Breakout session descriptions:

Finding Remote Volunteer Roles that fit the mission and create broader Impact: The perfect transition for flexible volunteering requests

Rouleen Gartner, WVCA Vice President

This session explores how organizations can develop a robust remote volunteer program that can align volunteer's passions, skills, and availability with meaningful remote roles that advance an organization’s mission. Participants will learn how to identify high‑impact virtual opportunities, evaluate whether a role truly supports broader organizational goals, and position themselves for flexible, purpose‑driven service. We’ll also highlight practical strategies for navigating remote expectations, building trust from afar, and sustaining long‑term engagement that makes a measurable difference. 

Stop Filling Slots: Finding the Right Volunteer and Building the Right Role

Maya Will, WVCA Secretary 

Being a hospice volunteer coordinator can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to recruit volunteers, meet the state and federal requirements of hours, support your patients and families, and figure out where volunteers actually fit.

In this session, we’ll talk about looking at volunteers a little differently. Instead of starting with a list of volunteer roles and trying to find people to fill them, what if we started with the person. What are they good at? What do they enjoy? What experience do they have? What are they passionate about? Then, how can we use those skills and passions to create a volunteer opportunity that is meaningful for them while also being helpful to our patients, families, and program?

I’ll share some of the things that have worked for me while growing our hospice volunteer program, along with some of the creative ways I’ve (we've?) found to use volunteers, recruit new volunteers, create events and projects, and keep volunteers involved and tied to our missions. 

We’ll also talk about some of the challenges that come up, especially when you’re new to hospice volunteering, and how sometimes the best volunteer opportunity is one you didn’t even know you needed until you met the right person.

My goal is for everyone to leave with some new ideas, a little inspiration, and a different way of looking at the volunteers already in your community.

Volunteer Engagement is Everyone's Job - Train your staff to work with volunteers 

Allie Acridge, CVA, WVCA President

It is not feasible for you to be the only one doing volunteer engagement - it is EVERYONE job at your organization! 

We'll review what kinds of things you should have in your training, as well as who and when to train.  

I will share the overview of what I do for the training as well, this will be available to you after the session. Please make yours for your staff and what will work for them!

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Members registration is free, non-members registration is $25. 

Membership is $25, become a member now HERE.

*Members: you will need to log in to register for free using the email associated with your WVCA membership

*Non-Members: you will need to become a member before registering if you want to be a member

Everyone is welcome to join!

We invite you to a virtual book club discussion of The Volunteer Shelf Life by Meridian Swift. Whether you've read every page or are just curious about the conversation, we'd love to have you participate.

A Zoom link will be sent on Monday, November 2.