Points of Light Conference 2016 | Why Volunteer Program Managers Should Attend
A New Era for Volunteer Management
Volunteer program management is changing. Across the nation, communities are redefining how service connects people to purpose. In this new era, Volunteer Engagement Professionals (VEPs) aren’t just coordinators — they are strategists, educators, and advocates for civic participation.
For those of us in Southern Arizona, attending the Points of Light Annual Conference is more than a trip — it’s a chance to bring the national conversation home. It’s where we join a movement that sees volunteerism not as charity, but as citizenship in action.
Why the Conference Matters
The Points of Light Annual Conference (formerly the National Conference on Volunteering and Service) gathers thousands of professionals, thought leaders, and changemakers from across the world. Its purpose is simple yet powerful: to inspire, equip, and mobilize people to change the world through service.
At a time when volunteer programs are being asked to prove their value, the conference helps VEPs articulate their impact — not only in hours served, but in lives changed.
You’ll experience:
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Keynotes from leaders shaping the future of civic engagement.
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Workshops on volunteer retention, recognition, and inclusion.
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Sessions on corporate and nonprofit partnerships.
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Inspiring stories from communities where service has transformed systems.
This is where passion meets professionalism.
A Case for Professional Development
SAVMA’s 2016 Wildest Dreams plan sees a future in which every volunteer program manager is recognized as a professional with a clear scope of practice, training, and standards. Attending the Points of Light Conference moves that dream forward.
Professional conferences are not perks — they are investments in the infrastructure of service. When we attend, we sharpen our tools, learn new strategies, and build networks that sustain us when budgets tighten and expectations rise.
For the individual professional, this means:
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Confidence: You gain the language and evidence to advocate for your role.
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Competence: You return with fresh techniques and models to apply immediately.
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Connection: You meet peers and mentors who remind you that you’re not alone in this work.
The Value for Your Organization
Volunteer programs don’t just happen — they are designed. And like any good design process, they require research, testing, and refinement.
When you bring back insights from Points of Light, you bring back tools your organization can use to:
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Strengthen volunteer retention and satisfaction.
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Improve screening, orientation, and supervision systems.
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Align volunteer goals with organizational outcomes.
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Expand community partnerships and recognition opportunities.
A single conference experience can influence years of program design and culture change.
As one SAVMA member said during our 2016 planning sessions,
“If we want volunteers to feel valued, our organizations must first value the professionals who engage them.”
Building the Profession Together
At the heart of the volunteer movement is a growing recognition that volunteer engagement is a profession. Conferences like Points of Light provide the shared language, research, and peer connections to make that recognition stick.
By attending, you’re not only representing your organization — you’re representing the profession of volunteer management.
Imagine returning to Tucson and hosting a “Conference Takeaway” mixer through SAVMA, where we share highlights, insights, and new ideas with peers. That’s how the field grows: one professional learning opportunity at a time.
Top 5 Reasons SAVMA Members Should Attend Points of Light 2016
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Network with Leaders in Service
Meet professionals from across the country who manage volunteer programs in healthcare, government, education, and community development. -
Learn from Innovators
Hear what’s working nationally in volunteer engagement — from corporate partnerships to microvolunteering. -
Strengthen Your Case for Support
Get language and data you can use to advocate for funding and recognition of your volunteer program. -
Represent Southern Arizona
Showcase our region’s leadership in volunteer engagement and bring national ideas back to local programs. -
Invest in Your Professional Growth
You’ll return with renewed purpose, fresh ideas, and a stronger connection to a national network of peers.
Making the Case to Your Supervisor
Do you need help convincing your leadership to support your attendance? Here’s a sample message:
“Attending the Points of Light Conference will help me strengthen our volunteer program’s effectiveness, align with national best practices, and position our organization as a leader in civic engagement. The knowledge gained will directly enhance volunteer recruitment, retention, and recognition.”
Professional development strengthens our programs, just as training strengthens our volunteers.
The Spirit of Service Unites
The 2016 conference theme, “Service Unites,” captures something timeless — that collective action has the power to heal and build. In a world that often feels divided, service is one of the few forces that reminds us of our shared humanity.
As volunteer engagement professionals, we don’t just coordinate service — we cultivate belonging. Points of Light is where that spirit comes alive.
An Invitation to Dream Big
In SAVMA’s Wildest Dreams document, members envisioned a future where:
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SAVMA would host Points of Light trainers.
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Tucson would be recognized as a hub of excellence in volunteer engagement.
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Every VEP would have access to professional development.
Attending this conference turns those dreams into steps. We learn, we return, and we lead.
Join the Movement
If you believe in the power of volunteers to change communities, and the power of professionals to make that change sustainable, this conference is for you.
Together, we’re not just managing volunteers.
We’re leading a movement of engagement, empathy, and empowerment.
Register Today
Visit pointsoflight.org/conference and make your plans to join the world’s largest gathering of service leaders.
And when you return, share your story at the next SAVMA meeting — because when one of us learns, we all grow.
Returning to Conference this year, with space for 80 exhibiting organizations, the exhibit hall will be an integral part of your interactive learning experience. Highlights include a demonstration stage featuring experts in volunteer service with new products, services, and technologies; numerous fun service areas; multiple networking lounges and a social media lounge.