Important Announcement: NCAVA To Dissolve March 31, 2025

It is with a mixture of gratitude and regret that we write to inform you of an important decision regarding the future of NCAVA. After careful consideration, the Board of Directors has decided to dissolve the organization, effective March 31, 2025.

This decision was not made lightly. For more than 50 years, NCAVA has been dedicated to excellence in volunteer management. As one of the first professional associations for volunteer managers in the country, NCAVA served as a catalyst for transformative leadership and innovation, fostered inclusive engagement and meaningful impact, and empowered volunteer managers with knowledge and resources. However, due to dwindling interest In NCAVA as gauged by difficulties in recruiting new board members, fewer local affiliates organized across the state, and reduced members seeking certification, the board has determined that it is no longer feasible to continue operating.

We want to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support, participation, and commitment to NCAVA over the past years. Your contributions have been instrumental in helping us fulfill our mission, and we are incredibly proud of all we have accomplished together. We continue to work with partners both locally and nationally to help ensure that while NCAVA is ending, there are still resources available to support those working professionally to engage and support volunteers.

As we proceed with the dissolution process, we will:

Ensure all remaining organizational obligations are met responsibly.

Provide further information to members who wish to maintain their certification.

Be responsive to any questions or concerns you may have during this transition.

Although NCAVA is ending after 50 years of service to North Carolina, we hope that the relationships and experiences built through this community will continue to thrive in new and meaningful ways. Thank you once again for being a part of our journey. Your trust and involvement have meant more than words can express.

With gratitude and best wishes,

Warm regards,

Vanessa Miller

President

NCAVA

Presidential Update: Organizational Name Change

We wanted to let you know about an important update regarding our organization. After discussing and strategic planning, the board decided to change our organization’s name to reflect our mission and vision better.

Our new name is the North Carolina Association of Volunteer Advancement (NCAVA), and we are excited about this change's positive impact on the volunteer managers and coordinators we serve. While our name is evolving, our commitment to NCAVA remains firm.

How to Redeem Your Affiliate Member Benefit

The new year is bringing along a few changes with NCAVA and one of those is a brand new benefit for members of our affiliate organizations. If you are a member of an NCAVA affiliate (PRAVA, TRIAVA, Volunteer Burke), you will now be able to redeem a discount code to receive $10 off of an Individual NCAVA Membership.

You should receive this code from your affiliate organization’s leadership. Once you receive this code here is how to redeem it:

Interview with a New Volunteer Coordinator

Fall is here, which means it is Halloween season! With that in mind, I thought it might be fun to interview a volunteer coordinator who has survived their first year of full-time volunteer coordination. Whether you are in your first year or are a seasoned veteran, we all have had to face a steep, sometimes nerve-racking, learning curve when it comes to starting a new profession. This interview is meant to gain the perspective of someone who just made it through their first year. I encourage anyone who reads through my frighteningly-horrible Halloween puns to share in the discussion by commenting below. We would love to hear advice from new and veteran volunteer coordinators, and may even share in our next newsletter or on social media.

Letter From the President - August 2023

Letter From the President - August 2023

Dear Members,

“Restructure and Refresh NCAVA” was the focus of the board summit for 2023.  As with other organizations, we have experienced some uncertainties regarding the future of NCAVA. During these post-pandemic times, membership and certification numbers have fallen, prices have risen while budgets have not, and our local affiliate organizations are experiencing the same hardships. So how do we change this, and support one another?  As Barack Obama stated, “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”  We are on that path to elevate NCAVA and advanced volunteer administrators.

1. Fill Out the Session Notes Form and Keep Your Certificate of Attendance 

Before each session a few forms will be handed out. These include a note taking form and a session evaluation. At the end of the session if you turn in the evaluation form you will receive a certificate of attendance. Even if you are not sure you would like to pursue CAVNC certification at the moment, if you keep your notes page and certificate of attendance, they can be used towards CEUs up to three years after the session.  

2. Don't Overlook the Opportunity to Problem Solve  and Share Information

Why Should You Attend The NCAVA 2023 Statewide Conference on Volunteer Management?

Now is the time to invest in your professional development and network with leaders of volunteers from across the state. During the three-day conference we will be navigating many relevant workshops pertaining to volunteer management including; the commitment of the profession, planning and conceptual design, perspective and responsiveness, accountability, and resource development and management.

NCAVA Education Chair Now Open (2022-2023)

The North Carolina Association of Volunteer Administration Board of Directors has started the process of recruiting for the Education Chair position. The Education Chair will assist the VP of Professional Development with ensuring members have access to educational and certification opportunities. We encourage interested NCAVA members to apply or share with others they feel may be a good fit. The position is completely volunteer, but it is a great way entry level position to gain leadership and non-profit board experience.

NCAVA Webmaster Recruitment Now Open (2022-2023)

The North Carolina Association of Volunteer Administration Board of Directors has started the process of recruiting for the Webmaster position. The Webmaster will assist the VP of Communications with content creation and the updating of the website/ online store. We encourage interested NCAVA members to apply or share with others they feel may be a good fit. The position is completely volunteer, but it is a great way entry level position to gain leadership and non-profit board experience as well as learn about website/ online store management through Square Space.

NCAVA Publication Chair Recruitment Now Open (2022-2023)

The North Carolina Association of Volunteer Administration Board of Directors has started the process of recruiting for the Publications Chair position. The will assist the VP of Communications with content creation and the monthly membership newsletter. We encourage interested NCAVA members to apply or share with others they feel may be a good fit. The position is completely volunteer, but it is a great way entry level position to gain leadership and non-profit board experience.

NCAVA IT Chair Recruitment Now Open (2022-2023)

The North Carolina Association of Volunteer Administration Board of Directors has started the process of recruiting new Regional Directors who will oversee recruitment in the Western and Eastern parts of North Carolina. We encourage interested NCAVA members to apply or share with others they feel may be a good fit. The position is completely volunteer, but it is a great way entry level position to gain leadership and non-profit board experience.

NCAVA Regional Director Recruitment Now Open (2022-2023)

The North Carolina Association of Volunteer Administration Board of Directors has started the process of recruiting new Regional Directors who will oversee recruitment in the Western and Eastern parts of North Carolina. We encourage interested NCAVA members to apply or share with others they feel may be a good fit. The position is completely volunteer, but it is a great way entry level position to gain leadership and non-profit board experience.

Membership Announcement

Dear NCAVA Members,

Normally in January we would be sending out membership renewal reminders, but this year is a little different. If you go to the website you will notice the Payment section of the website is currently offline. The Board has been very busy updating our membership options, as well as, updating our financial institution. So while everything transfers, we have had to shut off payments.

As for the updated membership options, do not worry! There has been no price increase, just more options available to meet the diverse needs of our members.

Meet Our Members: Carlton Koonce

Carlton Koonce has been a member of NCAVA for over five years - since his introduction to the organization, Koonce says that NCAVA has been “a great way to network with like minded volunteer managers but also to build relationships for my line of work.” He is now the Workforce Manager at Durham Children’s Initiative, where he “level(s) the playing field for disadvantaged youth via soft skills workforce training, internships and financial literacy.” Koonce has also served previously on NCAVA’s board as Publications Chair.