Join Us for the First Workshop of 2024!
Let’s Adapt and Move Forward: A Panel Discussion
Monday, April 8, 2024
Networking 9:30AM - 10:00AM
Workshop 10:00AM - 11:15AM
How did NYAVA get to “LET’S ADAPT AND MOVE FORWARD: A PANEL DISCUSSION” for the first workshop of 2024? We looked at current trends.
Nonprofits continued to identify finding volunteers - and avoiding burnout of current volunteers - as an ongoing challenge.
There has been a drop in formal volunteering.
The desire for flexible or virtual volunteering options has been rising. That means, economic circumstances may have changed people’s priorities, but they’re still willing to donate their time and help others.
We approached two colleagues who were using Apps to meet the interest in flexible scheduling and more. We knew a colleague had been engaging virtual volunteers before the pandemic, during it, and afterwards. We learned about ChatGPT from another colleague. We invited these four colleagues to share what they have learned and also address the pros and cons.
Please join us for NYAVA’s first 2024 Workshop.
You can join us in-person at the Sage Center Midtown, 305 7th Ave, 15th Floor,
Or via Zoom. It’s a Hybrid session!
Joe Norton is the Manager of Volunteers for all the SAGE Centers in New York City.
Joe served two decades as the Director of Education & Outreach for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, where he developed programs to raise money and awareness in school theatre departments ranging from middle schools to colleges all across the country. Joe was in charge of production volunteers for BC/EFA and loves community activism.
He has been an actor, playwright and producer for various companies in New York City. Joe has been a featured speaker for the annual Stage The Change conference and served on the governing board of the Educational Theatre Association and honored with both their Standing Ovation Award (2006) and President’s Award (2007). He has also served on the Advisory Board for R’Evolucion Latina and Artists Striving to End Poverty.
He lives in NYC with his husband, Jason, and their Siberian husky, Ace the wonder dog.
Amy Bush is the Director of Volunteer Services, Language Services, and Employee Wellness at Mount Sinai Morningside in Manhattan. She sees her work with volunteers as a way to empower future healthcare professionals, open their eyes to various patient needs and concerns, and foster meaningful connections. Amy laid the groundwork for partnering and collaborating to reach organization goals and develop effective programs through her current work, as well as with New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies, and Any Baby Can in Austin, Texas. Her work was recognized when she received the Mount Sinai Morningside Friend of Nursing Award in 2022 and a Patient-Centered Care Team Achievement Award for a volunteer feeding program called Golden Spoons. Amy received her Bachelor of Science from Texas Tech University and her Master of Arts from St Edward’s University.
Carmella Chessen has worked in Volunteer Management for 26 years and most recently as the Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator for the Virtual Senior Center (VSC) program which is part of Selfhelp Community Services. She began her volunteer management career at the former Lighthouse International where she became the Director of Volunteers during her 15 years there.
Working at VSC is an amazing opportunity as VSC was in the forefront of creating programs for homebound older adults using video chat technology which was groundbreaking in 2010!
There are both wonderful & challenging aspects to conducting a program virtually. Without this technology the members would be isolated, lonely and depressed. Since VSC is a membership program some of the members have become very good friends as they attend the same type of classes that interest them.
Carmella will share some of the mostly good and some of the challenges of leading an entirely virtual program.
Sheri Wilensky Burke, President, Sheri Wilensky Burke Consulting LLC has 35+ years of experience working with national and community-based nonprofit organizations. As a consultant and trainer, she offers a common-sense approach to volunteer engagement, breaking down complex issues into simpler, manageable parts to empower organizations to develop volunteer-based projects and volunteer leaders.
Before developing her own business, Sheri was Director of Volunteer Management & Board Development for the American Lung Association National Headquarters for 12 years, establishing strategic direction and providing consultation and training to ensure effective volunteer engagement and strengthen local board development nationwide.
In addition to consulting, Sheri works part-time as Volunteer Executive Consultants (VEC) Program Manager at RSVP. VEC volunteers provide free managerial consulting to nonprofits in Greater Philadelphia.