Workshop Descriptions & Presenters

1A: Developing & Implementing an Exemplary Volunteer Program

  • Sharon Thurman, Director of Volunteerism
  • Brenda K. Mitchell, Director of Human Resources
  • Roseland Community Hospital (Chicago)
  • Dian M. Powell, Retired Executive Director
  • Calumet Center of Metropolitan Family Services (Chicago)
  • Priscilla D. Coatney, President
  • Coatney and Associates (Chicago)

This workshop will look at the critical factors that impact the strategies for developing a volunteer program in an environment where the “traditional volunteer pool” is not readily available. This step by step workshop will guide participants through the process of accessing crucial elements of the framework for developing successful volunteer programs.

1B: Background Checks & Volunteer Screening

  • Nicole Totoni, Court Services Coordinator
  • Lake County Probation Volunteer Program (Waukegan)

Through this session, participants will better understand the logistics of volunteer management. This will include reference and criminal background checks, which is a crucial topic today, as well as interest surveys for volunteers, appropriate volunteer assignments, training, confidentiality, and monitoring and mentoring volunteers.

1C: Resuscitating Your Budget: Moving Your Donors to Give

  • Dawn Brink, Executive Director
  • CASA of Jefferson County (Mt. Vernon)

Participants will learn and share new ways of securing alternate funding for program expenses and operational expenses. Hear how you can utilize various technologies and specialized search engines to identify potential funding sources. Whether you are seeking individual, corporate or foundation funding, this session will address all levels of funding.

1D: Effective Media Strategies

  • Mark Kiesling News Anchor/Promotion Director
  • WSIL-TV (Carterville)

Mark will share effective media strategies with those in attendance. This will include developing contacts at media outlets, effectively sharing story ideas, and how to get publicity for your group’s events. Although Mark is in broadcast television, he will share ways to reach newspaper and radio as well as television. Group discussion will be encouraged for others to share their success stories.

2A: Motivation and How it Relates to Recruiting & Retaining Volunteers

  • Sheri Seibold, Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development (Champaign)
  • Melinda States, Extension Educator, 4-H Development (Mt. Vernon)
  • University of Illinois Extension

Volunteer management can be described as a puzzle. The pieces of that puzzle are crucial for volunteer administrators to understand in order to be successful in their role. But, understanding volunteers and what they want and/or need can sometimes be difficult. Additionally, it is difficult to understand what motivates volunteers and, of course, no two volunteers are the same when it comes to their motivation factors. In this workshop, participants will explore motivation and how it relates to volunteer management—particularly in recruiting and recognizing volunteers.

2B: Engaging Generations

  • Myrtle DeLoach, County Extension Director
  • Jamie Wheeler, Youth Development Director
  • University of Illinois Extension (Mt.Vernon)

Participants will gain a basic understanding of the unique characteristics of each of the four generations represented in society today. Participants will learn how to understand, communicate with, and motivate people more effectively from the different generations.

2C: Developing Strategic Partnerships with the Disability Community

  • Nancy Caudillo, Disability Outreach Coordinator
  • Kreider Services/AmeriCorps Disability Outreach Project (Dixon)
  • Jeri Marxman, Interim Director for Community Development Programming
  • University of Illinois Extension (Champaign)

This workshop will provide agency executives, program directors, and board leaders the opportunity to examine the powerful potential of strategic partnerships between the volunteer/service community and the disability community. Participants will leave the workshop with tools and other resources they can use to begin to build a strategic partnership with one or more disability organizations in their service area. Examples of successful partnerships will be provided.

2D: DISASTER! Do Something—Before, During, and After

  • Sandy Webster, Director
  • American Red Cross, Little Egypt Network (Herrin)
  • Cindy May, Director
  • Mid Southern Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross (Mt. Vernon)

Are you Red Cross ready? Ready to care for yourself, your family, your neighbor, your community? Have you made a plan, been trained, volunteered? Come find out where to begin to make a difference right here in Southern Illinois—a BIG difference in the lives of many people, including your own.

3A: Building Capacity and Social Energy within our Volunteer Program

  • Kelly Pearson, Recreation Technician
  • Shawnee National Forest (Murphysboro)
  • Jennifer Sublette, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator
  • University of Illinois Extension (Murphysboro)

Through an interactive session discover how you can build capacity (outputs) and encourage social energy (outcomes) through your agency’s volunteer program. Volunteer Coordinators will learn how to expand the realm and meaning of a volunteer program to produce outcomes that affect the people that participate in the volunteer opportunities as well as the great community. Discussion will occur as to the necessity and benefits of gaining feedback through evaluations and constant communication with the volunteers, plus how specifically you can build positive outcomes that will encourage people to want to volunteer again.

3B: Preparing Agency Providers for Youth Service Volunteers

  • Melinda States, Extension Educator, 4-H Development (Mt. Vernon)
  • Sheri Seibold, Extension Specialist, 4-H Development (Champaign)
  • University of Illinois Extension

Many schools, religious organizations, and youth organizations today require young people to complete community service hours for graduation or other program requirements. Also many young people are also involved with Learn and Serve program. With proper thought and preparation, this can be a win-win situation for agencies and young people. Learn how youth can be effectively engaged in community service with local agencies, and the significant amount which they can contribute.

3C: Are You Culturally Nutritious?

  • Donna M. Moody, Director of Multicultural Student Services Center & Adjunct Business Faculty
  • Southwestern Illinois College (Belleville)

Back by popular demand, this workshop will explore your Food for Thought via a fun and exciting game of Bingo. This course is designed to provide a positive perspective of cultural diversity. The most important elements, understanding and awareness will be addressed and examined. By understanding the concepts of cultures and diversity you will have a better grasp of strengthening our abilities to live and work in a multicultural society.

3D: It’s a Guy Thing—Male Recruitment

  • Dawn Brink, Executive Director
  • CASA of Jefferson County (Mt. Vernon)

Through this workshop participants will be learn untraditional methods to recruiting, training, and retaining male volunteers. Attendees will also learn of the benefits in including males in their volunteer programs.