning and Volunteer Resources Department. The department will house four primary functions: Volunteer Resources, Leadership Development, Intercultural Learning, and E-Learning. The details and staff for each function are listed below.
Department Functions
Volunteer Resources
- Volunteer registration
- Team chartering
- Annual quality assessments for all volunteer teams along with the follow-up with individual teams on quality improvement plans
- Creation, revision and maintenance of volunteer development and team resources on the wiki
- Creation and distribution of the monthly “Coming Together” volunteer newsletter
- Partner in the Returnee Initiative
- Monitoring of online DoS-required training and certification in non-TDS teams
Leadership Development
- Volunteer leadership training and development
- Program staff training and development
- Management training and development
- Maintenance and development of the volunteer and staff trainer network within AFS-USA
- Gatekeeper for troubleshooting team issues with volunteer leaders in non-TDS teams
- Community development projects in non-TDS teams
Intercultural Learning (ICL)
- Strategic integration of ICL into AFS-USA’s operations and departments
- Student, natural family, and host family orientation
- Volunteer, staff, and alumni training in ICL
- Maintenance, development, and distribution of ICL resources, including all orientation materials
- Hosting orientation workgroups for select countries
- Representative to AFS International’s ICL Link project
E-Learning
- Development and ongoing revision of online learning modules in collaboration with internal constituencies and external contractors
- Maintenance of the AFS-USA Online Learning Center
- Troubleshooting technical issues encountered by volunteers, staff, and host families
Additional Department Functions
- Training of Trainers (TOT) for volunteers, staff, and alumni
- Consultation with leadership on organizational development issues
- Change and transition management
- Facilitation for volunteer and staff committees, work groups, meetings, and retreats
- Membership on several National Council committees and advisory groups
Department Staff
- Jim Laden, Director of Learning and Volunteer Resources (Portland)
Volunteer Resources
- Manager of Volunteer Resources
- Betsy Velluto, Volunteer Resources Specialist (Portland)
- Liz Wyman, Volunteer Resources Assistant (Portland)
- Brittany McLean, Volunteer Resources Assistant (Portland)
- Smitha Pennepalli, Coordinator of Offices Services and Volunteer Resources (St. Paul)
Leadership Development
- Wendy Hyatt, Senior Learning and Organizational Development Consultant (Baltimore)
- Nancy Frazier, Volunteer Development Consultant (Baltimore)
- Carolyn Louderback, Community Developer (Silver & Gold)
- Allyson Sicard, Community Developer (Georgia)
- Addison Welsh, Community Developer (Colorado Rockies)
- Julie Smith, Community Developer (Florida)
Intercultural Learning (ICL)
- Carolyn Rehn, Senior Learning and Organizational Development Consultant (St. Paul)
- Ruth Quiles, Intercultural Learning Specialist (New York)
- Floyd Van Weelden, National Manager of Outbound Orientations (San Diego)
E-Learning
- Mark Weingarten, E-Learning Specialist (Portland)
