Title
Volunteer Management
Welcome to Extension Volunteer Management! Explore our page to find resources, professional development opportunities, and much more!
Title
Extension Volunteer Management Conference
Join us on April 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the iHotel and Conference Center in Champaign for the 2025 Extension Volunteer Engagement Conference: Connecting Voices, Amplifying Impact. This is a great opportunity to enhance your volunteer relations skills, connect with volunteer management professionals from across the state, and discover the efforts Extension has been making to strengthen support for staff in volunteer relations and management. This year's conference will feature dynamic breakout sessions that will equip you with new tools and resources to enhance your volunteer management program.
Registration is now open!
We have an engaging conference experience for you featuring a dynamic keynote speaker, interactive breakout sessions, and ample networking opportunities. Check out the opportunities, sessions, and information below!
Title
Networking Night at Jupiter's
Get ready to connect, share, and grow at this exciting event for volunteer managers and coordinators from across the state! On April 8 from 6 to 9 p.m., join us at Jupiter’s at the Crossing in Champaign for an unforgettable evening of networking, food, fun, and connections. This is a fantastic opportunity to exchange advice, resources, and build your professional network with colleagues in similar roles. Whether you're a seasoned networker or new to the scene, this event is designed to help you foster meaningful professional relationships in a relaxed, vibrant atmosphere. For networking tips, check out the helpful guide from the University of Illinois Graduate School Career Development Center. Don’t miss out—come for the connections, stay for the fun!
Join Robin Kaler, a dynamic leader at the forefront of strategic communications and crisis management, as she takes the stage to share her expertise in effective communication. As the official spokesperson for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a key advisor on the chancellor’s senior leadership team, Robin has a wealth of experience in navigating complex issues and leading crisis response efforts. In this keynote, she'll delve into the power of strategic planning in communications, offering invaluable insights to elevate your approach and ensure success in any situation. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the field!
Breakout Sessions
This year’s breakout sessions offer practical tools and insights to enhance your skills and strengthen connections. Topics include: |
Creating Media for Online Learning
Learn best practices for creating and using media in online education. This session covers everything from filming your first video to utilizing it effectively, with tips on equipment, techniques, and technology.
Navigating Risk Management
Discover Illinois Extension’s risk management framework. Learn policies and procedures to help you reduce risks and ensure the safety of your programs and activities.
From Panic to Proficiency: Master the Gateway
Get practical tips for navigating The Gateway. Learn how to manage applications, background checks, and approvals with ease to streamline your volunteer management process.
Generational Differences
Understand the unique characteristics of different generations in the workplace. This session will help you improve communication and collaboration across age groups.
Strengthening Staff-Volunteer Partnerships
Learn how offering Real Colors sessions can improve communication and understanding between staff and volunteers, fostering a positive environment that enhances collaboration, trust, and program success.
Leading with Empathy
Learn how to balance empathy with effectiveness in leadership. This session covers active listening, preventing empathy burnout, and leading with compassion while making tough decisions.
Sharing Volunteer Impact
Discover how to craft engaging stories that highlight the impact of volunteers. This session will teach you how to write compelling stories and use tools to edit and present them effectively.
Advancing 4-H Volunteer Knowledge
Explore continuing education opportunities for 4-H volunteers. Learn how to track and empower volunteers to enhance youth experiences and support their development.
Streamlining Givepulse Event Offerings
Learn how to simplify the event listing process in Givepulse for MG and MN volunteers. This session includes a demo of upcoming workflow changes to improve efficiency.
Lodging & Parking
Lodging Information
Drury Inn & Suites - 905 Anthony Dr., Champaign IL 61821
25 rooms available for April 8 only; rooms are first come, first served and we will be unable to add more rooms to the block once they are all reserved.
- Online Reservations: Volunteer Engagement Conference - Drury Room Block
- Phone Number: 1-800-325-0720
- Group Code: 10146106
- Room Block Cost: $110
- Reserve by: March 24, 2025
For other hotel options, please refer to the Preferred Hotel Listing through Illinois Department of Central Management Services.
Lodging Expenses
- Up to $50 from Central Funds is available for staff traveling more than 100 miles to attend this conference. Please review the Extension Distance Chart to determine if you qualify for these funds. Please be sure you are referencing the tab labeled "iHotel - Champaign".
Offices that qualify are highlighted in yellow but you can also reference the distance in the last column. Guidance for submitting expense reports using this funding source will be made available closer to the conference date. - Those who are headquartered within the 100-mile radius and wish to still arrive the night before will need to use unit funds to cover this expense as you normally would. This should be cleared with your supervisor prior to making the reservations.
Parking Information
The main session will be held in the Chancellor Ballroom. Parking on the south side of the conference center will get you closer to this space. Please see map for I Hotel parking information.
Volunteer Management Resources
Volunteer Management Toolkit Spotlight
A report is now available for staff to check the status of a CANTS (CFS689) background check. The report will be running weekly to reflect the status of a volunteer in the DCFS Electronic Portal. The report is housed in the Volunteer Management Toolkit under Volunteer Background Screening > DCFS CANTS Information > DCFS CANTS Screening Status for Volunteers.
2024 Volunteer Engagement Conference Recap
Conference Recordings
Keynote - Tobi Johnson
Hear from globally recognized expert in volunteer engagement (and a Master Gardener!), Tobi Johnson, on "how to take your leadership to the next level and volunteers will follow". Check out her bio to learn more about her and her impact in the world of volunteer engagement.
You will learn …
- What it means to be a truly volunteer-driven organization and what can happen when volunteers lead the way
- The STAR Method for volunteers who lead and how it can ground their practice
- How to pinpoint core values and actions and build out a personal leadership philosophy
- How to use a Team Blueprint to build a shared vision of success together
- How to build a transformational communications plan that both inspires and keeps volunteers in the loop
Volunteer Management System
The new website is designed to be a tool for Extension staff to steward and manage the volunteers they work with. This means there will be a standardized volunteer application process with streamlined background check and reference check procedures, all managed through the system. Just think of all the time staff will now have to focus on programming! The Extension Web Team and Workforce Development Team facilitated an interactive afternoon session during the conference. Participants learned the “why” and “how” of the new system, including a refresher on volunteer policies, a full demonstration of the system, and resources on how to utilize the new system.
Panel Discussion
Hear the Extension Workforce Development Volunteer Associates and the Extension Web Team facilitate question and answer session about the new Volunteer Management System.
