Volunteer engagement professionals attend SAVMA programs to acquire knowledge of industry standards (what you know). Competency learning (what you do with what you know) includes:
Thriving Together: Self-Care for Volunteer Success Volunteer engagement professionals often carry out meaningful work that touches many lives. The work requires compassion, patience, and focus. Because of this, stress can build quickly. As a result, personal well-being may fade into the background. However, healthy leadership grows when balance and boundaries come first. These ideas guide Thriving Together: Self-Care for Volunteer Success, a session led by Dr. Melissa Hernandez, Jessica [...]
Welcome to SAVMA’s Annual Meeting! Each year, the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) gathers our community of Volunteer Engagement Professionals (VEPs) for our Annual Meeting — a cornerstone of connection, learning, and reflection. It’s our opportunity to celebrate our collective achievements, elect our leadership, and look forward to the next chapter of growth guided by our strategic plan. This year’s agenda features something significant — an in-person vote [...]
Understanding SAVMA’s Proposed Bylaws Changes What’s Changing and Why It Matters The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) is updating its bylaws—the rules that govern the organization's operations. These changes reflect today’s volunteer engagement field, create more flexibility for members, and prepare SAVMA for long-term growth and success. Read the read-lined version of the revised Bylaws in their entirety here>>>>>>>>>> With this in mind, here are the key updates: [...]
Introducing the SAVMA Awards Keynote Speaker: Brenda Meller Inspiring Volunteer Engagement in a Time of Renewal Across the United States, volunteerism is experiencing a renaissance. More than 75 million Americans—28.3% of the population—formally volunteered between 2022 and 2023. As a result, they collectively contributed nearly 5 billion hours of service valued at $167 billion. Furthermore, Arizona alone outpaced the national average with a 30% formal volunteering rate while also [...]
2025 Proposed SAVMA Leadership The Governance and Administration Committee of the Board of Directors is presenting the 2025 proposed SAVMA Leadership. The link to submit interest in a leadership position is perpetually open, as all members are encouraged to take up leadership. The annual meeting is December 12th. If you still need to register, please do so here so we have enough food and beverages. Board of Directors Officers (terms [...]
Volunteer Engagement Defined and Measured Volunteerism is flourishing globally, even while volunteers sit untapped and underutilized. Volunteer engagement defined and measured opens the door to standard benchmarks across the profession, at least locally. Apples and oranges make a nice visual for comparative data, but how about volunteers and headcounts? If there is a common language and shared understanding of metrics, then comparative metrics are not out of the possibility. Defining [...]
Announcing Keynote Speaker Nicole R Smith SAVMA Awards 2024 includes a keynote address by Nicole R Smith, CVA. She is a Panamanian-American, workforce development expert, athlete, published author, nonprofit founder, motivational speaker and sports entertainer. Nicole enthusiastically inspires her audiences with her take on today's volunteerism. She earned her Bachelor's degree via a Division I full-ride track scholarship. After graduating she founded Step It Up! Inc, a nonprofit dance organization. [...]
2023 Proposed Leadership The 2023 proposed leadership slate of officers and directors are on the agenda for the February 16, 2023 meeting of the general membership. At the annual meeting in 2023 the vote for officers was postponed for additional recruitment efforts. All things considered, a heroic effort was made in 2022 to complete this task onetime. Nominations may be made from the floor at that time, or by submitting [...]
By-Law Amendments to Be Presented to Members at the Annual Meeting After months of thoughtful discussion and review, the SAVMA Board of Directors is ready to introduce several key amendments to the association’s by-laws. These updates aim to strengthen leadership sustainability, increase transparency, expand access to leadership roles, and improve overall efficiency. They also ensure our by-laws stay aligned with Arizona state law. At the upcoming Annual Meeting, the [...]
The SAVMA Board of Directors is pleased to present your 2021 Leadership Team. Please be sure to register to attend the December 10th Annual Meeting and Mixer to vote on the following slate of officers and directors. Officers: President: Gina Hansen to remain unchanged President-Elect: Alexei Marquez to fill a vacancy Secretary: Heidi Urbina, to replace Jennifer Lohse Treasurer: Victoria Carlson, to replace Alexei Marquez Members at Large: Ken Briggs [...]
Resilience: a Vital Tool for LoVs Nicole R. Smith, CVA, knows resilience is a vital tool for LoVs. What is it exactly? Why is it so important? How do you build it? In this candid talk we will examine how to navigate the hurdles that you may encounter during your volunteer manager (leader of volunteers) journey to build the resilience needed for both you and your volunteer program grow and [...]
Be Your Own Best Advocate: Top Ten Ways You Can Advocate for yourself, volunteers and programs Although we know how important our role, volunteers and an engaging program are, we will always need to advocate why that is important to staff, the community, and prospective volunteers. Often the volunteer department is 'taken for granted' or mistakenly assumed from that person's last volunteer experience. Can simple and everyday advocacy elevate the [...]
Join us Thursday, August 20th from 3:30-5PM for our next SAVMA Program! Register Now. Meet the entrepreneur who built an accessible list of locally Black Owned Businesses for the Tucson community. Find out how and why Ashley La Russa with a team of Black Business Owners and Creatives developed the #BlaxFriday Project with a website, app, and virtual event to spotlight Black Businesses. It’s a success story you won’t want to miss at this pivotal [...]
Note: March 19th Meeting has been cancelled and the April Volunteer Fair has been postponed date TBD. The following information was sent out via email to SAVMA Members. Preparing Your Volunteer Program for COVID-19 From the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association While there are still many unknowns about COVID-19 and how it will affect our communities in Southern Arizona it is certain it already has. It is important to note [...]
We are sorry to say that due to unforeseen circumstances we are not holding our February program today on Golden, but will reschedule for a future date. We had so much good news to share, so we are sharing it here: Announcements for February 20, 2020 There is training news, and leadership news, new CCVA exam dates, upcoming events, more program announcement and you really going to want to see [...]
Please note the early time! Location is still Habitat for Humanity. A Brief Welcome from a Very Special Guest joining us all the way from Oregon: Gretchen Jordan, CVA Gretchen Jordan, CVA, is the AL!VE Association Manager. She will give a short presentation on what's happening on the national level on Volunteer Engagement issues and share her Top Ten Tips for Advocating for yourself, your professional development, and your program. As [...]
You won't want to miss this topic! Tapping Into the Power of an Effective Volunteer The most important audience to engage with as a non-profit are your true believers – your volunteers. Build and sustain a volunteer communications plan that will bolster internal and external goals. What you will walk away with: Gain an understanding of and the skills to construct, monitor and measure results from a volunteer communications plan. [...]
Take the Leap With SAVMA at VMHC 2017 | Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference VMHC Take the Leap: Embrace Change With SAVMA The Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference (VMHC) brings together volunteer engagement professionals from around the world once again. The event blends global expertise with local collaboration, creating a hybrid experience unlike any other. This year’s theme—“Take the Leap: Embrace Change”—invites us to step forward with courage, creativity, and purpose. [...]
Effectively capturing and sharing the stories of your volunteers, service recipients, organization history, etc., can make the difference between just plugging along and the ability to build strong, dynamic and passionate relationships to support your mission. Whether you are looking to build volunteer engagement, enhance your outreach to donors, build a creative stewardship program, or just make your case more effectively, this process marries evocative photography techniques with effective writing [...]
Tell us how you plan to thank your volunteers! Come out to our March meeting to learn different ways to appreciate and recognize your volunteers, even on a shoestring budget! When: March 16, 2017 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm. Where: Habitat for Humanity 3501 North Mountain Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719. We will have a round table discussion to get those creative juices going! There will be a "best of display," so please bring [...]
Join us for our engaging February program on growing your volunteer funding with grants. In today’s ever-competitive funding environment, nonprofits often seek grants to grow their revenue. Grants are just one of many ways to grow the funding you seek to support your mission. In this special workshop, tailored to volunteer program needs, we’ll talk about the way grant funding fits into your overall revenue plan, explore savvy ways to [...]
AL!VE: Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement ***Reimagining the Future of Volunteer Engagement*** Webinar on Sept 13, sign up at SAVMA.org SAVMA has been selected to participate, you don't want to miss this excellent presentation, click here for more information and to see who else is participating from all over the USA http://www.volunteeralive.org/alve_better_impact_hybrid_c.php
Reach out to individuals, students, and families from ages 5-95 about your volunteer and internship needs on Thursday, Sept 29, 2016 from 5-8pm. Applications submitted by Thursday, September 1st will have organization name featured on the event flyer. Consider this your SAVE THE DATE: Event Date: Thursday, September 29, 2016 Time: 5pm-8pm Location: Trail Dust Town 6541 E. Tanque Verde Rd 85715 This year’s event will feature games, Trail Dust Town [...]
Exciting professional development opportunities for volunteer managers right here in Tucson! SAVMA has been chosen to become a host for a 1 day online conference for the Association for Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE) the only national membership organization for those who manage volunteers. Register HERE There will be Four 90 minute presentations from dynamic, knowledgeable, and engaging trainers that will be live streamed to our group. Our Presenters: [...]
The First Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference 2015 When Innovation Met Volunteer Leadership (and Yes—All Men!) The volunteer engagement profession received a major boost last summer with the launch of the first Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference 2015 (VMHC), co-presented by Better Impact and AL!VE (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement) debuted as a groundbreaking model for professional development. It promised a national learning experience without the airfare, hotel receipts, or endless [...]
Note: NEW TIME & DAY of monthly meetings As of June 2016, the SAVMA monthly meetings will be on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 3:30-5:00 pm When: Thursday, June 16, 2016, from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm Where: Habitat For Humanity, 3501 N. Mountain Ave., Tucson 85719
How do you determine your ‘true’ value in the marketplace? Join Don Zavis, National Sales Trainer, International Keynote Speaker and an Award-Winning Sales Coach as he shares with us the tips, skills and techniques on how to have your true value “come shining thru.” Remember this is your raise, establishing your value in the marketplace is in your best interest. Upcoming event information: Location: Encantada apartments--theater--11177 N. Oracle Road, Oro [...]
Help Shape the Future of Volunteerism Early bird registration is officially open. The Points of Light 2016 Conference on Volunteering and Service will take place June 27 – 29 at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan. As the world’s largest service-related convening of nonprofit, government, business and civic leaders. This Conference is the greatest annual opportunity for thousands from around the world to help shape the future of volunteerism. Attendees [...]
Save the Dates 2016 The calendar is packed, so save the dates 2016 for cannot miss programs, events, and activities. SAVMA is bringing its best. National Volunteer Appreciation Week April, 10th-April 16, 2016 Effective Communication Wednesday, April 20, 2016 How not to take your interactions with other personally Six Secrets of High Impact Presenting Wednesday, May 18, 2016 Learn how to create and deliver high impact presentations/training's Round Table Discussion Wednesday, June 15, [...]
The Six Secrets of High Impact Presenting High Impact Presenting: Learn How to Transform your Workshops and Presentations The purpose of this workshop is to share Six Secrets high impact presenting to increase engagement during presentations and training activities. These are quick and easy ways to deliver information in more effective ways. When they are combined with tools designed to help people reflect and apply what they’ve learned, there is [...]
