Campus Activity Board

CU @ The Mayfair – Dirty Dancing Screening

Strategic VolunteerismFinding the Right Volunteer Opportunities for You

Lesley MacKinnon Co-Chair, Development

Overview

• Your volunteer goals

• Steps to success

• An example

• Resources

Your Goals“What do I want to get out of this?”

• Job/Career– Networking– Experience in your

field of interest– References

• Education– Relevant to your field

of study– Scholarships

• Skill Development– Doing something new– Honing knowledge– Developing

transferable skills

• Interest

Upcoming Events!

Executive – 7 VolunteersGeneral Member Engagement Target: 20 (2013)Steps to Success

1. Identify your Goals (Above)

2. Do your Research

3. Prepare your CV

4. Reach Out (Find an Opportunity)

5. Set the Terms of your Engagement

6. Do your Best!

DUA Staff Advisor – Matthew Prowse (BA Hons ’12 – History)

Young Alumni Advisor – James Armbruster (BA ‘11 – Law and Human Rights)Executive Assistant – CUSA (Present)Policy Consultant – Campaign to Control Cancer (2012)Co-Chair – Carleton Relay 4 Life ($73,000 raised)VPO – CASG (2010-2012)Parliamentary Intern (2010-2011)

Co-Chair, Development – Lesley MacKinnon (1st year - MA Philanthropy and Non-profit Leadership Candidate) BA Hons Global Politics (Carleton)

Certified expert in microfinance – Frankfurt School of BusinessRA – Carleton Centre for Community Innovation (Present)Intern – Grameen Trust, Bangladesh (micro finance focus)House of Commons Page (2008)Office Manager – UN Women Canada National Committee(2011)

2. Do your ResearchBased on your Goals, think about...

• What kinds of organizations you want to work with– Campus-based, local, regional, national, international– Organizational missions and activities

• What kinds of tasks/responsibilities you want to take on

• What organizations are actively looking for volunteers with your skills,

• Where you may want to reach out to propose an unadvertised opportunity

Upcoming Events

Co-Chair, Programming – Christian Robillard (3rd year – PAPM – Social Policy)President – Off Campus Student’s Association (Present)Secretar y– Circle K International (Present)L.I.T – Camp Smitty (2012)Board of Directors – Youth Ottawa (2013)Policy Advisory Committee – Ottawa Boys and Girls Club (2012)VP Philanthropy – ACACIA Fraternity (2012)

Director, Communications – Martin Klemes (4th year – BA Hons – Film Studies)Background in creative and production – print, digital, video, webCompleted prestigious USE Cinematic Arts Summer ProgramLed and developed Athletics levy Social Media Campaign (Carleton)Social Media Team – activity and planning – 20,000 subscribers Director – Campus Activity Board, Carleton (2012)

3. Prepare your CV• You are selling yourself similarly as for a job: what will you add to the

organization?

• Make clear what you want to get out of the experience (statement of purpose)

• Highlight key successes and strengths

• Your volunteer CV should be tailored to each position

• Write a cover letter!

Alumni Discounts/Services

…Plus many more! Pick-up your ALUMNI CARD after Graduation to claim your rewards.

Alumni Discounts/Services

Director, Fundraising Initiatives– Melissa Kohlman (1st year – MSC – Biology Candidate) BSC (uOttawa)

Head of PR – Bill Nye OC (2012)VP Philanthropic Initiatives – Science Society(2011-2012)

Faculty of Science – Shinerama Lead ($23,000) – 35 eventsField Work RA – Chile (2013)Assistant Curator – C.E.F Museum (2010-2012)

Director, Learning & Organization Development – Erica Butler (3rd year – BA Hons – Women’s & Gender Studies)

Programming Coordinator – Gender & Sexuality Resource CentreCommunications Intern – CHRC (2012)Leadership Team – Youth Services Bureau (2012)Programming Coordinator- Youth Advisory Committee(2012) Algonquin PR Program (2011)

4. Reach Out (Find an Opportunity)• Contact several organizations to learn more about the positions,

and see what would be a good fit• Contact the right person• Ask the right questions- the Volunteer Interview• Show your connection to the cause/mission- why do you care?• If you are proposing an unlisted opportunity, say how you can help

Ex: “I can help you develop a more intuitive and user-friendly website to increase your outreach, and create tools that will allow you to use social media more effectively”

• Explain your interest in the position clearlyEx: “I have extensive event planning experience with [organization] and would like to further develop my leadership and event planning skills by acting as an event coordinator”

5. Set the Terms of your EngagementOnce you have selected a volunteer opportunity…

• Agree on parameters for your participation– Tasks, Commitments– Hours/week– Length of volunteer agreement (1 event, 1 year, etc)

• Strive to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement– Make explicit what you and the organization each want to accomplish

• Be realistic to be successful– Don’t be afraid to start slow and take on more as you become comfortable with your

role and the organization

6. Do your Best!

• Treat it like job: be willing to be committed

• You won’t get more out of a volunteer opportunity than you put in

An Example: My Story• Alternative Spring Break

– Mexico

• Small fundraisers

• Internship– Used strategic volunteerism principles for school – Grameen Bank, Bangladesh

• UN Women Canada

• Global Politics Society

Great Carleton Grads

Upcoming Events 29/30 August – Training & Executive Orientation Day Early September – General Member Recruitment Begins 4 September – Carleton Expo (Volunteer Recruitment) Homecoming – Training Event – Food Drive

Development Goal 2-3 Projects (2 Fall/1 Winter

Call for proposals

Programming Workshops and Webinars TBC Development Summit (Winter)

My Key Lessons• Strategic volunteerism is a skill

and a process• Thinking strategically about

where and how to participate is an important transferable skill

• Things I’ve learned through volunteering shape my career interests and goals

• Volunteering forces me to manage my time effectively

• Volunteerism has taught me entrepreneurship

Great Carleton Grads

Upcoming Events 29/30 August – Training & Executive Orientation Day Early September – General Member Recruitment Begins 4 September – Carleton Expo (Volunteer Recruitment) Homecoming – Training Event – Food Drive

Development Goal 2-3 Projects (2 Fall/1 Winter

Call for proposals

Programming Workshops and Webinars TBC Development Summit (Winter)

Volunteering Resources

• Charity Village• Volunteer Canada• Volunteer Ottawa• CRA Charities Director

ate• City of Ottawa

• CUSA Clubs and Societies

• Student Experience Office Community Service Learning

• Strategic Volunteerism Blog

Questions?