With so many organizations depending on volunteers, it sometimes Toronto feels like a city run by people who are freely offering up their time and skills. Some organizations get the most out of their volunteers and make them feel valued, while others could use a little coaching about how to keep volunteers engaged.
At
VECTor, Volunteer Toronto’s first conference, volunteer managers, executive directors and board members from around the region will gather to discuss and explore the impact of volunteering, how to engage communities and the future of volunteerism in Toronto. Organizers are hoping for more than 150 attendees at the March 11 event.
“We’ve never had a big event where people really have the opportunity to come together, make connections, learn about a lot of different things all in one day, all in one place and to really get inspired,” says Melina Condren, director of Engaging Organizations at Volunteer Toronto.
Through a series of workshops and presentations, including a keynote address from
Ontario Trillium Foundation CEO Andrea Cohen Barrack, attendees will explore how to better connect with volunteers—and stay connected with them.
Canadians are known for their willingness to volunteer. But organizations need to make them feel they are achieving something if they want to attract volunteers and keep them coming back. Regardless of whether organizations are working with front-line volunteers tearing tickets at a film festival or high-powered board members, there are best practices that can help volunteers feel appreciated.
“If you ask people why they volunteer, the most common reason is they want to give back to the community and make a difference,” says Condren. “Volunteers want to make sure that they’re having a big impact and organizations need to communicate what that impact is going to be. They have to let them know how their role is contributing to the mission.”
The conference is part of a broader effort of Volunteer Toronto to reboot and take on a larger leadership role in connecting volunteers with the organizations that need them. The organization has relaunched its website and last December launched a
series of leadership talks.
Writer: Paul Gallant
Source: Melina Condren