From Hazel Maynard, President – Board of Management Committee, Volunteering Victoria

In August last year, some of you attended the Volunteering Victoria Training Day for Members at Clayton Utz.  I know from the positive feedback we received that it was a huge success and that you found the networking opportunities to be extremely valuable.  The purpose of Volunteering Victoria holding such an event was to provide an opportunity for our members who work as managers and coordinators of volunteers to focus on themselves and to reflect on their skills as leaders of volunteers.  In the not-for-profit sector, most training focus on our volunteers, and those who lead and manage volunteers are offered few opportunities for professional development. 

You may be interested to learn about a development opportunity taking place in Adelaide in March 2010 called the Australasian Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management, which is run by Martin J Cowling and Andy Fryar from OZVPM.  The following is a link to their website with further information on the Retreat:  VPM Retreat: About Us.

I have attended two previous retreats and personally found them extremely valuable.  I also formed enduring and valuable relationships with my peers and colleagues from intra- and interstate.

Volunteering Victoria will also be holding another event for members later in the year so we will keep you posted.

With warmest good wishes,

Hazel