e-news member,

Welcome to the August edition of our newsletter. In this edition you can read about the successes of some of WA's community organisations, find out more about upcoming training, the ACSA national conference, this years SES awards plus lots more.

1. Volunteering WA membership renewal
2. Volunteer Management Network Forum
3. Youth Volunteering at Volunteering WA
4. Regional short term volunteer places sought
5. Volunteering radio series
6. AAVA Volunteer Administrator Award of Excellence
7. Congratulations to...
8. Nominations open for 2009 State Emergency Service Awards
9. (ACSA) National Conference and Trade Exhibition
10. Welcome to new members...
11. August’s hot resource tip!

Volunteering WA membership renewal

All Volunteering WA financial members should recently have received a renewal notice via email. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to renew so far, it's great to have you on board again for another year.

For those who have yet to renew please note the renewal deadline is now here, we will be sending out a reminder email shortly.

If for some reason you haven't received a renewal email from us please contact us on 9482 4333 to rejoin or email info@volunteeringwa.org.au.

Volunteer Management Network Forum

Thursday 13 August 9:30 to 12:00

Join us for Kerry Allan-Zinner’s session: “Becoming Successfully Disabled!” Kerry is one of WA’s most active and sought after advocates for people with disabilities. She is passionate about creating accepting and welcoming communities and lives the philosophy that people with disabilities aren’t different – it’s just their lives that are different!

Through the prism of living with Cerebral Palsy, Kerry brings a fresh and energetic approach to disability.

Takes place at City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi Street, West Perth WA 6005. Free to VWA financial members but registration is essential, call Jennie Loveridge on 9482 4333 or email jennie@volunteeringwa.org.au.

Youth Volunteering at Volunteering WA

Since the Community Service Program (CSP) will no longer be funding schools to run service programs from next year, our work is more important than ever! Volunteering WA will continue to support schools and organisations to ensure volunteer programs are well organised and beneficial to both parties. Please do not hesitate to contact Melusha Robson (melusha@volunteeringwa.org.au), Youth Services Officer, at Volunteering WA for assistance in involving secondary students in your volunteer program.

Traci Gamblin will still be working on youth volunteering, but in a more expanded role as Senior Manager Development. She is keen to develop more partnerships in the community to foster volunteering among young people. Of particular significance at the moment is the joint venture with UWA Guild. The Manager of the UWA Guild Volunteer Hub will be appointed shortly to get this exciting project off the ground!

Regional short term volunteer places sought

We receive queries from individuals who are travelling and want to combine this with volunteering. Do you have volunteer positions suitable for visiting volunteers that we could refer them too? These positions should be suited to individuals/couples who could volunteer on a temporary basis, usually 1 week plus, and are travelling out of Perth.

Examples include:

• Local Events
• Landscaping and building maintenance
• Restoration
• Conservation
• Artist in residence

Visiting volunteers are generally people who are on holiday but wish to be involved in the local community during that time. If you have suitable positions please contact Lorien Doherty on 9482 4304 or email lorien@volunteeringwa.org.au to discuss further.

Volunteering radio series

The 3rd series of volunteering radio series, Vita Activa, started recently and is worth tuning in to if you can. The series is broadcast every Monday morning from around 9.30am and you can listen by going to http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters and following the prompts. It is also available for download if you want to listen to it later.

Topics include volunteering in the recession; volunteering and the productivity commission's not for profit study; outcomes of the 20/20 summit and many more.

AAVA Volunteer Administrator Award of Excellence

Remember that nominations are now open for the 2009 Volunteer Administrator Award of Excellence. AAVA annually recognises a manager of volunteers for his or her outstanding contribution to the profession of volunteer management. Nominations close by close of business 1 September 2009 and the winner will be announced on International Volunteer Managers Day, November 5 2009.

For more information or a nomination form please visit the AAVA website - http://www.aava.asn.au

Congratulations to...

Rockingham Volunteer Resource Centre (VRC) on winning the City of Rockingham’s inaugural Strengthening Communities Award recently. This reflects years of planning to establish a VRC in Rockingham and the recent 18 months where contributions from City of Rockingham, support from Volunteering WA and the enthusiasm of all the staff and volunteers involved saw Rockingham come into being. Well done to Marj, the VRC Manager, and to all the team there for your hard work and congratulations on winning this award.

Congratulations also go to Albany and Esperance VRC’s who both received a Royalties for Regions grant to develop a Visiting Volunteers program.

We are also pleased to announce that we were also successful in obtaining a Royalties for Regions grant for the continued development of our Wheatbelt project. Our thanks go to the Wheatbelt Development Commission for their support.

And finally more congratulations go to WA Aids Council for being one of the joint winners of the Community Idol 2009 competition. Great news!

Well done everyone. If you have something you'd like to share please let us know.

Nominations open for 2009 State Emergency Service Awards

SES volunteers are a unique group of people who selflessly donate their time to help others in need. When a natural disaster or emergency occurs they are available 24 hours a day seven days a week to help people get back on their feet. It’s hard to stand out among such prestigious company, so now is the time to recognise those outstanding volunteers who do.

The annual SES Awards are about celebrating the efforts and achievements of volunteers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty individually or as a team. Nomination forms are available on the FESA website at http://www.fesa.wa.gov.au by clicking on the awards icon, or from SES units and FESA offices. Nominations close 5pm, Monday August 31.

For further information or assistance with your application contact FESA Events and Promotions Officer on 9323 9399 or email awards@fesa.wa.gov.au.

(ACSA) National Conference and Trade Exhibition

The annual Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA) National Conference and Trade Exhibition is one of the premier events of the aged and community services calendar. This important annual event brings together more than 1000 leading aged care leaders and decision makers from across Australia’s $7 billion industry.

This year the Conference is in Perth, running from September 13 to 16 at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. A comprehensive list of local and international speakers will attend the event, including Timor-Leste Goodwill Ambassador Kirsty Sword-Gusmao, acclaimed author and dancer Li Cunxin and social campaigner Noel Pearson.

To register online go to http://www.agedcare.org.au. Further information on the Conference is available in the Registration Brochure at http://www.acsa2009.com.au.

Welcome to new members...

• Perth Fashion Festival
• Western Australian Cricket Association Museum
• Broome Circle
• Carnarvon Heritage Group Inc
• Bowls WA
• St John Ambulance Australia (Western Australia)

We look forward to working with you.

August’s hot resource tip!

Reducing the Environmental Impact of your Mail

In line with good corporate responsibility practice, this book was written to provide community groups and businesses with the knowledge they need to reduce the environmental impact of their mail.

It's structured around six stages of the mail lifecycle: managing mailing lists, mail design, paper purchase and use, printing, mail production and response management. The information is supported by interviews with people who work in the industry, a list of resources, acknowledgements and a glossary.

Get your free copy from http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/green