PowerUP ! Informational Webinar #1 October 23, 2013 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

1. PowerUP! Informational Webinar #1 October 23, 2013 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

2. Webinar Instructions Audio options: • Use your computer speakers, OR • Dial in to the conference call (but mute your computer speakers) • All participants are muted “Questions” box: • Use the questions box to submit your questions AND comments. Click on the “+” to pop out the chat box where you can type and submit your questions.

3. PowerUP! Slides This PowerUP! Power Point Presentation is available at the Volunteer Collaborative website.

4. Who are we? The Aging Network's Volunteer Collaborative is a national resource center that helps establish the aging and disability networks as leaders in engaging the growing cohort of talented older adult volunteers in order to meet the growing needs for services. A Resource Center funded by ACL/AoA.

5. Principal Partnersn4a & NASUAD National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) n4a is the leading voice on aging issues for Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) across the country and a champion for Title VI Native American aging programs in our nation’s capital. n4a advocates on behalf of local aging agencies to ensure that needed resources and support services are available to older Americans and their caregivers. NASUAD represents the nation’s 56 state and territorial agencies on aging and disabilities and supports visionary state leadership, the advancement of state systems innovation and the articulation of national policies that support home and community based services for older adults and individuals with disabilities.

6. Volunteer Collaborative in 2014 • PowerUP! Training Institutes including”: • Virtual training and technical assistance for organizational leaders to develop “readiness” and prepare for introduction of teams. • A series of 10 regional trainings for 2 – 3 volunteersfrom committed organizations to learn the art of self-directed volunteer team development and leadership. • Got An Hour? Campaign: Raise awareness of the needs for eldercare services in local communities and entice volunteers by showing how just one hour can help.

7. What is a Self-directed Team? Definition: A multi-skilled group of 55+ adult volunteers who share responsibilities for addressing a challenge or opportunity in their community. Through time, the team is empowered to take full responsibility for its own functioning and for results. National Council on Aging (2008) A self-directed volunteer team in Delaware

8. How do self-directed volunteer teams work?

9. PowerUP’s Key Features • Issue-based • Outcome focused • Team organization • Self-direction • Shared leadership • Evaluation

10. Why invest in a new volunteer engagement strategy? • Budgets are stagnating or shrinking. • The 55+ population is growing; in those who need services and those who can provide services. • There is asset in the aged, not just needs – wisdom, experience, expertise. • Today’s 55+ want not only episodic, time-limited volunteer opportunities, but impactful, creative and substantive volunteer work that makes a difference in the agencies they serve within and the constituents served. • In previous research and demonstration civic engagement initiatives funded by AoA, self-directed volunteer teams had a return on investment of 8:1, in the majority of organizations participating.

11. Tangibles: • Office space and desk supplies • Phone • Email address • Business cards • Agreement (or charter) between volunteer team and organization What will it take? Intangibles: • Support from the highest levels of the organization, but not micro-managing • Definable issues that can be addressed by a team of volunteers how they see fit • Orientation and understanding of expectations from both sides: volunteers and organization • Trust that your existing, committed volunteers or newly recruited volunteers understand your mission and work to achieve those ends • Agreement (or charter) between volunteer team and organization

12. How ready are you? • Willing to learn, think, work, and operate differently? • Ready to be open and accept objective input from outsiders? • How do you feel about working with higher skilled, experienced volunteers? • How do staff and board members feel about working with skilled volunteers? • How do you feel about giving volunteers with the required skills and experience the autonomy to make recommendations and/or decisions with minimal direct supervision? • Are your staff and board members willing to re-arrange some of their priorities and make time for implementing new ways to accomplish the organization’s mission and goals? • Are you willing to interact with volunteers much as you do with professional-level colleagues? • Are most staff and board members willing to interact with volunteers much as they do with professional colleagues? • Are there two or three characteristics or ways your organization operates that would facilitate or expedite the design and implementation of a skilled volunteer program (or expand your current program)? • Are there two or three characteristics or ways your organization operates that would represent barriers to utilizing skilled volunteers in leadership or professional capacities?

13. What will you get? • Expansion of organizational reach; more people receiving the services they need learning about you! • Accomplishments and outcomes on priority aging service needs. • Enhanced roles for volunteers; giving the volunteer flexibility and independence to be creative in building organizational capacity! • A cadre of community ambassadors; more knowledgeable, engaged volunteers spreading the word about who you are and how much you do! • More work done and a reduction of the never-ending list of “to-dos”. • Freed staff time to focus on their areas of expertise and primary responsibilities. • A high return on investmen.t • And more!

14. Where and When January 1 and September 1, 2014 • January 29 – 30 ------ Los Angeles Area • February 26 – 27 ---- Dallas Area • March 19 – 20 ------- Atlanta Area • April - (2 Areas) ----- Chicago (2-3) and Kansas City (16-17) • May - (2 Areas ) ----- Baltimore (7-8) and New York City (21-22) • June 11 – 12 --------- Boston Area • July (TBD)------------- Make-up • August (2 Areas) ---- Portland, OR (6-7) andDenver (20 - 21)

15. What’s next? • Review all the Training Institute Details at www.agingnetworkvolunteercollaborative.org. Our first featured slide connects you to the details. • Confer with colleagues and organizational leadership. Determine potential lead volunteers to engage and confer with them, as well. • Submit a Letter of Interest – also found with the Details. • Completion of an organizational readiness assessment (provided by the Volunteer Collaborative) and designation of organization key staff support or liaison by executive leadership. • Create a brief issues narrative that a self-directed volunteer team can work to address. • Orientation webinars attended by organization leadership and volunteers (separately).

16. Questions? • Tom Endres – tendres@n4a.org • Patricia Reid – preid@n4a.org