Volunteer Delaware Conference set April 30 in Dover

The annual Volunteer Delaware Conference, the state’s leading conference for organizations and individuals making a difference in their communities through volunteerism, is set for Monday, April 30, at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.

Presented by the Delaware State Office of Volunteerism and the Delaware Association of Volunteer Administrators, the conference will feature an array of interactive instructional workshops and networking opportunities. This year’s conference is expected to attract more than 150 attendees from across the state.

“I look forward to seeing the ideas and energy that will come out of this year’s Volunteer Delaware Conference,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services. “Delaware is sure to benefit from having so many volunteers joining together to network and learn.”

The preconference registration cost is $75 for DAVA members and $90 for nonmembers. Day-of-conference registration is $125. Registration includes breakfast, lunch and instructional sessions.

Patti Grimes, executive director of both The Freeman Stage and the Carl M. Freeman Foundation in Selbyville, will give the keynote address on Leading a Highly Committed Service Culture. In addition to her work leading The Freeman Stage and the grant management and capacity-building programs for the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, Grimes is active in the community volunteering for the Adopt-A-Family and Adopt-A-School programs, as well as other service organizations.

Writer and nonprofit executive Barry Altland will give the closing presentation, That One Thing; Gaining Return out of Your Learning and Connection Investment. Altland wrote the book, “Engaging the Head, Heart and Hands of a Volunteer.”

Topics for the morning and afternoon breakout sessions include: Do Good Better with Volunteer Delaware & HandsOn Connect – VolunteerDelaware.org Training; engaging and sustaining volunteer passion; creating a voluntary advisory committee; social media marketing for business/corporate volunteering;  and how to plan a one-day service event.

For more information or to register, go to www.volunteerdelaware.org, call April Willey at 302-857-5006 or email dhss_VolunteerDelaware@state.de.us

The Delaware Conference on Volunteerism is sponsored by Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, the Division of State Service Centers, the State Office of Volunteerism, and the Delaware Association of Volunteer Administrators.