Weekly Volunteer Opportunity Update

• The Cedar Valley Volunteer Emergency Club needs Food Stand Vendors to sell popcorn, peanuts, sno-cones, and ice tea at the Sturgis Falls Festival on June 22 – 24 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.  Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• The Green Iowa team at Cedar Rapids, along with Linn County Conservation will be hosting a river clean-up along one section of the Wapsipinicon River. Volunteers will meet at Pinicon Ridge Watercraft Concession at 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, June 16^th. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• Cedar Falls Historical Society needs Landscaping and Grounds Volunteers to assist in maintaining landscaping at several Cedar Falls Historical Society historic sites. Possible activities include planting flowers, weeding, mulching, mowing grass, and trimming trees and shrubs. Help beautify our museums! On-the-job training is available. Times are daily and flexible. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• The Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau is looking for dedicated and compassionate volunteers to help as Hospitality Specialist offering assistance in directions and what there is to do in our community. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome Monday - Saturday, shifts are from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 - 4 p.m. Sunday shift is from Noon - 4 p.m.

To volunteer call 272-2087.

10 Ways to Stretch Your Small Nonprofit’s Development Budget - Bring in More Friends and Funds With These Tips

How can a small local nonprofit simultaneously spread the word about their organization - and ultimately get more donors - with minimal impact on the budget? According to Karen Zapp, author:

Tap local pools of talentWith a small staff, it's likely you neither have the time nor all of the expertise needed to accomplish your marketing, fundraising, and awareness campaigns. As you tap into local pools of talent you'll not only find that expertise, but also spread the word about what you do along the way. This leads to more donors.

Nearby college or university: Ask department heads for class projects. Example student assignments are ...

·    Journalism: Writing PSAs, press releases, OP-EDs, and cover live events.

·    Art or graphic design: Creating an infographic for your annual report; images for website; graphics for an appeal; etc.

·    Film & photography: Creating videos and taking action and/or compelling photos from an outsider's viewpoint (a prospective donor).

·    Computer science: Enhancements to your website. Or convert all or parts of site to a CRM platform so you can EASILY revise and add content on static pages.

·    Chamber of Commerce: Attend events. Join a committee. Find people interested in what you do and partner with them. For example: A choral group and a music store. At a choral concert the music store sponsors light refreshments or helps pay for the programs.

·    Speak at civic clubs: Do not promote your nonprofit. Instead, talk on topics business people are interested in such as leadership, finding good help, or stretching your budget in challenging economic times. Pull examples from your nonprofit which is an indirect way of promoting your organization while helping the audience.

·    Join Toastmasters. Practice speaking as you spread the word.

·    Community calendars. Post event and other info to both online and print calendars.

Other ways to spread the word and/or find talent:

·    Stay-at-home parents often have incredible work experience and skills. And don't forget your current donor pool! Could be lots of talent there as well.

·    Negotiate with radio stations for PSAs or event promos. Consider non-peak times. For very short time slots they may not charge at all.

·    Local high schools often need community service activities for students. It all depends on your mission, but two examples are landscape cleanup, and reading to seniors in elder care facilities.

·    Have fun and/or intriguing booths at community events. Get college students to create engaging posters, infographics, super short videos or fun puzzles for the kids. The puzzles (e.g. word grams and pictures to color) are about your nonprofit and they also draw in the parents (prospective donors). REMEMBER: For booths to work you must dare to be different.

·    Whenever using students, stay-at-home parents, or other pools of talent ... realize it's doubtful they have professional fundraising experience. So give them quality examples. For instance: No video examples? Select three or four from YouTube. Specify what you like about each and what you want for your nonprofit video.

All these efforts will support your current development efforts and lead to more donors. In addition, you'll simultaneously spread the word and find people with more of the skills you need while having minimal impact on your budget. What ideas can you add to this list?

 

Nominate Your Woman of Worth~

L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth is committed to recognizing amazing women who have taken on the responsibility to make a change in our world for the better.

Please join our ever growing community that celebrates the L'Oréal iconic philosophy "Because You're Worth It" and nominate a Woman of Worth who is making a beautiful difference in the lives of people in her community.

Ten honorees will receive $10,000 for their causes - with one of them receiving an additional $25,000 as the 2012 Woman of Worth National Honoree. Nominations are now and run through May 31, 2012. This is your chance to raise your voice - and celebrate women who raise the bar!

Access nomination information at 

http://www.womenofworth.com/nominations/home.aspx

Youth - Why Volunteer?

Through volunteerism, teens have the power to positively impact their community! Have you ever thought about volunteering your time to a community organization? There are many different reasons for you to start volunteering:

• To explore a career
• To improve your communication skills
• To gain work experience for your resume
• To enhance personal development and growth
• To develop new friendships and meet interesting people
• To learn how to bring about community change
• To use individual creativity and explore new ideas and concepts
• To develop leadership sills, gain confidence, and self-esteem
• To learn skills in problem solving
• To fulfill need to achieve
• To increase chances for scholarships
• To help others
• To practice something you're good at, such as music or computers

 

The "DO's" of Great Volunteering

• Do be flexible. Open-mindedness will help you enjoy your experience even more.
• Do be persistent. If you are not contacted by your volunteer coordinator or agency right away, it doesn't mean they aren't interested. Why not call them?
• Do be responsible. Show up on time and follow through with commitments. Your work ethic now will be your work ethic later in life.
• Do take initiative. You can even start your own volunteer program and do it on your own time.
• Do expect to get plenty of satisfaction and fun from your volunteer experiences.

Call 272-2087 to volunteer!

Weekly Volunteer Opportunity Update

• Birthright needs Office Volunteers to positively impact someone's life at a critical moment. Birthright provides a thorough training process with mentoring. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley needs Creativity through the Arts Volunteers who can help in the areas of arts and crafts, photography, and ceramics on daily from 2-7 p.m. during summer hours. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• Care Initiatives Hospice needs Direct Patient Care volunteers to provide support for hospice patients and families. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• Catholic Worker House is looking for dedicated and compassionate volunteers to help as needed in meal preparation, serving and clean-up. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

To volunteer call 272-2087.

Summer Volunteer Abroad 2012 - 2013

Take part in the exciting Summer Volunteer Abroad Projects with Volunteering Solutions. Volunteering Solutions offer a wide variety of specialized volunteer and travel programs in Summer 2012 across different program locations.

These Summer Special programs are available  in India, Nepal , Ghana, Peru and Israel wherein volunteers get a wonderful opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture, volunteer in the project and do some traveling on weekends.

While in the summer program in Ghana volunteers work in teaching and community development projects and explore the different sights of Northern Ghana on weekends.

In India, volunteers have the option to choose from two summer program options in Delhi and Palampur. In both the programs volunteers have the opportunity to volunteer in social welfare and childcare programs and visit some of the most spectactular sights of India.

The Summer Special Programs have set start dates. While most of the programs are for 3 weeks duration, some projects are also available for 2 weeks.

Volunteers can also join any of the other ongoing volunteer programs available in all countries during summer, as all our programs run throughout the year.

Learn more at http://www.volunteeringsolutions.com/summer-volunteer-abroad

Iowa Master Gardener Program Offers Summer Webinar Series

The Iowa Master Gardener program is once again offering a series of summer webinars. The 2012 series titled "Garden Goodness" will be hosted by Iowa State University Extension county offices on the fourth Tuesday of the month, May through August.

Each session will provide information about vegetable gardening, but from a variety of perspectives. “We selected 'Garden Goodness' as our theme for the 2012 series because of the current public interest in growing food,” said Jennifer Bousselot, Iowa Master Gardener and webinar series coordinator. “We want to introduce our participants to as many aspects of growing food as we can during these sessions.”

Dates, presenters and topics for the 2012 series are:

• May 22, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Ajay Nair – Growing Vegetables. Nair is an ISU Extension horticulture specialist.
• June 26, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Angie Tagtow – Food Gardening and Health; and 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Denise Fikes – Glenwood’s Giving Garden. Tagtow is an environmental nutrition consultant; Fikes is the Mills County Extension horticulture assistant.
• July 24, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Linda Naeve – Peoples Garden Project and Working with Youth; and 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Cindy Haynes – Edible Ornamentals. Naeve is an ISU Extension value added agriculture specialist; Haynes is an associate professor in the Department of Horticulture and an ISU Extension consumer/urban horticulture specialist.
• August 28, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Angela Tedesco – Top Ten Sustainable Gardening Tips from Turtle Farm. Tedesco is owner of Turtle Farm, an organic vegetable, fruit and herb CSA near Granger, Iowa.

Contact the Black Hawk County Extension Office at 319.234.6811 for more information and to register. Cost per session is $5 for Master Gardeners and $10 for non-members.

65 Ways Kids Can Make a Difference This Summer!

Sharing

1. Seniors love your artwork! Brighten walls – and smiles – at the local senior center.

2. Got a favorite game? Teach it to younger kids.

3. Win brownie points! Organize canned goods at home and take extras to a food pantry.

4. Got talent? Share it!

5. Your old backpack needs a new friend…donate it!

6. Gather up outgrown, gently worn shoes and clothes for your local Salvation Army, Goodwill, church or synagogue.

7. Party leftovers? Local soup kitchen guests are gonna love ‘em!

8. Neglected stuffies in your room? Little kids at shelters are aching to cuddle them.

9. Like a challenge? Your game board skills are in demand at the senior center.

10. Friend forgot their snack? Share yours!

11. Read aloud to little kids at the library – they’ll love you!

12. Dust off your old - but still good - books and give them to your school library.

Giving

1. It’s your birthday! Give a gift to someone in need.

2. Share your lemonade stand $$$ with your favorite worthy cause!

3. How about a toy drive for kids stuck in the hospital?

4. Get a haircut! And give your ponytail to Locks of Love.

5. Got old sports equipment? Bring it to your local Parks & Rec!

6. Calling all chefs! Bake cakes and donate the proceeds.

7. Feed your furry friends at the animal shelter…drop off a bag of food!

8. Time is precious…share a bit of yours to help others.

9. Kind words lift spirits…give a compliment and lift yours too.

Conserving

1. Compost your fruit and veggie scraps…and watch your garden BLOOM!

2. Help save a gazillion disposable water bottles…reusable bottles rule!

3. Save a tree! Use both sides of your notebook paper.

4. Reuse, recycle. Reuse, recycle. Reuse, recycle. Got it?!

5. Keep the earth cool…walk, bike or use public transportation.

6. Got energy? Pick up trash! Remember: wear gloves & work with an adult.

7. Your town doesn’t recycle? Yikes! Create a program now!

8. Nourish your neighborhood green spaces…grow a community garden.

9. Like clean air? Grab your friends and plant trees.

10. Drat those petroleum-based plastic bags! Use fabric bags instead - for everything!

11. Call your town councilman for more neighborhood trashcans and recycling bins.

12. Want to save energy while leaping tall buildings in a single bound? Turn off the boob tube and play outside.

13. Love surprises? Plant fall bulbs and flower seeds…and keep a weather eye for spring blossoms!

14. “Turn off the lights!” Make switch plate reminders for your whole house.

15. Save water and tons of $$$ - turn off the water when you brush teeth!

16. Keep sturdy takeout containers for future leftovers.

17. Transform colorful magazine pages, comics and more into artful projects and gift wrappers!

18. Learn how to donate/recycle old computer stuff & post instructions (with permission!) at your local electronics stores.

19. Breathe in nature…turn off the AC and open a window to the world.

Doing

1. Whip up your favorite yummy snack and present it to a soup kitchen!

2. Love history? Visit folks at the senior center and ask about the amazing things they’ve witnessed.

3. Want to change the world? Practice random acts of kindness.

4. Keep your brain sharp and body strong. Ask for healthy lunch options.

5. Say “thank you!”…it’s music to your parent's ears.

6. Seeking positive change? Ask your local government officials for help.

7. Lead by your good example.

8. New kid in the neighborhood? Play with them!

9. Volunteering? Invite your nearest and dearest along.

10. Have an older neighbor? Mow their lawn!

11. Need a cat or dog to snuggle? Visit the animal shelter.

12.  Help end poverty. Check out the UN Millennium Development Goals online.

13. Make soldiers smile…send letters & goodies!

14. There’s nothing like a warm hug…share one today.

15. Show gratitude and write thank you notes!

16. Get fit and have fun…start a neighborhood exercise group.

17. Eating healthy? Partner up to share knowledge, tips and encouragement.

18. Share a home cooked meal – and cheerful chat – with a homebound person.

19. Got a big idea? Launch it with a community event!

20. Friend on a mission? Help them!

21. Tummy grumbling at the grocery store? Buy a canned good for the food pantry box.

22. See somebody struggling with heavy bags or boxes? Lend a hand.

23. Active voters make our country great. Ensure adults in your life are registered!

24. Adorable pets await loving homes! Where? The animal shelter… tell your friends and family!

25. Brighten the world…smile often!

Call for volunteer recommendations at 272-2087.

Does Employee Volunteerism Work?

The benefits of an Employee Volunteer Program are many, and building a strategic program that is integrated with core business objectives and core competencies creates a meaningful and sustainable program. Join this growing volunteer movement and your employees, shareholders, community, and company all benefit.

Benefits to the Employee

• Improves performance
• Increases job satisfaction, attitude and morale
• Encourages teamwork
• Promotes leadership and skill development
• Improves communication between employees and their supervisors, and across departments

Benefits to the Corporation

• Builds brand awareness and affinity
• Strengthens trust and loyalty among consumers
• Enhances corporate image and reputation
• Improves employee retention
• Increases employee productivity and loyalty
• Provides an effective vehicle to reach strategic goals

Benefits to the Community

• Provides skilled and talented volunteer pool, as employees devote personal and professional skills to community needs
• Offers direct cost savings for community service organizations in saved recruiting and labor costs
• Creates quantifiable social impact
• Helps bring community needs into focus

To get your business involved call 272-2087!

Weekly Volunteer Opportunity Update

• The American Red Cross needs Disaster Action Team Members to provide relief to victims of fire, flood, tornado, winter storms, and other natural disasters, and assist communities in recovering from disaster. Team Members must complete 5 hours of free sheltering and assessment Red Cross classes (together or in 2 sessions). Training is free of charge to volunteers.
  
  

• Angel House needs volunteers for basic office duties as well mentoring the female residents. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.
  
  

• ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program needs volunteers to assist with cleaning stalls and grooming horses daily anytime after 12 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.
  
  

• Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for dedicated and compassionate people to serve on its Board of Directors. Board members support the agency through setting policy and procedures, expanding the agency's network of friends and contributors, and advocating in the community. Board meetings are held the second Monday of each month from 4 – 6 p.m. Volunteers age 21 and over are welcome.

To volunteer call 272-2087!

CAREGIVERS RETREAT

The Catholic Parishes in Waterloo and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare will co-host a retreat for Care-Givers on Saturday, June 2, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo. This retreat provides an opportunity for prayer, reflection and discussion for individuals who have regular responsibility for the care of sick, disabled, aging or dying family members, neighbors or friends. The retreat is free and open to the public.

Pre-registration required. Information and registration at 319-234-9912 and online at waterloocatholics.org/.

HOMELESS TOUR

The Cedar Valley Hospitality House and Cedar Valley Catholic Social Justice Network will co-host a program on homelessness on Wednesday, May 23, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. The program will begin with a short orientation about homelessness at the Hospitality House, 420 E. 9th St., followed by a walking tour of places where homeless persons congregate in downtown Waterloo. The opportunity is open to the public. Pre-registration requested. 

Contact the Hospitality House at 319-234-1311. 

Youth - Why Volunteer?

Through volunteerism, teens have the power to positively impact their community! Have you ever thought about volunteering your time to a community organization? There are many different reasons for you to start volunteering:

• To explore a career
• To improve your communication skills
• To gain work experience for your resume
• To enhance personal development and growth
• To develop new friendships and meet interesting people
• To learn how to bring about community change
• To use individual creativity and explore new ideas and concepts
• To develop leadership sills, gain confidence, and self-esteem
• To learn skills in problem solving
• To fulfill need to achieve
• To increase chances for scholarships
• To help others
• To practice something you're good at, such as music or computers

The "DO's" of Great Volunteering

• Do be flexible. Open-mindedness will help you enjoy your experience even more.
• Do be persistent. If you are not contacted by your volunteer coordinator or agency right away, it doesn't mean they aren't interested. Why not call them?
• Do be responsible. Show up on time and follow through with commitments. Your work ethic now will be your work ethic later in life.
• Do take initiative. You can even start your own volunteer program and do it on your own time.
• Do expect to get plenty of satisfaction and fun from your volunteer experiences.

Here are some areas to think about:

Homeless Shelters

Most homeless shelters welcome volunteers and have a variety of programs through which you can get involved. You might help prepare or distribute meals, work behind the scenes in the business office, help organize a food drive to stock the pantry.

Food Bank

Food banks often work with homeless shelters, but they also serve poor people living in the community (especially around the holidays). Food banks collect food, manage their inventory and distribute food to those in need.

Hospitals

Hospitals have teen volunteer programs to help patients both inside and outside the hospital. The volunteers programs allow participants to explore medical careers and gain work experience.

Libraries

Libraries need help reshelving books, running children's programs, making books available to the community. Teen volunteers can also be trained to assist library staff during the Summer Reading Program.

Senior Citizen Centers

Senior citizen centers offer volunteer programs to provide friendship and community activities to senior citizens.

Animal Shelter

Animal shelters welcome volunteers to help take care of animals, keep facilities clean and work with the public.

Web site creation

Some of the non-profit organizations that we serve do not yet have Web sites. You can help by learning how to create a Web site and volunteering your services. When creating a Web site for a non-profit organization, you will want to take care to understand the organization's needs to establish exactly how they want their Web site to look and feel like.


For more information visit http://volunteer.truist.com/vcocv/volunteer/. To volunteer call 272-2087!

Connecting with Baby Boomers as Volunteers

Baby Boomers bring the advantages of experience and education, and are motivated to make a difference. There is tremendous potential to provide solutions to some of our most intractable social needs, including the expanding need for independent living support. ... In addition to helping solve community needs, service offers important benefits for Boomer volunteers. Older Americans who receive or deliver service are more connected with the community, remain more active, and have a more optimistic outlook.

Utilize Different Levels of Commitment and Expertise

Ø      Support more informal, unstructured and extended family-focused volunteering

Ø      Explore job sharing and team volunteering

Ø      Engage volunteers in designing the strategy for project implementation

Ø      Be as specific as possible when stating  organization’s volunteer needs

Ø      Be flexible in the management and design of volunteer opportunities consider times after hours, on weekends or during the work day

Ø      Design and frame your volunteer projects as if you were engaging consultants or project managers

Design Unique Work Experiences

Ø      Target a specific subset you think will be most interested and qualified to volunteer for your organization

Ø      Provide opportunities where boomers can directly effect local conditions

Ø      Create a menu of short and longer term opportunities

Ø      Discuss volunteering as a way to meet career goals

Ø      Don’t seek volunteers; seek activist willing to propel a movement

Ø      Pitch volunteering as a leisure substitution not an obligation

• a way to pursue unexplored passions, personal growth, and search for meaning

Use Incentives

Ø      Offer a range of incentives that will appeal to different boomer segments

Ø      Consider  paid and non-paid volunteering

§         Prescription drug/ medical discount                                    

§         Transportation waiver                                                      

§         Free or discounted tuition, educational awards (lifelong learning institutes)

§         Ask placement agencies if they have anything they are willing to offer: free/discounted yoga classes, gym memberships, after school care or camps for children or grandchildren etc. 

Advertising

Ø      Remember the quintessential boomer advertisement is short, snappy, and alluring

Ø      Keep in mind Boomers are not attracted to labels that evoke chronological age

Acknowledge Contributions

Ø      Offer opportunities to achieve the level of professionalism and respect that the volunteers had, or aspired to have, during their careers

Ø      Establish a volunteer track for people looking for continued and increased involvement

Baby Boomers interested in volunteering call 272-2087 to get involved.

Weekly Volunteer Opportunity Update

• Volunteers age 16 and over are needed to assist children in enjoying the over 40 interactive experiences available in Phelps Youth Pavilion on May 17. Volunteers will serve from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 2 - 3 hour shifts.

• Lou Henry Elementary needs volunteers for their Fun Fair on May 18. Volunteers will help at the various game booths. There are two shifts, 5-6:15 p.m. and 6:15-7:30 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• The Grout Museum District needs volunteers to help 3rd grade students with a mapping activity at the Cedar Falls Library on Friday, May 18 from 10:45 a.m. -12:45 p.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• The Cedar Valley Association of Soft Trails is looking for volunteers to assist with the Annual Mud Run on May 19 from 6:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. Volunteers are needed to assist with event set-up, registration, course marshalls and event clean-up. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

Call 272-2087 to volunteer.

Donate Your Stuff to the VCCV

Start your spring cleaning now and raise funds for the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley. Drop off your items at Stuff, Etc. and put it on our account! Stuff, Etc. is located at 1210 Flammang Dr., Waterloo, IA 50702, (319) 233-8009. Hours are Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m.

Donating your items is easy and can be done year round.

In the Spotlight - Grout Museum District

The mission of the Grout Museum District is to provide a better understanding of our world by collecting, preserving and interpreting history and illustrating scientific principles. The Grout Museum District collects preserves and interprets cultural and natural history of the region. The Rensselaer Russell House Museum and the Snowden House preserve and interpret elements of the Victorian age; and the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium provides exhibitions and programming that inspire the study of the sciences.

Volunteers are needed for the following programs: Data Entry Assistant, Digger, the GMD Mascot, Exhibit Space Monitor, Museum School Assistant, Museum Store Assistant, Museum Store Assistant at the Imaginarium, Rensselaer Russell House Museum Cleaner, Rensselaer Russell House Museum Volunteer, and Saturday Movie Series Assistants.

Call 272-2087 to volunteer!

In the Spotlight - Family and Children’s Council

The mission of the Family & Children's Council (FCC) is to prevent child abuse and strengthen families.

Family & Children's Council (FCC) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent child abuse and strengthen families. FCC works toward its mission through prevention education programs in the schools, parent education and support for families and training for professionals and community members.

Volunteers are utilized for the following programs: Empowering Dads Program Volunteer, Healthy Babies Mentor, Parent Connection, Parent-to-Parent, Program Committee Member, and Public Relations & Events Committee.

Call 272-2087 to volunteer!

Love Cedar Valley - A Huge Success

Love Cedar Valley is based on the generosity of God spilling out of our lives, and out of our churches into the lives of the people in our communities. The method we're using is called "servant evangelism" which is offering people free gifts or services to show God's love in a practical way - no strings attached!

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley played an important role in Love Cedar Valley. The Volunteer Center was asked to find places for volunteers to serve on Saturday, April 21. Seven of our agencies were helped during Love Cedar Valley. The jobs ranged from cleaning flower beds and raking lawns to affixing tile on walls. We are grateful our agencies were the recipients of so much love.