Hiring RSVP Coordinator

RSVP COORDINATOR
Volunteer Center at the United Way of Northwest Michigan:
Coordinator of Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)Part-time, seven month position responsible for developing and promoting various RSVP volunteer initiatives working with local nonprofit agencies, educational institutions and business to develop, promote and match people with meaningful volunteer opportunities across northwest Michigan. Bachelor's degree preferred in volunteer management, community development, or public relations. Must be efficient with computer programs.
Send resume by May 1st 2009 to: info@unitedwaynwmi.org

Thank You!

This week is National Volunteer Week. It’s a week to recognize, celebrate, and encourage volunteerism!

We at the Volunteer Center at the United Way of Northwest Michigan want to THANK YOU for your volunteer efforts in our community. Giving your time and talents to those individuals, organizations or issues in need not only creates healthier, more vibrant communities for us all, but actually creates a healthier you!

Check out our Top 10 Ways to Give Back for some new ideas and then pass it on!

Top 10 Ways to Give Back to Your Community

1. Visit www.unitedwaynwmi.org, click on Volunteer Center and create your volunteer account. This helps you to stay informed about current needs, events and new volunteer opportunities in our 5 county area.

2. Contact your county’s Commission on Aging to find out how you can help your elderly neighbors in need with raking, mowing, shoveling, gardening, etc.

3. Identify the needs of an organization such as a food pantry, baby pantry, Goodwill Inn, or Third Level Crisis Center and organize a food or personal care drive among your family and friends. Every little bit that you can collect helps!

4. Many nonprofits do large fundraising events/parties/galas and need lots of volunteers to help them run smoothly. Contact your favorite nonprofit to see if there are events that you can be a part of, or call your Volunteer Center for ideas.

5. Beaches, nature preserves, hiking trails…Is outdoor work your thing? From beach clean-ups to trail building, there’s lots to do and new places to explore. Contact your county’s Conservation District or your local Land Conservancy. Your Volunteer Center can help you with contact information and many other outdoor ideas.

6. Support music and the arts by getting involved in one of our great arts organizations. Whether concerts, plays, film or art showings, volunteers are needed to usher, build sets, plan events, act, or perform!

7. If animals are your passion you might consider the Humane Society or other animal rescue organizations. Training your dog to be a “therapy dog” for hospice or nursing home work is another option. How about the Watershed Center to capture and identify invertebrates to determine the health of our local streams.

8. Spring Break, holidays, family vacations…Make yours alternative! Help to serve a community holiday dinner. Alternative Spring Breaks can be life changing--many universities offer their own, or try www.liveunited.org/asb/. Give voluntourism a try, for a great experience abroad.

9. Visit a nursing care facility to take seniors for walks, read or play cards. “Adopt” just one or two residents to visit every week, growing relationships that give both ways.

10. And finally…Take a look around. Do you see a neighbor who needs a hand, a child who would love to have some time with you? Do you have an idea for solving an unmet need in your community? We all have answers, start reaching out and talking to others. Grab the chance to create your own project to better your community!

Thank you for taking the initiative, taking the risk and getting involved!
Have a great week!

National Volunteer Week

Thank you to all of the great volunteers we have working in our community. Many of the programs offered in our area would not be possible without your valuable time.

One trillion dollars

What does $1 trillion look like? Check this out...
http://www.nokilling.org/one_trillion/index.html

$325K in Grants Awarded

Last week the United Way's Board of Directors unanimously accepted the recommendations of the Citizen Action Team (CAT) and committed $325,000 in funds to 33 different agencies in the five county area served by United Way of Northwest Michigan.

There are several things you should know about this year's program and services grants:

33 agencies were funded this year as opposed to 14 last year.
There was $325,000 awarded this year - an increase of $125,000 over last year.

Here are the number of funded agencies at work in each of the following counties:
Antrim 22
Benzie 20
Grand Traverse 25
Kalkaska 22
Leelanau 22

This year's Citizen Action Team (CAT) read dozens of applications and spent two full days interviewing representatives from the requesting agencies. It is this team that decides who is funded and how much they will receive. They are volunteers who take time away from their jobs and families to determine how these funds can best be invested into our community and to create a safety net of services. The time they contributed to the process is valued at over $10,000!

Most important you need to know these gifts come from you. All of the thanks and appreciation does not belong to the United Way but to those of you who generously contribute to the campaign. On behalf of the thousands of people who will be served by these programs, thank you.

Accepting donations

We had 36 agencies apply for grants from us totalling over $600,000.00. We had $320,000.00 to award to them. Every grant application we received was a good solid program and they all serve growing needs in your community. Help us help more nonprofit agencies, give through United Way of Northwest Michigan, your donation, no matter how big or how small, will be put to good use in your community.

Sara Lee continues generous giving

Article from the Traverse City Record Eagle

TRAVERSE CITY -- United Way of Northwest Michigan received a boost to its campaign from Sara Lee Bakery, Traverse City. Through employee pledges and support from the Sara Lee Foundation, United Way received donations totaling more than $60,000.

In addition to the company's monetary contributions, Sara Lee employees have volunteered their time and talents for many years through the United Way Day of Caring.