International Volunteer Managers (IVM) Day is celebrated every year on 5 November and is a time to recognize and thank those who enhance and enable the spirit of volunteering. I want to thank our staff for all their wonderful work with our volunteers – you are awesome! And in honor of this day, I post below my personal mission statement written as a requirement for my Certification in Volunteer Administration (CVA).
Happy day to ALL Volunteer Engagement Professionals!!! – Julie
I truly found my calling when I embarked on a career in volunteer administration. I come from a mission minded family and my faith is the guiding force in my life. I believe that we are here to serve others whenever possible.
Volunteerism is at the heart of everything that is good in our world. Volunteers are driven by their moral values and compassion to make the world a better place. Volunteers transform the dynamics of the workplace. They are not there to make money. They are there to make a difference and I want to be there to facilitate their efforts. It is my philosophy that they must be actively engaged. Volunteers need to feel that they are truly a part of an organization and its mission. Being a volunteer myself, I honestly believe that I know what is needed to support and sustain a volunteer program.
I find that when the daily grind of the office gets me down, it is interacting with my volunteers that give me inspiration and a renewal of purpose that keeps me going. I am a people person and am energized by working with these individuals I call angels on earth. At the end of the day it is rewarding to know that I have been a part of bringing a change for good to my community and to humankind.
Let’s hit the polls in mass! Please cast your vote
Tuesday, November 6th!
We just got a notice that through Nov 2nd (this Thursday!), AmazonSmile is donating 5% (ten times the usual amount) to The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond when you shop using TSCOR’s LINK. So click the link and shop away!!
Thanks for your support – Julie
PS – Please don’t forget the annual appeal letter that arrived in your mailbox a couple of weeks ago. Your gifts mean so much to so many!
Columbus might be resting from his journey, but we aren’t! Open University will meet Monday, October 8th (Columbus Day), as usual.
The lunch topic is Richmond’s Top Ten Best-in-the-Nation Art Things. We will see you there!
For the full schedule, Click HERE.
Due to different computer software versions here in the office, the schedule that I posted yesterday cut out the Feldenkrais class. This will not do because Feldenkrais is so popular and we will indeed offer it again this year!
The correct version is available by clicking HERE and all links have been updated on our website. Sorry about that.
Thank you to those who let us know – Julie
Good Summer Everyone!
I miss seeing you all at the Open University and Lunch and Life. I hope everyone is enjoying themselves and keeping cool in the humidity (and dry in the rain!). Since you may not be in classes right now, I would like to share a lecture that I attended at another lifelong learning program about a month ago. It is eye-opening. Do yourself a favor and watch it. Take good care – Julie
Click here to see Dr. Bill Thomas talk about living in an ageist society.
This morning, Susie Wiltshire’s French class gathered for what has become their annual end of the year celebration. Yours truly was a guest (and the one behind the camera!) and I thoroughly enjoyed myself and got to experience their magic time together. What a great group of people!
The Open University starts up again in the fall, on September 17, 2018. Don’t you want to learn French too (or German, or Spanish, or Latin, or Russian, or Japanese)?!? You know you do – Julie
Would you like to hear a pretty incredible story? Then join us Monday, May 21st, to hear Curtis Monk, president and CEO of The Community Idea Stations, share with us about his personal experience being a heart transplant recipient. He will speak at 12:30 pm at St. Luke Lutheran, 7757 Chippenham Parkway. Come at noon and bring a sandwich. Coffee and cake will be available. I’m going to be there – hope you will be too!
And, we have a lunch speaker schedule change for next Thursday, May 24, at First Presbyterian. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Maria Howard will not be speaking about Warm Weather Exercises at lunch. Instead, we welcome James Garton, Associate Wellness Director at the Tuckahoe YMCA, who will speak on Wellness and Fitness for Seniors, at 12:30 pm. Again, join us at noon and bring a sandwich.
It’s the last week of the OU. Come see everyone before summer begins – Julie
The Shepherd's Center Of Richmond 