The Volunteer Round Table Seminar

Our local VIP Fellows serving at CalSERVES and Extended Child Care have partnered up to facilitate a monthly Volunteer Roundtable (VRT) seminar.  These seminars provide a unique professional development opportunity for the dedicated volunteers throughout our partner site programs.  Volunteers have the chance to network with volunteers at different organizations, and learn about topics ranging from leadership to emotional intelligence.  The VRT also gives our VIP Fellows the opportunity to develop their own leadership skills by creating and facilitating the seminars.  

Capacity building is an important aspect of the VRT that has made it a focus to our local team.  By giving volunteers additional training they develop into even more high value volunteers and they also feel more connected to our programs because of the opportunity to participate in such a unique seminar series.

An important aspect of the VRT is the emphasis on open discussions.  The volunteers delve into issues and come up with creative ideas about leadership that they can use in their volunteer roles.   By creating a space for the volunteers to have their perspectives heard, we have open and useful discussions around leadership topics.  It makes for an interactive and engaging seminar. 

The VRT is also a sort of appreciation for our volunteers.  It allows us as facilitators to show that we care about their own development as volunteers and as individuals.  What’s more, by learning new leadership skills, the quality of their service also increases, and everyone comes out on top.  

The VRT has been a success in our program, and we encourage other volunteer programs to develop similar enrichment programs for volunteers. You will be amazed at how thankful volunteers will be for a worthwhile training experience!

VIP Fellows Meghan Schuttler, CalSERVES,  and Sydney Tanimoto, ECC,  appreciate their volunteers at the VRT