“What exactly do you do?” “Do you actually get paid to work with volunteers?” If you are like me, you have heard these questions, or similar ones, and may not always know how to respond.
If you sometimes struggle to explain your role, what your organization does, and the impact of your volunteers, then this interactive workshop will help you find your voice. You’ll get practical tips to confidently share your amazing work and your volunteers’ contributions, within your organization and in the community, in just a few sentences that will want the listener to want to know more. Design and practice your “elevator pitch” to effectively communicate your passion and impact. Who better to advocate for your cause than you?
Speaker: Carol Ayars, CVA
Carol Ayars, CVA has been in the volunteer engagement field for over 25 years and contributes her real understanding of what volunteers want because she is a volunteer at heart. Carol is the AmeriCorps Seniors Programs Manager at The Span Center in Richmond, Virginia whose mission is empowering seniors to live with dignity and choice. As the AmeriCorps Seniors Programs Manager, she oversees the agency’s two AmeriCorps Seniors grant funded programs, the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). She was part of the leadership team that helped The Span Center achieve Service Enterprise Accreditation in April 2024 and has helped foster their continually expanding culture of volunteerism throughout the agency.
Carol also serves President as of her local AVA, GRAVA (Greater Richmond Association for Volunteer Administration). She is the President for the VA/DC AmeriCorps Seniors Director’s Association and serves as in ex-officio role for the Governor’s Advisory Board for Service and Volunteerism. She serves on the Board of Directors for the AmeriCorps Seniors Professional Network (ASPN) and Association for Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE). Carol volunteers on numerous committees for both organizations and also for the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA). She loves to share her knowledge and experience through presentations, workshops, and informal mentoring.
Carol lives in Disputanta, Virginia with her husband and their cat, Bella. They enjoy being empty nesters but miss having their three granddaughters nearby.
An event link will be sent to all registrants prior to the session!
