Title
Volunteer Management
Welcome to Extension Volunteer Engagement! Explore our page to find resources, professional development opportunities, and much more!
Volunteer Engagement Conference
Title
Blueprint for a Strong Foundation
Join us on April 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the iHotel and Conference Center in Champaign to build your volunteer relation skills, network with volunteer management staff from across the state, and learn more about the work Extension has been doing to expand support for staff in volunteer relations and management.
Please use the button below to register.
Conference Sessions
Keynote - Tobi Johnson
Hear from globally recognized expert in volunteer engagement (and a Master Gardener!), Tobi Johnson, on "how to take your leadership to the next level and volunteers will follow". Check out her bio to learn more about her and her impact in the world of volunteer engagement.
You will learn …
- What it means to be a truly volunteer-driven organization and what can happen when volunteers lead the way
- The STAR Method for volunteers who lead and how it can ground their practice
- How to pinpoint core values and actions and build out a personal leadership philosophy
- How to use a Team Blueprint to build a shared vision of success together
- How to build a transformational communications plan that both inspires and keeps volunteers in the loop
Round Table
Join staff from around the state for in-depth discussions on volunteer engagement and management. During this session, you will have an opportunity for knowledge and experience sharing through guided discussions and constructive conversation. These discussions are intended to help discover innovative solutions to volunteer management and engagement issues, gain diverse perspectives to better engage volunteers, build your network and resources, and much more.
Networking
Connect with other volunteer managers and coordinators from across the state to exchange advice, resources, and build your professional network. Networking is a great opportunity for staff to create professional relationships with others in similar roles as themselves. For those new to networking, check out this tip sheet from University of Illinois Graduate School Career Development Center.
Volunteer Management System
The new website is designed to be a tool for Extension staff to steward and manage the volunteers they work with. This means there will be a standardized volunteer application process with streamlined background check and reference check procedures, all managed through the system. Just think of all the time staff will now have to focus on programming! The Extension Web Team and Workforce Development Team will be facilitating an interactive afternoon session during the conference. Participants will learn the “why” and “how” of the new system; including a refresher on volunteer policies, a full demonstration of the system, and resources on how to utilize the new system.
Panel Discussion
Join the Extension Workforce Development Volunteer Associates and the Extension Web Team for a question and answer session about the new Volunteer Management System.
The conference is being held in the Chancellor Ballroom. Please see map for I Hotel and parking information. Parking closest to the Chancellor Ballroom is on the south side of the conference center.
Lodging Information
Hotel Information - Room Block for Staff Traveling Over 100 Miles
Drury Inn & Suites - 905 Anthony Dr, Champaign, IL 61821
Rooms available for April 9 only
- Online Booking: Volunteer Engagement Conference - Drury Room Block
- Phone Number: 1-800-325-0720
- Group Code: 10095178
- Room Block Cost: $129
- Reserve by: Friday, March 8, 2024
For other hotel options, please visit refer to the Preferred Hotel Listing. Unfortunately, due to the conference taking place the same week as the eclipse, many hotels are not honoring the state rate.
Lodging Expenses
- Up to $50 from Central Funds is available for staff traveling more than 100 miles to attend this conference. Please review the Extension Distance Chart to determine if you qualify for these funds. Please be sure you are referencing the tab labeled "iHotel - Champaign". Offices that qualify are highlighted in yellow but you can also reference the distance in the last column. Guidance for submitting expense reports using this funding source will be made available closer to the conference date.
- Those who are headquartered within the 100-mile radius and wish to still arrive the night before will need to use unit funds to cover this expense as you normally would. This should be cleared with your supervisor prior to making the reservations.
Parking Information
Conference session will be held in the Chancellor Ballroom. Parking on the south side of the conference center will get you closer to this room. Please see map for I Hotel parking information.
Toolkit Spotlight
Evaluating your volunteer program is important in determining success. It takes some time and effort to gather data, but the results are well worth it.
