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May 2007 - COVAA Committee Progress
Report
The Steering Committee has been meeting
on a monthly basis via teleconference. Effective communication
has been a high priority – both internal committee
communications and externally to the delegates and
stakeholders. Through the generosity of Samaritan
Technologies, the COVAA website and Sharepoint are
two, key communication vehicles. A written report
template has been developed to ensure consistent,
thorough communications between the committees. The
Steering Committee is composed of the chair/co-chairs
of each of the following sub-committees. The following
is a brief summary of their progress to date:
Structure Committee:
The committee’s goal is to research and recommend
a structure for a strong national membership association.
This committee is currently developing membership
categories, i.e., individual membership (including
active, introductory, associate, and lifetime) and
group membership.
Standards Committee:
The committee’s goal is to establish, disseminate,
and adhere to volunteer program management industry
standards of excellence. Both ethical standards and
program standards have been formulated.
Resources Committee:
The goal of this committee is to help COVAA be the
knowledge resource for leaders of volunteers. Their
immediate goal is to develop a clearinghouse model
for a website or repository of resources by July 2007.
They are developing a common language and doing extensive
research. They have begun cataloguing existing web-based
resources using a closed network on furl.net.
Advocacy Committee:
The goal of this committee is to increase the recognition
and respect for the profession of volunteer management.
The committee has spent time carefully defining their
goals to include:
1. Influence policy
2. Empower and advocate for the profession of volunteer
management
3. Empower and recognize the strength of volunteers
4. Promote volunteerism in communities in America
Currently, the committee is researching historical
examples of successful organizational advocacy, such
as:
• Successful advocacy in the history of the former
organization, AVA
• Successful advocacy in any of the local volunteer
administrator organizations
• Steps other professional organizations have
implemented to advocate for their professions
Professional Development Committee:
The committee’s goal is to provide professional
development opportunities at a variety of levels utilizing
a variety of means. Their activities to date include:
• Researching and compiling a list of colleges
and universities offering academic courses and educational
programs in Volunteer Management
• Identifying and listing available professional
trainers according to regions
• Identifying available Train the Trainer curricula
and developing a program for COVAA
• Researching and compiling a list of a variety
of available technological tools for delivering/hosting
professional development activities (This assignment
is completed)
• Providing suggested options for online professional
development training workshops in lieu of a national
conference for 2007
• Developing a rough draft plan for a national
professional development conference in 2008
• Submitting a proposal to POLF/VCNN to update
the Volunteer Management Training Series and research
other available volunteer management training curricula.
Values/Principles/Marketing Committee:
The goal of this committee is to create a statement
of philosophy, a set of guiding principles, and marketing
strategies that reflects the organization’s spirit
and brand that attracts a growing and diverse membership.
It is becoming apparent that this committee’s
work is critical in the beginning stages of this project
and that input, as well as assistance, is required
from all committees. As a result, instead of directly
performing the work, this committee will be helping
to lead the process by engaging all stakeholders in
helping COVAA to develop their organizational identity.
Communications and Networking Committee:
The goal of this committee is to provide leaders of
volunteers opportunities for interactive dialogue
and information sharing through the website, e-mail,
and written correspondence. Accomplishments to date
include:
• Updates to www.covaa.org website and on-going
check of e-mail account
• Created final report from Denver Meeting
• Created monthly report template for committee
chairs
• Drafted and sent public letter from Steering
Committee to delegation
• Development of a PowerPoint presentation about
COVAA and its progress. The PowerPoint is available
on the Steering Committee page of Sharepoint for steering
committee members to use. It is also planned to add
the presentation to the COVAA website.
Certification Committee:
The goal of this committee is to develop a memorandum
of understanding with the new Council on Certification
in Volunteer Administration. There is no progress
to report at this time.
Collaboration Committee:
The goal of this committee is to develop strategic
partnerships and relationships linking with existing
national organizations. To date, outreach has been
made to initiate a dialogue with the Association of
Volunteer Resources Management.
Technology Committee:
The goal of this committee is to explore and apply
user-friendly, innovative and emerging technologies
to support organizational goals. Accomplishments to
date include:
• Created Sharepoint system and homepage for
each committee to use to collaborate, store documents,
participate in discussions and record survey results
• Built committee email address blocks (technology@covaa.org)
• Supported Communications Committee with web
site help, integrated recruiting databases, blast
emails.
• Provided training of COVAA delegates on how
to best use Sharepoint to build their committee.
• Initiated dialogue with multiple providers
of volunteer databases to discuss technical standards.
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