National Sending Conference 2009
From AFSWiki
The National Sending Conference took place in Denver, CO from September 18-20, 2009. Approximately 90 volunteers and staff participated in the conference. Participants had an opportunity to learn and discuss issues in a variety of sessions and roundtables. They also heard from several recent returnees about the impact of AFS on their lives. Below are the sessions with links to notes, handouts, and videos.
Speeches by AFS Returnees
- Doug Bayer (France)
- Jim Walker (Indonesia)
- Sarah Malachowsky (Costa Rica)
- Darin Smith-Gaddis (Brazil)
Plenary Session
Overview of information that is important for all attendees - sending goals, finances, changes in staff structures and roles, financial aid and scholarships, growth of sponsored programs, and the Sending Advisory Group.
Roundtable Discussions
An opportunity for participants to discuss topics not covered in sessions that most interested them.
Volunteer Sending Coordinator 101
Learn what it means to be an Team or Chapter Sending Coordinator for AFS-USA. We will discuss the key role that coordinators play in facilitating American students going abroad on AFS programs, including the basic responsibilities of a coordinator and how to begin working as a coordinator within you local volunteer team. Highly recommended for new volunteers.
Facilitators: Stefan Bussey and Jim Walker
Engaging Your Team and Chapter Volunteers in Sending
This session will be a fun and practical approach on why and how to engage Team and Chapter volunteers as well as other AFS constituents in sending related tasks.
Facilitators: Damayonti Rowe, Amanda Fischer, and Marc Patsiner
Volunteering in a Digital Age: AFS, Social Networking, and You
Digital marketing at AFS has taken off over the last five years but it can and must spread even more throughout the organization. You will leave this workshop with a better sense of the presence and community AFS has built on the web. Together, we will also explore how the work in digital marketing and the work you do as volunteers can be complementary.
Facilitators: Jen Peck, Sam Roberts, Nick Triolo, and Willie Thompson (see EMarketing for more information and handouts)
Tap into the Resources! Know your AFS Programs!
This session will familiarize you with the broad range of program offerings and online tools to answer the detailed questions you have about our countries and programs. Learn about new program options, especially for short summer programs and gap-year programs.
Facilitators: Jenny Davis, Jennifer Bricker, Derryck Rosalez, Connie Kurtz, Sarah Malachowsky, and Sue Poet
Getting to Yes in Recruiting Students
This session will allow participants to engage with and discuss some of the common reservations, concerns, and difficult questions that prospective outbound AFS students and their families have from the time they initially encounter AFS up to the point of applying for sending programs. Working in small groups, session participants will develop strong, honest and persuasive responses and practice addressing these topics to move students toward studying abroad with AFS.
Facilitator: Troy Henri
Eeny Meeny Miny Mo…Catch an Outstanding Student by the Toe!: Effective Interviews for NSLI for Youth
Staff and volunteers will have an opportunity to learn and share best practices for interviewing candidates for NSLI for Youth. This session focuses on the NSLI for Youth program, but is also useful for drawing out honest, accurate information from every potential AFSer during the interview process.
Facilitators: Marilyn Stotts and Anna Sharp-Whitcomb
Working Together to Fund AFSers: Your Local and National Resources
During this session, participants will learn about the Global Leaders Scholarship Program, regionally available funds, and country specific scholarships. In addition, participants will have ample opportunity to share best practises on local fundraising and supporting students in their fundraising activities.
Facilitators: Kirsten Merrell and Jen Bricker
Location: Park/Office
Pre-Departure and Gateway Orientations: Preparing our Students for a Successful AFS Experience
The workshop will examine the connecting link between effective Pre-Departure Orientations and Gateway activities. The participants will "walk through" typical Gateway agendas and be allowed to participate in new Gateways activities while getting an overview of the others.
Facilitator: Floyd Van Weelden
The Online Application: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How
During this session, we will cover who is using our online application, what the students see when they're applying and what you'll be able to see, where to find your local student applications, when it's clear that a student is serious about applying for an AFS program, why having an online application is a wonderful thing, and how far along a student is in the application process.
Facilitators: Lila Pigott, Anne Parker, and Al Russell
The Admissions Journey: A Look at the Process
This session will demonstrate the process that students, families, volunteers and staff go through together to help get kids on planes. We will take a close look at how volunteers and staff can support each other in addition to students and families in this exciting, yet stressful time.
Facilitators: Victoria Geyer, Alex Flood, and Sue Poet
