What do volunteer management, building meaningful service projects, nonprofit management, resource development, three dynamic keynote presentations and one special session have in common? They’re all part of this year’s Faces of Leadership conference, the state’s largest annual gathering of West Virginians strengthening communities through volunteerism and service.
A limited number of registration scholarships to attend the conference are available for staff of nonprofit organizations in 19 West Virginia counties. These counties include: Boone, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mason, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Summers, Wayne and Wyoming. Some additional scholarships are available for first-time attendees from any West Virginia county.
Volunteer West Virginia, the state’s Commission for National and Community Service, coordinates the annual statewide conference on volunteerism, community service and service-learning, which will be held August 7-9 at the Charleston Civic Center. The conference theme, Connect – Create – Engage, explores how West Virginians connect to those who share similar passions, create new partnerships and engage in new ways of thinking to improve communities.
Conference highlights include:
- Keynote Speakers – Opening keynote speaker Tim Hurson will help attendees see a new way of thinking – Productive Thinking – that is the critical differentiator between individuals and organizations that stagnate and those that thrive in the new world. On Wednesday morning, a special session called Open Space will let participants network with other conference attendees and define discussion topics that are important to them. During lunch on that day, Ilene Evans will introduce attendees to the universal power of storytelling that helps people heal themselves and communities. Finally, Option 22 with the RiffRaff Arts Collective form Princeton will present a multi-media experience demonstrating how the arts can transform communities into dynamic places to live, thus positively impacting local economies.
- 2012 Governor’s Service Awards – West Virginia’s most prestigious volunteer awards will be given during the 2012 banquet held on Wednesday, August 8 at the Civic Center as part of the conference.
- Networking Opportunities – The nearly 400 people who attend the conference have the opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones from among the government officials, business and community leaders, nonprofit and national service staff/volunteers, and members of faith-based organizations who attend the conference.
- Diverse Workshop Topics – Conference participants will get new ideas from more than 50 workshops that address everything from legal issues, to community development, to effective volunteer management – just to name a few.
- Exhibits – Organizations have an opportunity to talk about new initiatives, innovative thinking, or collaboration by spotlighting programs or products with an exhibit table at this year’s conference. There is a nominal fee of $25 per table for nonprofit organizations and $50 for private sector exhibitors.
Regular conference registration is $175. Registration includes all conference sessions, refreshments and meals. Single day registration is also an option. Many sessions can be counted toward the Certificate in Nonprofit Management offered through West Virginia University. For scholarship information or to register, visit www.volunteerwv.org or contact Moya Doneghy at (304) 558-0111 or by email at Moya.Doneghy@wv.gov.
