Volunteer with SAVMA

Volunteering with SAVMA means leading within your profession. As a Volunteer Engagement Professional (VEP), your skills, insight, and leadership strengthen volunteer program management across Southern Arizona.

Opportunities for VEP Leadership Volunteers

Board and Committees – Influence SAVMA’s direction, advocacy, and professional development goals.
Projects– Contribute specialized expertise to short-term initiatives.
Mentors – Guide or support fellow professionals through the Buddy Program or Communities of Practice Facilitators.

Board officers

President

The President oversees the corporation’s activities and operations, informs the Board of Directors, and ensures that resolutions are implemented effectively. The Board of Directors authorizes the President to contract, receive, deposit, disburse, and account for the corporation’s funds; to execute in the name of the corporation all contracts and other documents authorized either generally or specifically by the Board to be executed by the Corporation, and to negotiate all material business transactions of the Corporation.

President-Elect

The President-Elect oversees the corporation’s activities and operations, informs the Board of Directors, and ensures that resolutions are implemented effectively. The Board of Directors authorizes the President to contract, receive, deposit, disburse, and account for the corporation’s funds; to execute in the name of the corporation all contracts and other documents authorized either generally or specifically by the Board to be executed by the Corporation, and to negotiate all material business transactions of the Corporation.

Secretary

Serves as the custodian of corporate records and ensures compliance with A.R.S. §10-11601 by maintaining permanent minutes and documentation of all meetings and official actions of the members, Board of Directors, and committees. The Secretary creates, authenticates, and safeguards corporate documents; manages and certifies proxies at general membership meetings; and receives, records, and reports official communications on behalf of the organization. Through these duties, the Secretary supports transparent, compliant, and accountable governance.

Treasurer

Ensures the organization’s financial integrity and sustainability by maintaining, or causing to be maintained, accurate and complete accounts of all assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, and other financial activities. This role safeguards funds, ensures compliance with nonprofit accounting standards, and provides clear, timely reports that support informed Board decision-making.

Time Commitment and Schedule

3-5 hours per week

Board of Directors- Member at Large

Purpose: Provides governance, oversight, and strategic direction for the organization, while ensuring its financial health and ethical conduct. Directors act as fiduciaries, meeting a legal duty to act in the best interests of the organization and its membership.

Responsibilities

Directors collectively act to:

Establish and stay true to the mission and purpose of the organization.
Ensure effective strategies are crafted, pursued, and achieved.
Monitor and strengthen programs and services.
Ensure adequate financial resources exist for operation and sustainability.
Protect assets and provide proper financial oversight.
Build a competent board.
Ensure legal and ethical integrity; and
enhance the organization’s public standing.

Directors individually act to:

Review meeting materials and participate actively in meetings.
Serve on at least one committee or task force.
Attend member programs and events.
Assist in soliciting others for membership, participation, and support.

Time Commitment and Schedule:

2 hours per week

Board Committee Chair(s)

BoarBoard Committee Chair(s)

Membership Committee Chair

To recruit, engage, support, and lead committee members in a strategic effort to recruit, retain, and support the membership.

Program and Events Committee Chair

To recruit, engage, support, and lead committee members in a strategic effort to curate, coordinate, implement, and evaluate professional learning events and activities to benefit SAVMA’s members.

Communications Committee Chair

To recruit, engage, support, and lead committee members in a strategic effort to communicate with SAVMA’s membership and local media by integrating the organization’s fundraising, marketing, and service delivery activities.

Governance and Administration Committee Chair

To recruit, engage, support, and lead committee members in a strategic effort to ensure the board meets its legal, ethical, and functional duties related to corporate filings, financial management, policy development, review, implementation, and oversight. Supports activities related to financial management and reporting, board education, monitoring of board activities, and evaluation of board members’ performance.

Leadership Positions (Event Chairs and Program Chairs)

SAVMA Awards Chair

Oversees planning and execution of the annual SAVMA Volunteer Awards, recognizing outstanding volunteerism in Southern Arizona. Ensures event goals for participation, financial management, and brand representation are met, while promoting skill development among SAVMA members.

SAVMA Volunteer Fair Chair

Leads the planning and execution of the annual SAVMA Volunteer Fair, a recognition and recruitment event held during National Volunteer Appreciation Week. This position ensures event success by achieving participation, sponsorship, and impact goals while advancing SAVMA’s mission to promote excellence in volunteer engagement throughout Southern Arizona.

VMHC Chair

Leads the planning and execution of SAVMA’s annual participation in the VMHC (produced by Better Impact, and sponsored by ALIVE and VMPC). The Chair ensures a high-quality professional development experience that elevates the SAVMA brand, meets financial goals, and strengthens the regional volunteer engagement network.

Why Volunteer with SAVMA

SAVMA’s volunteers are at the heart of our mission to advance the VEP field.
When you volunteer with SAVMA, you:

Build standards of excellence in volunteer engagement.
Support the DOVIA Southern Arizona network.
Mentor and empower your peers.
Shape the future of volunteer management through shared leadership.

Support for SAVMA Volunteers

When you volunteer with SAVMA, you gain access to:

CVA-aligned professional development resources.
Recognition through SAVMA’s Volunteer Engagement Awards.
Networking with local and national partners.
Tools that strengthen your leadership and program impact.

Ready to Volunteer with SAVMA?

Join other Volunteer Engagement Professionals advancing the field in Southern Arizona.
Your leadership, expertise, and passion make a lasting impact.

Leadership Interest and Qualification Survey

This form assesses all candidates for volunteer or paid positions with SAVMA. This includes Board or Committee, event or other positions.

Are you willing and able to serve in the position as described?(Required)

I have reviewed the position description, the requirements, and have both the ability and willingness to serve.

Yes

SAVMA Membership is required for all Board and Committee positions.(Required)

Are you an active dues paying member of SAVMA? Financial assistance may be available, please connect with SAVMATucson@gmail.com before you decide not participate.

Yes

Name(Required)

First Last

Organization(Required)

If not working, list N/A

Position Title(Required)

Please provide the title you use for PR, but if selected we will also ask for your title of record (many organizations do not match).

Mobile Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Work Address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Supervisor Name(Required)

First Last

Supervisor Email(Required)

In the third person, tell us why you are passionate about volunteer engagement and volunteer program management:(Required)

We appreciate brief answers that highlight your relevant experience. Please use the third person so we can copy and paste this information into a short nomination if necessary.

In the third person, describe how SAVMA will benefit from your relevant, personal and professional experience:s(Required)

We appreciate brief answers that highlight your relevant experience. Please use the third person so we can copy and paste this information into a short nomination if necessary.

For which position were you hoping to apply?(Required)

Do you have experience serving on a governance board?(Required)

Even if this question does not pertain to the position for which you are interested it helps us to understand a bit about your leadership skills.

Do you have experience Chairing a committee or event?(Required)

Even if this question does not pertain to the position for which you are interested it helps us to understand a bit about your leadership skills.

Do you have experience serving on a professional industry committee where goals were set, achieved and evaluated? (ie for a charity, faith group, neighborhood association, or trade association)(Required)

Even if this question does not pertain to the position for which you are interested it helps us to understand a bit about your leadership skills.

What are your other community obligations?(Required)

We are specifically interested in knowing what other conflicts may arise. Officer positions require no other board service, board positions require SAVMA to be in your top 2 commitments and committee service should be in your top 4. This should be true for all volunteers at this level.

Do you see any potential conflicts personally or professionally?(Required)

This question is specifically about conflicts of interest, not loyalty. Do you have any reason to believe that you will have a conflict with a financial or employment conflict with a Board or leadership member of SAVMA?

Board candidates please rank your committee choice:

(1 - 4) First choices frequently chair committees, while fourth choices are often asked to learn new skills, outside of ones comfort zone. Consider your selections as you remember the reason you are participating in the professional association.

2nd committee choice

3rd committee choice

4th committee choice

Committee Member or Leadership Role

Please identify the committee or specific role for which you are applying or expressing interest. If it is an event position, please identify that as well.