Gathering in Our Nation's Capital
Washington D.C. Hosts 2005 National Conference on Volunteering and Service

By Rose M. Welsh

The National Conference on Volunteering and Service will convene the foremost trainers, speakers, and community leaders from across the nation to deliver high-impact and relevant content for all aspects of the volunteer movement. If you are seeking ways to better connect people through volunteering and national service in order to strengthen your community; if you recruit, manage, or train volunteers; if you want to target volunteers where they are most needed; if you seek to learn and apply effective practices in a constantly changing field - you will benefit from attending this annual meeting.

The National Conference, convened by the Points of Light Foundation and Corporation for National & Community Service, will offer a diverse and engaging program with particular attention focused on providing the tools and resources desired to strengthen your communities and the nation through volunteering, national service, and commitment to civic participation.

This year's meeting theme, Serve Communities. Solve Problems. Strengthen America, underscores our message that volunteer service isn't just nice, it's necessary. Given the conference location, Washington, DC offers a unique backdrop to demonstrate that while volunteering operates on the community level, it contributes to the national agenda and goals of service, civic engagement, and citizenship.

More than 2,500 participants representing a wide range of organizations including nonprofits, Volunteer Centers, schools, universities, businesses, community and faith-based organizations, local, state and federal government, and national service programs are expected to attend. Conference attendees can participate in 120 workshops focused on a variety of topics from corporate volunteering to recruiting youth and seniors into community service. The conference will also honor corporations who have contributed to volunteering and community service at the Awards for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Programs luncheon.

Annual meetings serve many purposes, and participants choose to attend for a variety of reasons, but in general we seek the same things - the discovery of fresh ideas, participation in valuable and informative workshops, an expansion of our networks, and inspiration set by the examples and ideas of our colleagues. Make plans to join us on August 4-6 in the Nation's Capital! To register or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, or to become an exhibitor, visit www.VolunteeringandService.org.