Issue #12 - July/August 2008

Mission: The Volunteer Centers of Michigan strengthens, develops and connects volunteer centers throughout the state.

Vision: The Volunteer Centers of Michigan ensures all volunteer centers have the capacity to positively impact every Michigan community and their citizens through volunteerism.

Mentoring can be a catalyst for improving personal and professional aspects for both Gen Xers and Boomers, where each plays the role of mentor and mentee. Both roles have benefits in the areas of learning new things, developing in personal and professional ways, as well as enhancing the potential for increased autonomy, self-direction, and empowerment. The reciprocal nature of intergenerational mentoring relationships offer present and future leaders’ experiences to elevate their skills, stimulate their creativity, and enhance their impact and effectiveness. This give-and-take mentoring model has powerful transformative potential to strengthen the nonprofit sector while developing talent.

There are several reasons nonprofit organizations need to make intergenerational mentoring a priority today. First is the need for succession planning and knowledge transfer as founder executives, particularly those born during the Baby Boom, retire or exit from the sector. Second is the need to retain diverse and creative individuals within social change movements, where salaries are low and competition for talent with corporations and government agencies is stiff. Third is the need for staff, particularly in small nonprofits, to develop a broad range of competencies, the capacity to wear “multiple hats” or to be a “jack-of-all-trades.” And, finally, the short life cycles of projects and grants demand agility in moving employees to new roles. Intergenerational mentoring relationships can deliver a number of critical benefits to nonprofit organizations and their employees. They can accelerate learning and expand the overall competency base of staff. They can help assure organizational flexibility and resourcefulness in difficult times, drawing on the guidance of seasoned professionals. Intergenerational mentorship fosters employee loyalty and commitment, improving morale while enriching organizational culture—making it more beneficial and accountable to the community.

Jane Royer, Volunteer Center Director of Heart of West Michigan United Way recommends the use of intergeneration mentoring and says: “Over the years, I have had the opportunity to develop long term mentoring relationships with three young women from GVSU who first worked as interns for the Volunteer Center. Like many of their peers, these women are very altruistic; they want a sense of purpose and to belong to something bigger than themselves. I feel a renewed energy and enthusiasm for the mission of the Volunteer Center when I work with my young friends. They fuel my passion for the work and help me to avoid burnout. They also help me to keep the work "cool" in a way that only young people can. They are especially helpful with technology and new ways to communicate to a broader audience. I n turn, I enjoy helping my friends to find their place in the nonprofit world which is usually a completely new environment for them. I find ways to introduce them to community partners of interest to them, and I encourage them to pursue careers that are a good fit for them. Two of the women have moved out of the area. One I was able to visit in Seattle, and I love the idea of having nonprofit contacts in other cities. What could be more fun than sharing experiences over time in an intergenerational mentoring relationship?"

As the summer slows the pace of the legislature, many representatives will be back in their community and eager to reconnect with their constituents. There are many easy ways Volunteer Center directors, staff and volunteers can also use this time to connect. 

Some simple techniques to engage are:

• Write an op-ed or assist a volunteer in writing one on the importance of the Volunteer Center in your community.
• Invite your representative to attend an event the highlights your strongest summer program.Call their district office, or send a simple invite.Check out the following link for legislative contact information. http://www.mnaonline.org/govdirectory.asp
• Stop by the office to see what sort of community engagement activities they have planned for the summer.
• Send a thank you card for all they have done to support volunteering in your community.
• Recognize your representative’s work through a program or event that highlights volunteering.

The more opportunities Volunteer Centers take to engage their legislators, their staff and other stakeholders in their community through the work of the Volunteer Center, the larger the voice will be in support for all Volunteer Centers in Michigan. For more ideas resources and information on specific issues please visit the Michigan Public Policy Initiative: http://www.mnaonline.org/ppupdate.asp.

New Brand Launched!
“A brand is more than a logo; it is the whole of the organization. A great brand is like a great person, it always keeps its promises. It is up to all of us to embody the brand everyday.”
- Eric Block, Managing Partner, Duffy & Partners

At the national conference Points of Light & Hands On Network launched their new brand. Now the Points of Light Institute will serve as the corporate entity, or holding company, for a portfolio of business units that enable a variety of ways to act upon their power to make change. It supports these efforts through incubation; back-office support services; sector thought leadership; and public policy development. HandsOn Network is the leading business unit within the Points of Light Institute portfolio and is the activating arm. The vast majority of the merged organization's work and activity happens through HandsOn Network. Additionally, MissionFish is also a business unit supported by the Points of Light Institute, representing another form of how we support people's power to change the world, by enabling people to sell or purchase products through eBay! to benefit the nonprofit causes they care about.

The HandsOn Network brand information is below:

• Brand Presentation at Conference Please click here to download the full presentation of the brand launch at conference.  This extensive presentation walks through how we arrived at the brand strategy decisions and shows our new brand assets. http://archive.handsonnetwork.org/static/HONconference08Final.pdf    
• Brand FAQs  http://archive.handsonnetwork.org/static/affiliatemessageguideFNL4conference.doc
• Conference Recording Availablehttps://pointsoflight.webex.com/pointsoflight/ldr.php?AT=pb&SP=MC&rID=11645037&rKey=8A62496E277CAAC9

Membership Information
In the next few days all Affiliates will be receiving their membership renewal packets via mail. This packet will contain the affiliation information and a request for updated information about your organization so that we can update our records. Over the summer VCM as well as the Affiliate Advancement Team will be available to assist you with identifying your affiliation category.

We have also uploaded this information for easy download here:

• Membership Structure: http://archive.handsonnetwork.org/static/AffiliateMembershipStructureFINAL.pdf
• Membership FAQs: http://archive.handsonnetwork.org/static/AffiliateMembershipStructureFAQsFinal053108.doc 
• Conference Recording Available: to hear questions and gain perspective on the day please visit: https://pointsoflight.webex.com/pointsoflight/ldr.php?AT=pb&SP=MC&rID=11644912&rKey=93A8CA9736B098CB

Faith in Action Network Collaborative of Michigan (FIANCM) is a partnership of geographically diverse programs with one common theme: neighbors helping neighbors. By utilizing the volunteer resources available in each community, persons who are chronically ill, developmentally disabled, frail, elderly, or otherwise mentally or physically impaired and impacted by life situations which prevent access to services will be able to access the necessary services and maintain their independence. Recruiting and maintaining a pool of well-trained and supervised volunteers is the key to success of each of the Faith in Action Programs which comprise the FIANCM. For more information, please visit - http://faithinactionmi.org

Youth Service America and Disney are pleased to launch a second round of Disney Minnie Grants to engage children and youth, ages 5-14 as community volunteers. The selected applications will receive $500 to support their youth-led service projects. The deadline is August 30 and projects must take place October 15-November 15, 2008. Grantees from the first round of Disney awards of 2008 are eligible to apply. Visit www.YSA.org/awards for more information and application materials. You can review past award recipients from all over the world at: http://ysa.org/AwardsGrants/DisneyMinnieGrants/DisneyMinnieGrantees2008/tabid/292/Default.asp

Lowe's Community Giving http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/Community#charitable
Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation’s primary philanthropic focus areas include community improvement projects, education scholarships for trade disciplines and environmental initiatives that enhance the natural environment. The Foundation considers requests only from 501(c)(3) organizations. Grants generally range from $5,000 to $25,000.

Gordon Food Service, Inc. Corporate Giving Program
c/o Donation Comm., P.O. Box 1787, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
http://www.gfs.com/content_us/about_gfs/aboutgfs_philanthropy.html
Gordon Food Service makes charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations on a case by case basis, usually in the form of donated products. Support is given primarily in areas of company operations. Application information: proposals should be submitted using organization letterhead, faxes and e-mail messages are not encouraged. A contributions committee reviews all requests. Application form not required. Applicants should submit the following:

• population served
• brief history of organization and description of its mission
• descriptive literature about organization
•  detailed description of project and amount of funding requested

Today Show Download
The new brand was even launched on the Today Show this past Monday with a great story about HandsOn Network and the work of our volunteers.  To view the show:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24930233#24930233
 
HandsOn Network Brand Toolkit….Coming Soon!
All brand assets will be made available via the HandsOn Network website by the end of June.  In order to use the brand assets per our style guide, all they are asking is that you email Lisa Flick lflick@handsonnetwork.org to get approval so they are aware of how you want to incorporate the brand assets.