FEATURE ARTICLE - Volunteer Manitoba - The Service Centre for Non-Profit Agencies

From Custom Training for your organization, to an outstanding library, to a special website to recruit youth volunteers, we are here to help you meet the challenges facing our sector.

The largest area within Volunteer Manitoba is the training department. Over the past two years, this department has developed a number of innovative ways to develop your staff, board, and volunteers. The department's three staff members: Denice, Tracy and Delores are working hard to make sure you have access to information that is current, relevant, affordable and delivered in a variety of formats to fit your needs and schedule.

We offer 5 basic services:
1. Workshops - A new calendar of workshops comes out twice a year: September & January and these workshops are offered across Manitoba. Topics are offered through three signature series: Board Development Series, Organization Development Series, and Volunteer Management Series. For this year' s calendar visit our website...

2. Custom Training & Facilitation - Custom Training & Facilitation services are designed to bring training to your organization "When you want... Where you want". All the workshops you see in our training calendar can be customized for your organization and scheduled at your convenience anywhere in Manitoba. Since the training is provided for a set fee, this is the most efficient way to train a group from your organization on one topic and have the content customized to address your group's unique needs. We also have facilitators available who can assist you during your planning sessions. For a complete list of available topics, visit our website...

3. Executive Director Peer Learning Group - A group that is formed every fall through an application process. A theme for the group is determined through feedback and trends facing the leaders of Non-Profits. The group meets 4 times to share experiences, develop critical analysis skills, practice, and reflect on their new knowledge surrounding this theme in a safe, confidential environment while receiving feedback from their peers. Visit our website to learn more...

4. Brown Bags - lunch-time learning featuring quick, practical, topical presentations by industry experts.

5. Consultation Service - "Quick Answers to Quick Questions" A Free 15- minute guidance service designed to address day-to-day issues surrounding the effectiveness of your Board of Directors. Board Chairpersons and Executive Directors can access our in-house consultant for insights into Board governance and conflict resolution issues facing your board. For more information...

To learn more about any of these five services please contact Denice Girdner or Tracy Douglass, (204) 477-5180, 1-888-922-4545, or vm@mts.net.