How to Build a Stronger Volunteer Program Follow the GSAE Example to Increase Your Members’ Involvement by MARY Lou JAY
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SUMMER 15 connectionsThe Official Magazine of the advancing associations leaders, connecting Georgia Society of Association Executives > HOW TO BUILD A STRONGER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Follow the GSAE Example to Increase Your Members’ Involvement Plan your 2016 event now and receive our special re-launch pricing. Contact Katy Murray at 912-434-5366 Celebrate the end of a busy week with a weekend full of awesome. When you are ready to come on over, contact your friends at the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau. MeetInAugusta.com 800.726.0243 752185_Augusta.indd 1 12/06/15 5:01 AM 4 734833_Valdosta.indd Summer 2015 1 2/13/15 5:07 AM connectionsThe Official Magazine of the Georgia Society of Association Executives Volume 13, Issue 3 Summer 2015 > Georgia Society of Association Executives > DEPARTMENTS Connections is Published for: Georgia Society of Association Executives Message from the Chair 6 233 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 751 Atlanta, GA 30303 www.gsae.org GSAE News & Events 7 Chair: Jim Fowler, CAE New Members 11 Chair-Elect: David Ellis, CAE Index of Advertisers 30 Past Chair: Susan Cheshire, CAE Advertiser.com 30 Treasurer: Tara Morrison, CAE Board of Directors: Julie Anderson, CAE FEATURES Todd Daniel, CAE > Jon Krueger Gale Macke Natalie Nardone, CAE, CMP How to Build a Stronger Joel Peacock Volunteer Program 12 Bryan Tolar BY MARY LOU JAY Michael Walsh, CAE Sheryl Ehlers Mark Sedgely Volunteer Risks President: Wendy Kavanagh, CAE and Rescues 16 [email protected] BY LOWELL APLEBAUM, CAE Manager of Membership & Communications: Jane Anne Sutphin The List: Micro & Ad Hoc [email protected] Volunteer Jobs Published by: in Associations 18 BY PEGGY HOFFMAN, CAE 5950 NW First Place Gainesville, FL 32607 Phone: (800) 369-6220 or Engaging Your (352) 332-1252 Members with Fax: (352) 331-3525 www.naylor.com Mobile Technology 19 Publisher: BY ERIN COLOMBO John Bacon Editor: By the Numbers: Elsbeth Russell Volunteering 21 Project Manager: Brittany Thompson Advertising Sales Director: 2015 GSAE Debbi McClanahan Annual Meeting 22 Advertising Sales Representatives: Amanda Blanchard, Tony Chiccarello, Janet Frank, Rick McPhee, Beth Palmer, Jamie Williams Destination: Nashville 26 Marketing Account Specialist: Karim Hussain Choices: A Quiet Layout & Design: Conversation with Rajeev Mishra PUBLISHED AUGUST 2015/ a Dear Friend 29 GSA-Q0315/1257 BY JOHN P. HARRISON, CAE, CMP connections 5 > message from the chair Hungry for Volunteers? COLLECTIVE ACTION HAS proven time and again to be a Through my role in leading the Atlanta Apartment powerful thing. People who band together around a Association (AAA), I have the privilege of being part rallying cause have a long tradition of accomplishing of an annual food drive benefitting the Atlanta significant things. Just consider the American Community Food Bank (ACFB). The AAA “Food-A-Thon” Revolution and civil rights movement. started 28 years ago in very small scope, from an idea When individual professionals join forces for a generated by one key member who recognized the need common cause, they, too, have the ability to make a of a growing population of food insecure families in tremendous impact. Take GSAE as an example. Georgia—those who do not know where their next meal While we as an organization are fortunate to have is coming from. two very gifted and dedicated staff members, there is The thought of helping the hungry took off in a big only so much Wendy and Jane Anne can humanly do. way. Member companies and employees jumped on board Combined with our deep bench of talented volunteers, to support the cause. Fast forward to today, and the however, GSAE is able to provide member benefits AAA campaign is one of the largest food and fund drives and services well beyond the scope of our material in the United States. In 2014 alone, our Food-A-Thon resources. Are we moving mountains in the process? collected enough food items and money to provide seven Maybe not—but we are making a significant difference million meals to hungry families in Georgia. During the in the professional lives of those who’ve chosen past 25 years, collections of food and cash from this association management as a profession and reside in event have provided nearly 80 million meals (there are and around Georgia. For sure! no typos here)—talk about staggering! GSAE volunteers do a lot of the work of the The Food-A-Thon initiative kicks off in the spring association. Through task forces, committees and each year, followed by six months of promoting and shared interest groups, they recruit, welcome and coordinating. Apartment owners and management orient new members; pursue renewals; pair mentors companies compete against each other for prizes and and mentees; research issues; and identify trends bragging rights about who can raise the most, and and potential partners. With meaningful work, a residents of member apartment communities are finite timeline and recognition for a job well done, invited to contribute. our volunteers are “all in” in their commitment and The extensive efforts culminate with the AAA dedication to advancing our profession. Food-A-Thon themed parade, where Atlanta’s Volunteers are likely the lifeblood of your apartment companies literally march in to the Food organization, too. How are you engaging your members Bank’s downtown campus on an October morning with and embracing their volunteer spirit? How do you look countless truckloads of food, then unload and catalog for that winning combination of purpose and volunteer boxes, cans and bags of food supplies, as well as tons service? What’s in your magic formula of enlisting of cash raised for the cause. There is no other event volunteers and keeping them involved? anywhere quite like it. There’s no simple answer, but building consensus Building consensus around a shared vision is what around a shared vision is the primary key to finding it’s all about. That’s who we are and what we do. So your collective voice. There are certain components generate those conversations, seek out that rallying worth considering in your appeal for volunteers, cause, empower your volunteers and continue to make such as: a difference! • The benefit to the individual for being part of a volunteer group • Why each volunteer is uniquely needed for the cause or event • How volunteering directly impacts the mission or Jim Fowler, CAE bottom line President, Atlanta Apartment Association 6 Summer 2015 GSAE news & events Save the Date for GSAE Events in 2015 GSAE’s calendar offers more than 25 hours of CAE-matched programming this year. GSAE has been approved >for Preferred CAE Provider status through the CAE Commission. Our list of events is always available online at www.gsae.org (Learn/Calendar View). Various Shared Interest Group meetings will be added throughout the year. Sep SEPTEMBER 16 The Abit Massey GSAE Leadership Academy Lecture Series featuring Applications Available President Jere Morehead, The Leadership Academy includes updated content that GSAE University of Georgia members identify as most critical and relevant for association professionals today. Earn up to 54 CAE hours. $95 for GSAE members Nov NOVEMBER and staff. 11 GSAE Tradeshow & 1. The Association Ecosystem and Governance Issues Luncheon at Georgia 2. Strategy, Change and Decision-Making World Congress Center, 3. Creating Member Value/Determining ROI featuring economist 4. Shaping the Association Experience: Brand, Identity, Jeff Saut Touch and Technology 5. Human Capital: Engaging Employee and Volunteer Talent 6. Leading Groups and Teams/Conflict Management Dec DECEMBER 7. Everyday Innovation and Idea Management 9 Holiday Luncheon, 8. Challenges and Choices: Charting Your Professional Pathways Awards Show, Silent Auction & Annual The 2015-16 Leadership Academy’s kick off retreat is Thursday and Business Meeting Friday, October 22-23. Apply today online at www.gsae.org. Call for Leadership Nominations The GSAE Nominating to Wendy. All candidates must Immediate Past Chair. Others Committee is soliciting names be members in good standing. on the committee shall be the of members interested in Deadline for nominations is Chair, Chair elect, and two serving on the GSAE Board October 1, 2015. other members not currently of Directors. The Nominating The slate of nominees will serving on the GSAE Board of Committee will include Past be offered to the membership Directors. Names of nominating Chair, Susan Cheshire, CAE, for review no later than committee members and an Chair, Jim Fowler, CAE, Chair November 8, 2015. Board invitation for recommendations elect, David Ellis, CAE, and two members and officers will be for candidates for nomination at large association executive accepted and installed at the shall be announced to the members (to be named by the GSAE Annual Business Meeting membership at least sixty GSAE Board of Directors on on December 9th. (60) days prior to the annual August 27). Relevant Bylaws: business meeting. The Three seats for individual At least ninety (90) days nominating committee shall association member directors prior to the annual business submit at least one (1) name for and one seat for a corporate meeting, the Board of each available elective office supplier director will be Directors shall appoint a of the Society and said slate available for two-year terms, Nominating Committee of shall be presented, in writing, beginning January 1, 2016. five (5) persons, each of whom to the membership at least If you or someone you know shall have been an Individual thirty (30) days prior to the would like to be considered, member of the Society annual business meeting and please send the name and a brief for at least two (2) years. again, orally, at the annual description of qualifications The chairman shall be the business meeting. connections 7 Live Webinars – Approved for 1 CAE Hour All webinars are 60 minutes (2-3 pm) and cost $45 for members Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - Fearless Whistleblower Risk Management - Scott Salsbury Published by Ohio Society of Association Executives and Georgia Society of Association Executives Whistleblower litigation is growing at an exponential rate.