National Volunteer Development Advisory Group
From AFSWiki
Contents |
Overall Objective
The AFS-USA Volunteer Development Advisory Group’s overall objective is to make recommendations and provide input for ways to strengthen volunteer development across the organization and move the organization towards meeting its four Core Principles of Volunteer Development. Below are the 2009-10 objectives, the 2011 objectives are currently in development.
Specific Objectives
The Volunteer Development Advisory Group will convene bi-weekly (or as necessary) to discuss and make recommendations on a variety of issues affecting volunteer development. For 2009-10, the VDAG has identified four primary priorities, for which they will be working to develop and implement plans:
Create impartial oversight and checks and balances of volunteers. Have levels of management over volunteers and take action when performance is not high quality. This should include:
- The development of clear processes for oversight and management of the work of volunteers, including clear reporting lines for all volunteer positions
- Performance improvement process/plans for volunteers
- Process for terminating volunteers
Create certification process for volunteers on a national level, annually. Training should include specific requirements, testing and tracking, including:
- All registered volunteers should be required to complete an online training on compliance each year, including some sort of a test to evaluate that they learned the material.
- Development of a way to track and document that all volunteers have completed this certification each year in order to continue to volunteer for us.
- In addition to this basic training for all volunteers, they should also be required to complete position-specific training for their specific volunteer position(s).
Improve AFS-USA's volunteer integration and retention, including:
- Volunteer lead management
- Orientation for new volunteers
- Volunteer integration plans and strategies
- Creation of a strategy for chapter development, including the integration of new chapters into existing teams
Develop and implement strategy to engage returnees with AFS, with a focus on recent returnees
Composition
The committee will be composed of eight volunteers, three Volunteer Development Managers, the Manager of Volunteer Resources, and the Director of the Volunteer Development Department. The staff and the volunteers who are currently members of this group are as follows:
- José Ruiz-Salas – VDAG Chair / Sierra San Joaquin AT / National Council Representative
- Scott Hume, Director of Volunteer Development
- Mary Jo Brock, Senior Manager of Team Development
- Becky Deignan - Northern Illinois AT
- Nancy Frazier, Manager of Volunteer Development
- Christina Kowalski - Greater Cleveland AT
- Bruce Lowrey - Kansas City AT
- Susan Moon – Miss Tennky AT
- Damayonti Rowe, Manager of Volunteer Resources
- Nancy Sperco - Grand Canyon AT
Method of Election/Appointment
- Staff will be selected by the Director of Volunteer Development.
- Volunteers will be selected through an application process, with the intention of selecting volunteers that reflect the diversity of teams and chapters, and have experience, knowledge and skills in volunteer development.
- The chairperson will be a volunteer as selected by the advisory group membership.
Committee Term
Half of the original volunteer members will serve for one year and the other half will serve for two years. New members will be selected to replace the outgoing members. The determination of which volunteers will serve a 2-year term and which will serve for one year will be done on a voluntary basis, if at all possible. If too many volunteers offer to serve either for one year or for two years, then the determination of which volunteers will rotate off after one year will be determined by the Volunteer Development Staff on the advisory group and by the Chair of the group. After the first year all terms will be for two years.
Methodology
- The committee will meet by phone conference monthly or as needed
- There will be regular email correspondence.
- Additional meetings may be called as necessary.
- The progress and outcomes of this committee will be regularly communicated to other AFS-USA volunteers, via the monthly “Coming Together” newsletter, as well as by emails to leadership volunteers, as needed.
- Volunteers and staff may also contact the advisory group directly at vdag@afsusa.org
Accountability
The AFS Volunteer Development Advisory Group will be accountable to the National Council and to the Learning and Volunteer Resources Department Staff.
