Get the Skinny on Employee Volunteerism From the People Who Know
From left, Deb Elam, Jean Oelwang, Jeffrey Raider, Kerry Sullivan and Mark Kramer
Are you an employee volunteer manager, corporate social responsibility professional, corporate foundation leader or a nonprofit leader who wants to help your corporate sponsors take your volunteer service programs to the next level? Come hear from a range of voices in the field – including Jean Oelwang, CEO of Virgin Unite; Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees; and Kweku Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela – at the Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service in Atlanta June 16 – 18.
Oelwang, who leads the entrepreneurial foundation of the Virgin Group, will address in a keynote speech the role of service in corporate innovation and social impact. She’ll then join a panel discussion about corporate volunteer programs that build employee creativity and problem-solving skills and how such programs redefine the way companies think about business.
Mark Kramer, founder and managing director of FSG, will examine how companies and their employees from different sectors can come together to solve a specific social problem using a common agenda – aligning their efforts and using common measures of success – at the Business Track Luncheon.
National Football League Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints will join
A Billion + Change at a reception following the opening plenary. Brees will honor companies involved with A Billion + Change, a campaign that encourages companies to do more skills-based and pro bono service. He will also encourage participating companies to inspire others by sharing their stories through the Super Service Challenge, a nationwide program that galvanizes co-workers to volunteer together.
“We are thrilled to have so many dynamic speakers this year,” said Jackie Norris, executive director of Points of Light Corporate Institute. “We want attendees to walk away from each session with the tools and knowledge to improve or begin a service program at their companies.”
The Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service is the largest convening of service leaders from all walks of life, sectors, races, religions and political persuasions, united to lead the dynamic, ever-expanding, international volunteer service movement. Conference workshops are organized by both impact areas and tracks, allowing you to select sessions based on both the issue (impact area) and the type of audience or organization that is most relevant (track).
Attendees find value in the variety and diversity of sessions, speakers and opportunities to meet others in their fields. “I found the Business Track sessions at last year’s conference to be very worthwhile and relevant to the work I do on a daily basis,” said conference attendee Rebecca Wang, manager of corporate affairs at HP. “I love the incredible opportunities to network with colleagues and gain new perspectives about our field from them.”
The Business Track at this year’s conference has 19 sessions, which include speakers such as Philip Weinberg, president and CEO, STRIVE International; Melissa Long, morning anchor and reporter, WXIA-TV; Chris Waits, regional vice president, The Home Depot; and many more!
Sessions include (click session names to learn more):
One- and two-day rates are now available. To register or learn more about the Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service, visit www.volunteeringandservice.org.
Presidents, celebrities, nonprofit leaders, business pioneers and more have been involved with the Conference on Volunteering and Service through the years. See why.
We’re now offering one- and two-day rates. Review these special offers and register today for the experience that fits your schedule and interests.
Join change-makers and leaders in nonprofit, business, government, education and the arts who are creating meaningful change through service. Depending on which day or days you pick (June 16 – 18), you’ll hear from Chelsea Clinton, Tyler Perry, Bernice King, Sugarland’s Kristian Bush and many more.
Don’t miss out on our most robust day of programming – Tuesday, June 17 – with three workshop blocks, a special interest forum block, and special events including:
Creating a Bright Future for Our Kids Forum (SID 4949) Sponsored by Target
Every kid deserves a bright future and should have the opportunity to reach his or her potential. Join Target to focus on how to engage caring adults through volunteerism to support teachers – the most valuable classroom resources. Learn more about Target’s partnership with Major League Baseball and People magazine to recognize “All-Star Teachers.” Hear from those on the front lines and get inspired with some special guests.
Prepared Is Protected: Global Forum on Disaster Preparedness and Recovery (SID 4951) Sponsored by UPS
From hurricanes to wildfires, from New York City to the Philippines – disasters can strike anywhere, anytime. Cities have historically called on citizen volunteers to respond in emergencies. In this panel discussion, mayors from across the United States will share how their cities are leveraging the power of volunteers to better prepare for disasters.
A HandsOn Network Innovation and Social Impact Forum (SID 4950) Sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
This interactive forum is a celebration of the One America campaign and the new, innovative program models that HandsOn Network affiliates and their nonprofit partners are adopting to address critical community needs. We’ll focus on sharing replicable, sustainable examples, as the sector seeks to understand what’s next in 21st Century volunteering and how to align impact with sustainability. Attendees will observe media, subject matter experts and other notable judges evaluate “pitches” and award grants which will be provided by Points of Light with funding made possible by JPMorgan Chase & Co. HandsOn Network affiliates whose efforts sustain or enhance local economic vitality are eligible to win the grants.
National Service Town Hall With Wendy Spencer (SID 4862)
National service continues to gain momentum because leaders from all levels of government and the private sector increasingly see it as a means to achieve results. This session will shine a spotlight on some of the most innovative ways national service programs are strengthening communities and improving lives. Join Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service; project directors; national service members; and volunteers to celebrate, be inspired, and promote the impact of service.
One-day Conference registration rates for June 16 through 18 are now available for new registrants – register now!
Hey Sugarland Fans – Here’s Something for You
Kristian Bush – Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and one-half of the platinum-selling country duo Sugarland – will be among the featured speakers at Points of Light’s Conference on Volunteering and Service, June 16 -18 in Atlanta.
Kristian Bush
Currently on the road with his 2014 Put Your Soul in It Tour, Bush returns to his hometown of Atlanta for an exclusive appearance at Conference’s closing session. A passionate advocate for the power each of us has to change the world, Bush strongly supports music education in schools, in collaboration with organizations like the Recording Academy’s Grammy U. He also partners with Global Citizen, a website and app that revolves around a simple premise: that every person can play a role in realizing the end of extreme poverty by 2030.
Bush founded Sugarland in 2002; in 2004, he and singer Jennifer Nettles exploded onto the music scene. They have sold more than 22 million albums worldwide, achieved five No. 1 singles and won numerous awards, including trophies from the Grammys, AMAs, ACM Awards, CMT Music Awards and CMA Awards. In October of 2012, they were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Bush is a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta.
Join Kristian Bush, Chelsea Clinton, Tyler Perry, Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree the Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian and nearly 5,000 other change-makers at Conference this year. Take a look at this year’s featured speakers and sessions and make sure you register soon – early bird rates end April 25!
Chelsea Clinton Will Be There. Will You?
Points of Light announced today that Chelsea Clinton, vice chair of the Clinton Foundation, will be among the featured speakers at the opening session of its 2014 Conference on Volunteering and Service, June 16-18 in Atlanta.
Chelsea Clinton
Ms. Clinton works with her parents, President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, to drive the vision and work of the Clinton Foundation. Over the past 12 years, the foundation has built partnerships among governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations and individuals everywhere to strengthen health systems in developing countries, fight climate change, expand economic opportunity in Africa, Latin America and the United States, and help Americans live healthier lives. Additionally, Clinton Global Initiative members have made more than 2,800 Commitments to Action to improve more than 430 million lives in more than 180 countries.
She also established – and continues to lead – the Clinton Foundation Day of Action program, which identifies and organizes meaningful service opportunities for foundation staff, friends and partners and for the wider foundation community. As one of the strongest champions of the Clinton Global Initiative University, she works to empower the next generation of change makers to take action on some of the world’s most urgent challenges. And through the Clinton Foundation Millennium Network, she plays an integral role in inspiring young leaders and philanthropists to get involved in the work of the foundation.
“Chelsea Clinton is a passionate advocate for the power of each individual to effect positive change in the world,” said Tracy Hoover, president of Points of Light. “She is one of the leading voices of her generation and we are honored to welcome her to Points of Light’s Conference on Volunteering and Service.”
Each year, the Conference brings together 5,000 leaders in the global volunteer service movement for three days of inspiring speakers, thought-provoking discussions, hands-on service projects and learning workshops. For more information or to register, visit www.volunteeringandservice.org.
Thinking About Summer? We’ve Got a Hot Activity for You in June
Join us in sunny Atlanta June 16 – 18 for a gathering of 5,000 people on a single mission – to strengthen communities and change lives through volunteer service. The 2014 Conference on Volunteering and Service will showcase those who have new ideas and proven solutions to tough community problems.
At last year’s Conference in Washington, D.C., participants
got to hear the DC Youth Slam Team recite poetry about
making a difference.
Come learn, share and have fun. (See what participants have enjoyed at past conferences here!)
Interested in a scholarship? If you apply by March 24, you could get your registration fee waived. With support from The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Points of Light is offering 50 scholarships to Conference. We’re looking for applicants with community involvement experience who exhibit the potential to assume senior leadership roles within organizations in the volunteering and service sectors. Click here to apply.
Waiting for you at Conference will be inspiring sessions, powerful special events, service projects and dynamic workshops. Check out what we’ve got lined up:
There are more than 80 other sessions from which to choose, focused on five tracks: volunteer engagement, business, capacity building, innovation, national service, and youth service and leadership. You can pick sessions from more than one track and go deep into one (or more!) of eight impact areas: economic opportunity, education, emergency preparedness and response, environmental, faith, global, higher education, and veterans and military families.
For significant savings on registration, register by April 25. And make sure you get the latest news about Conference by signing up under “Join Our Mailing List” here or following us on Twitter or Facebook.
Join Actor Tyler Perry and 5,000 Others to Change Lives
Here’s your chance to come together with filmmaker, actor and philanthropist Tyler Perry and 5,000 others with a single mission – to strengthen communities and change lives through volunteer service.
Tyler Perry
Registration is now open for the Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service, June 16-18, 2014, in Atlanta! The Conference is the largest convening of service leaders from all walks of life, sectors, races and religions, and political persuasions, united to lead the dynamic, ever-expanding, international volunteer service movement.
The first 500 people to register will be entered in a drawing to win one of FIVE Platinum Conference Packages, including complimentary registration, hotel accommodations and round-trip airfare to Atlanta.
This year’s Conference will showcase those on the forefront of the service revolution who have new ideas and proven solutions to tough community problems. Participants will hear from dynamic voices who meld digital prowess with down-home inspiration, provocative thinking with old-fashioned activism – to drive, empower and engage volunteers toward positive solutions.
See Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s welcome message to 2014 Conference on Volunteering and Service attendees here.
Join us as we share best practices; learn about new tools, technologies and strategies for engaging volunteers; and prove that, no matter the challenge or opportunity, service unites.
Visit www.volunteeringandservice.org to register and find all the latest news on the 2014 Conference. We hope to see you in Atlanta!
Join Us for a Free Webinar Oct. 8 and Create a Buzzworthy Conference Session
Interested in presenting your ideas about volunteerism at a fun, informative gathering of people who care about the world? Here’s some advice from Lori Jean Mantooth, Points of Light’s director of training programs.
Catherine Ward of Taproot Foundation presents
at the 2013 Conference on Volunteering and Service.
Many of us have been there. We’ve pored over the list of workshops at a conference, reading descriptions and speaker bios in an attempt to decide which sessions to attend. I mean, if you’re going to dedicate 90 minutes to a workshop, you want to make sure it’s worth your time, right?
Or maybe you’ve been on the other side. You’ve spent hours developing a workshop proposal, hoping it would be accepted and then working hard to make sure the session lived up to your original vision.
Each year around this time, my colleagues and I get to figure out how to bring these two perspectives into one beautiful experience at the annual Conference on Volunteering and Service. We’ve just opened the Call for Presenters for 2014.
It’s an exciting time for us. We get to read about the great work that’s happening in communities around the globe. We receive proposals from nonprofits, government agencies, companies and individuals (both seasoned experts and first-timers) who can inspire and teach us all.
To help people develop strong proposals, we’re hosting a webinar on Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. (The proposal submission deadline is Nov. 8.) If you miss the webinar, you can find a recording on the registration page.
Last year we published an eVOLve issue about developing workshop proposals for any conference. Here is an updated look at those tips, tailored for the Conference on Volunteering and Service.
Learn about the Conference. Visit the website to learn about the Conference and who attends. The Call for Presenters page will give specifics about what to expect for workshops.
Review information from previous Conferences. Check out the session locator to learn about content and speakers from the 2013 Conference. Don’t just copy ideas from a past event; expand on those ideas or bring something new.
Align with the tracks and impact areas. The Conference workshops will be categorized into both tracks and impact areas this year. Your proposal can fit into one of each, so determine where your session fits best.
Use a catchy title. Many times Conference attendees don’t read past the session title. Find a creative way to catch attention.
Write a concise session description. Convey the topic and what people will learn if they attend your session. Be mindful of character limit (250, including spaces).
Narrow your focus. Don’t try to cover everything about volunteer management in 90 minutes. Pick one or two things to focus on.
Develop strong learning objectives. Don’t just relay information. Know what you want participants to learn and be able to do as a result of your session. (Hint: Use action words!) Then build a session that will achieve those objectives.
Plan your teaching methods. Create a session that blends presentation (lecture) with discussion, activities and other interactive elements to appeal to different learning styles and keep people engaged. Convey this in your proposal so reviewers understand how you will share, not just what.
Share your bio. Provide a brief sketch of your background, especially things relating to your presentation topic and your previous training experiences.
Consider engaging co-presenters. Your session may be stronger if you have multiple presenters. Note: The Conference on Volunteering and Service has a maximum of three presenters per session.
Follow the guidelines. Complete every step in the online system and meet the submission deadline of November 8. Even if a question is optional, providing an answer can help put your proposal over the top.
If you have a question about your proposal or the submission process, ASK! Sign up for the webinar on October 8. Check the Call for Presenters system and the Conference website, which contain the answers to most of your questions. If you still need assistance, contact us.
As you develop your proposal, ask colleagues to help you talk through ideas and read the proposal to ensure you’re sharing the right information in the best possible way. It may take a couple of rewrites, but the effort will be worth it. Don’t be discouraged if your proposal isn’t accepted this year. Ask the reviewers for feedback to help you improve for next time. Good luck!
No Matter Where You’re From, Volunteer Service Unites Us All
Today’s post is by Kartheeban Chandramohan, founder of Team Everest India, which promotes volunteering in India – to motivate every individual to volunteer at least once a month for any good cause.
The author shares a cheerful moment with one of the
schoolchildren helped by Team Everest volunteers.
This summer, at Points of Light’s Conference on Volunteering and Service, for the first time I got a chance to spend a week in another country and meet people from across the globe – volunteers like me from 40 different countries.
Everyone had the same passion and energy to help people and make life better in this world. I never thought that human beings across the world would feel the same love and care for others, whether from Australia or Korea.
Everyone’s culture is different, but the purpose for volunteer service is the same. It is beautiful to know that though we may be divided by geography, we are united by compassion.
It is also interesting to note, just like volunteer organizers from different parts of the world share the same feelings, they also share the same problems. When I interacted with conference attendees, I came to understand that problems such as volunteer retention, fundraising and maximizing impact are common in other countries.
It is high time we all unite and see how we can tackle those problems by bringing the best minds across the globe together. The Points of Light conference in Washington, D.C., showed me the power of these exchanges to inspire and invigorate.
They say, it is not the same man who comes back after a journey. It is very true.
I used to tell my friends:
“When I was born, I was Kartheeban. When I started Team Everest India in 2006, I became Kartheeban Volunteer 2.0.” Now, I can tell them, after my visit to Washington, “I’m Kartheeban Volunteer 3.0.”
An Experience to Remember
Today’s post is written by Tiffani Alexander, 14, of Covington, Ga., founder of Butterflies, Beetles and Bees, Oh My! – a club she runs in partnership with Prevent Child Abuse Rockdale. The club teaches children how to care for and nurture small insects and how they can apply those skills to interact with people. Tiffani inspires other young people to get involved in service as a National Youth Advisory Council member for generationOn, the youth enterprise of Points of Light.
As I walked into the opening session of the recent Conference on Volunteering and Service with the rest of the generationOn Youth Advisory Council, everything became surreal. We were at the front of the room, in the midst of cameras and important people in the service world. I never thought that helping my community could get me here at such a young age.
People from all over the country and several other countries attended the conference in hopes of enhancing their skills and getting new ideas to take back home with them. While sharing my service story, I was honored by being asked to share some of my lesson plans with volunteers from other countries.
America’s Sunday Supper was a high point for me. During Sunday Suppers, held across the country, people from different backgrounds come together to discuss issues in their communities over a meal. In addition, it focuses on engaging youth in service work. This movement was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s belief that we can all put our differences aside to make a difference in the world.
Some of the exciting happenings at this event included a speech from Lauren Bush Lauren, CEO and Co-Founder of FEED Projects; the introduction of the Target FEED USA line, to help fight hunger; and a speech and performance from Grammy award-winning singer John Legend.
One of my favorite moments at the conference was attending a session led by Steve Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America, who said that in order to successfully engage youth, we need to find out what their interests are and get them excited about helping. He got me thinking about how I can better engage youth volunteers in the service projects I coordinate.
The conference left an indelible mark on my life. It showed me that service is not what you do, it’s simply who you are!
Chase’s Commitment to Service Helps Bring Together One America
Conference attendees share a lighthearted
moment in the One America booth.
The booth, a tall cylinder outfitted with a video camera, let attendees record their suggestions for One America, a nationwide Points of Light campaign with founding support from
. The campaign poses the question – What if some of our nation’s greatest rivals could put aside their differences and unite in volunteer service? Perhaps they could inspire millions of people to do the same.
“What really matters to our nation’s future is not what divides us, but what brings us together,” notes Peter Scher, executive vice president and head of corporate responsibility at
in Washington, D.C., with some unlikely pairings, including conservative talk show host Bill O’Reilly with liberal pundit and political strategist Donna Brazile, along with Karl Rove, former adviser to President George W. Bush, and David Plouffe, former adviser to President Obama. (Brazile and Rove even shared a little dance onstage.)
The conference attendees who stepped into the One America booth came with plenty of playful, and noteworthy, pairings of their own, including Google and Apple; Red Sox and Yankees; Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump; “Good Morning America” and the “Today” show; and Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin.
Thanks to Chase’s commitment to supporting volunteer service, the One America campaign will reach millions of potential volunteers through celebrity videos, social media, local service events and more. People wanting to make a difference will learn about ways they can help improve education, fight hunger and protect the environment. This campaign is about engaging people, about showing them the power they have to connect others and to improve lives. (Click
“Acts of service can indeed cross boundaries, bring together the most unlikely allies, and build stronger communities,” said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light “Recognizing that people in communities are tackling tough challenges every day, One America will showcase volunteer ideas that are working, and present them in a way that others can then implement in their own communities.”
