Faces Of Leadership Conference Offers Something For Everyone

What do nonprofit management, volunteer development, community building, and inspirational keynote speakers 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.

Volunteer West Virginia, the state’s Commission for National and Community Service, coordinates the annual statewide conference, which will be held August 7-9 at the Charleston Civic Center. The conference theme, Connect-Create-Engage, explores how West Virginians connect through shared passion for their communities, create partnerships for positive change, and engage in new ways to solve issues.

Conference highlights include:

• Keynote Speakers and Presentations – Tim Hurson, author of Think Better – An Innovator’s Guide to Productive Thinking, 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. Ilene Evans will introduce the concept of Ubuntu, which helps individuals learn to heal themselves and their communities through storytelling. Finally, Option 22/RiffRaff Arts Collective will close the conference with music, visual projections, and a compelling story about how the arts and creativity can transform communities.
• Innovative Open Space Session – Attendees can be prepared to be surprised through a form of topic discussion known as Open Space. This special session will let participants define the discussion topics that are important to them and network with other conference attendees.
• Diverse Workshop Topics – Workshops offer new ideas around topics such as leadership skills, managing volunteers, using social media, and fundraising, just to name a few. Some of the 54 workshop topics are: Toolkit for Working with Rural Volunteers; Seven Character Qualities of Good Leaders; Planning (Not Writing!) Your Grant Applications; The Value of Story: Storytelling as a Social Currency; Building Meaningful Service Projects; and Managing Volunteers: Getting Them and Keeping Them, just to name a few.
• Exhibits – Conference participants can visit or display exhibits about programs, new initiatives and success stories around the state.
• Networking Opportunities – Government officials, business and community leaders, nonprofit and national service staff and volunteers, and members of faith-based organizations attend this annual conference.  It’s a chance to meet peers from across West Virginia and neighboring states.

Individuals who register before June 22 can get the Early Bird rate of $150. Regular conference registration is $175.  Registration includes all conference sessions, refreshments and meals. Single day registration is also an option. Most 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.