Nov 4-5th, 2011
Central AZ College
8470 N. Overfield Road
Coolidge, AZ
85128
Saturday, November 5
8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Service Learning in Your Course: From Start to Finish—Syllabus to Reflection
Presenter: Jennifer Spring
Would you like to incorporate a powerful learning experience into
your course? “Service Learning in your Course: From Start to
Finish—Syllabus to Reflection” will walk you step-by-step through the
process of integrating service learning into a course of any discipline
We will focus on designing service projects that connect meaningfully to
the academic goals of a course. You will be able to brainstorm,
reflect, and share in small groups. My goal is to equip you with the
information, ideas, and energy/support you need to leave the session
ready to build service learning as a teaching tool into the courses you
teach. Service-learning is transformational, and it will deepen your
students’ learning.
Navigating the Roadmap to Youth Adult Partnerships
Presenters: Amy Parrot, Bryan K. Chadd, Mike Hauser & Eric Larsen
When was the last time you included youth in the decision making
process of your club, classroom or organization? If it was longer than
you’d care to remember, we encourage you to join us. Think back on your
own experiences and remember who played a critical role in your
development…was it a teacher, family member, clergy, youth organization
leader or coach? Chances are it was one or a group of positive adult
role models. Chances are also good that they believed in you, asked for
your opinions and gave you the opportunity for input on a decision, idea
or project. We want you to be enthusiastic to be that kind of role
model and help us engage the young people of Arizona and the world in
becoming the greatest impacts they can be.
Social Media Saves Lives!
Presenter: Molly DeCleene
Have you ever wondered how you could give more than just direct
service to a community organization? By using your passion for
volunteering combined with your professional skills, you can build
sustainable programs that will serve more people in your community and
have a greater impact. Social media is one way to connect thousands of
people in a community with an invested interest in your organization and
its needs. Social media may not save lives, but it is a step to making
them better.
Inspire Me: How to engage a new generation of student leaders
Presenters: Leah Luben, Tyler Eltringham, Danya Anouti (YOUTH)
As we attempt to expand service learning and volunteerism, we must
learn to translate the benefits to other sectors; we must use a new
generation of engaged students to make the transition powerful and
effective. The service sector, to be sustainable and accountable, cannot
remain a world known only to specialists. As experts in the field we
must learn to educate a variety of populations, and in doing so we will
find that some of the best advocates for change are students. Please
join us to learn effective student engagement strategies that can be
implemented at your institution.
How Solving Ethical Dilemmas Can Keep Volunteers Inspired and Motivated
Presenter: Stacia Ortega
Got Ethics? Participate in an interactive workshop designed to get
you thinking about the importance of ethics and boundary setting in the
volunteer arena. Be prepared to engage in real life situations faced by
volunteers, framing ethical challenges and determining appropriate
solutions.
Strategic Planning for Volunteer Organizations
Presenter: Paul Pitts
The Strategic plan defines the purpose of the organization,
establishes realistic goals and objectives consistent with the
organization’s capacity for implementation. Ensures the most effective
use is made of the organization’s resources by focusing the resources on
the key priorities. Provides a base from which progress can be measured
and establishes a mechanism for informed change when needed.Simply put,
strategic planning determines where an organization is going over the
next year or more, how it’s going to get there and how to know if it got
there or not.
Volunteers of All Ages
Presenter: Lisa Humenik
Successfully involving volunteers from various generations can
sometimes be a challenge. Learn about the unique characteristics of the
Millenial, Generation X, Boomer, and Silent Generations and create an
action plan to better engage individuals from each in meaningful
volunteer work. Together we’ll explore the design of volunteer roles,
recruitment, supervision, retention, and recognition best practices that
are effective for each generation.
Saturday, November 5
10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Preserving Local History as a part of the celebration for Arizona’s Centennial
Presenter: Lisa Westrick, Margarita Ramirez-Loya, Michelle Cardenas, and oral history students
When students get engaged in big projects that enable them to
interact with the community to capture and preserve local history, they
not only develop their academic skills, but most importantly, they
acquire a sense of understanding, appreciation and respect towards their
community and its members. The Jewish Cemetery project arose from
concern Cochise College students wanting to preserving local Jewish
history. Another group of Cochise College students conducted oral
history interviews and gained an understanding of lifestyles in Douglas
and Pirtleville in the early 1900s. Today, they will present part of
their work honoring the stories from people that helped recreate mind
pictures of a time that once was and now belongs to history. Join us to
celebrate Arizona’s Centennial.
Integrating Service Learning into the Core Curriculum
Presenter: Krista Gypton
How does one incorporate service learning into curriculum in a time
that testing and standards based teaching is so prevalent? The purpose
of this workshop is to answer the most common question that teachers ask
about the use of service learning in the core curriculum. We will look
at the four top core classes (English, Science, Math and Social Studies)
and discuss how service learning can actually enhance standards and
possibly increase test scores. Teachers will leave with strong academic
examples of projects, as well as leave with a toolbox of activities that
can instantly be used in their classrooms.
A Seven-Step Framework for Developing, Implementing, and Assessing the Effectiveness of Service Learning
Presenter: Jennifer Dwosh (YOUTH)
Are you new to the practice of Service Learning? Are you unsure of
how to implement a Service Learning project? The research-based
Seven-Step framework presented in this session takes the Service
Learning facilitator through the process of choosing the academic focus,
developing a standards-aligned service project, planning and executing
the academic and logistical details of the project, and assessing the
effectiveness of the project on student learning. If you need tips and
strategies for developing and implementing a Service Learning project in
your classroom, this session is for you.
Four Critical Concepts for Using Technology in Community Partnerships
Presenter: Rachel Wendler
In the swirl of new technologies available for service-learning and
volunteer work, making decisions about effective digital tools can be
challenging. This workshop will center on four critical concepts that
can help make these decisions easier. With a focus on stories about
technology—both successes tales and epic fails– we’ll look at promising
electronic tools, debunk common technology myths, explore a heuristic
for evaluating digital tools, and develop guiding principles for
technology use in community contexts. The workshop will also include
time for group problem solving about technology issues currently faced
by participants, as we collaboratively tackle these tough questions.
How to train staff to work with volunteers
Presenter: Carly Shaw
Do your paid staff and volunteers at your organization not understand
each other and the roles they play? The purpose of this workshop is to
help establish conditions that encourage a productive and welcoming
environment in which paid staff and volunteer can work together. Explore
different ways to train busy staff to work with volunteers!
Effective Volunteer Management
Presenters: Franciso Avalos, Renee Levin
Effective volunteer management is imperative to retaining volunteers
and can also be used as a tool to strengthen relationships. In this
workshop we will articulate how organizations can enhance their
volunteer program, deal with various volunteer personalities and how to
cultivate and foster relationships.
Member Facilitated Learning Communities
Presenters: Ben Olsen, Margaret Garvey
Member Facilitated Learning Communities have been used by Yavapai
County VISTA Project as part of our member training program for the past
(3) years. This replicable training model can be used to assist a
National Service team with skill training, professional development and
team building. The goal of this presentation is to provide other
Volunteer Coordinators and National Service Supervisors the resources to
implement a similar program that will assist them in meeting their
volunteers’ training needs. The presentation will include an overview of
the model, a brief history of our experience, key elements, potential
pitfalls and overview of materials for launching this training program.
Everyone’s a Grant Writer
Presenter: Jeremiah Smith
Every agency and organization needs funding, but most don’t use or
understand grants correctly. The goal of this presentation is to dispel
many of the myths and misbeliefs of grants and grant writing. Grant
writing is about so much more than writing, in fact, writing is possibly
one of the least important or at least time-consuming aspects. This
presentation will highlight some of the most common mistakes made and
the keys to creating successful proposals. By the end of the
presentation, you will receive the tools and resources to prepare a
competitive, professional proposal that will allow you to better serve
the needs of Arizona.
A Little “Thanks” Goes A Long Way!
Presenter: Eric Larsen
“Thank You”, is a phrase that is sometimes forgotten or underutilized
in our current society. With many organizations counting on volunteers
to assist when help is needed, it is important that the volunteer walks
away with the sense that their hard work was truly appreciated. An easy
way to maintain and expand your organizations volunteer base is by
saying “Thank You” in non-traditional ways. The lost art of saying
“Thank You” will be rekindled after attending this workshop and you will
be prepared to say “Thank You” to your volunteers, staff, donors and
clientele. Thank You!
Saturday, November 5
1:45 – 3:15
Creating Meaningful Service Experiences through Effective Critical Reflection
Presenter: Deborah Ball
Would you like to implement critical reflection to any volunteer or
service learning experience to enhance your participants’ experience,
knowledge base and understanding of the purpose of the service? This
interactive workshop will provide you with a step-by-step guideline to
facilitating high quality critical thinking that can help sustain
volunteers and create civically responsible citizens of all ages. Two
different models of reflection will be illustrated. You will learn the
importance of reflective learning, how to facilitate reflective
discussions, and how to design reflective writing assignments that will
examine and interpret a service activity or experience.
Managing Volunteer Programs with Community Collaboration
Presenter: Emily Taylor
An overview of a the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent Programs
volunteer management and collaboration process with practical
applications and adaptable tools for use within your own agency.
Systematize, Engage, and Inspire Businesses and Volunteers to work with Students and Schools
Presenter: Trish McCartey, Janis Shoop
Systematize, Engage and Inspire is an interactive presentation meant
to give meaningful tools and advice to help those beginning
organizations or mature organizations to think strategically about
putting partnerships together for learning experiences, community
building and mutual marketing and public relations. Detailed processes,
tools and software ideas will be exchanged as well as tips for grant
seekers and corporations to better identify worthy causes. Attendees
will be given spreadsheet tracking information, follow-up ideas to
develop outstanding customer service and ideas to keep the students as
well as volunteers motivated and inspired.
Wiggio, Weebly, Wordle, Writeboard, and More
Presenter: Linda DeVore
Do you recognize any of these: Prezi, Zotero, Wiggio, QR, Zamzar,
Mindmeister, Screencast, Weebly, Jigsy, Pageflakes, Mailinator, Wordle,
Jing, Endnote, or Zoho? Do you know how to use them? Do you know what
they can do for you and/or your organization? Come learn about Web 2.0
and have some fun at the same time! Bring your Internet-connected device
with you to share the exploration!
SHAPES for Service
Presenters: Elisabeth Sims, Deidre Crawley
Our unique SHAPES for Service Inspire us to serve in our communities!
Our SHAPES for Service Energize our organizations and our people to
action! Using the SHAPES for Service will enable us to Mobilize people
for meaningful service in their communities when they find their
best-fit! Inspire, Energize, and Mobilize your organizations to new
heights by focusing on your most important assets, your individual
volunteers. By knowing their SHAPES for Service you serve them and
empower them to serve you better.
Together We Play
Presenters: Christina Nickerson, WEB Leaders (YOUTH)
Laugh and play your way through our presentation. Presenters will
create an atmosphere that allows for social acceptance. We will improve
interpersonal competencies: empathy, sensitivity and friendship skills.
You will increase your sense of connection to your peers, improve your
decision making skills, ability to resist peer pressure and resolve
conflict positively.
Play it Forward
Presenters: Jamie Aiken, Valencia Winfrey, Amber Johnson
A professional development workshop designed for school staff,
parents, community members, volunteers, children and anyone who
understand the value of recess and want better tools to preserve and
protect this important time of the day. This high energy, interactive
learning extravaganza will bring together those interested in learning
how to enhance education by providing inclusive opportunities for
physical activity and play. Participants will experience active,
physical play as a child would on the playground, moving seamlessly
between visuals, discussion, groups work and games. Playworks presenters
will support various learning styles, diverse backgrounds and levels of
experience just as a member of a school staff would experience. Every
workshop participant plays, learns and reflects on the best practices
that they can take back to their school/ organization and implement
immediately.
Service-Learning Arizona, The New Face of Learn and Serve Arizona
Presenters: Stephanie Hahn, Kurt Parks
What’s going to happen to K-12 service-learning in Arizona now that
the Learn and Serve Arizona program has been cut? Please join us to
discuss the new face of Learn and Serve Arizona which over the next year
will transform into Service-Learning Arizona. During this session, we
will share information regarding resources and funding for
service-learning, Arizona’s K-12 service-learning standards, the
national scoop, and more. All attendees will receive the K-12
Service-Learning Project Planning Toolkit (which includes the national
service-learning standards) and the K-16 Service for a Lifetime resource
guide.
My TakeAways:
I'd wanted to attend this last year, but for some reason or another, I couldn't go. I went this year and definitely didn't get my money's worth. I had intended to go on Friday...before I realized that it would be a waste of gas to drive up there for one class that only lasted an hour and a half.
The workshop in the early morning (highlighted in red) was really the only good one. Very interactive. Got a folder full of info. It felt a bit rushed, but it was still a good workshop.
The workshop in the late morning (highlighted in pink) really was geared more towards national service organizations. The concept is great---a program design utilizing the facilitative leadership style that empowers team members to have control over what is taught and learned and become responsible to each other for the groups learning outcomes. Facilitative leadership designs a process by which decisions are made by all or by whomever is most directly affected by the decision. Even though the goal of the workshop was to "provide other
Volunteer Coordinators and National Service Supervisors the resources to
implement a similar program that will assist them in meeting their
volunteers’ training needs," I'm still a little unsure how I'll be able to incorporate this method into my own organization and with my own volunteers.
The workshop in the early/late afternoon (highlighted in orange) well, the presenters never showed. There was a woman there who was supposed to "present" them, but five minutes into the allotted time, they never showed. Needless to say, I was disappointed because I was really looking forward to that workshop. So we were encouraged to check out another workshop during the same time frame, and I had chosen...
The workshop (highlighted in teal)...only I couldn't find the room! The room it was
supposed to be in turned out be a teacher's office! I walked around outside the building (where the number actually was), inside the building and...nothing.
By that time, I was pissed and just decided to go home. It was a waste of $35, a waste of gas, and I don't plan to go again next year.
