Nominations sought for 2014 U.P. Service Awards

In recognition of the tremendous contributions of volunteers across the Upper Peninsula, the U.P. Volunteer Network announces the launch of the sixth annual U.P. Service Awards. Nominations will be accepted through June 1.

“If you work with, know of, or have benefited from an outstanding volunteer, please take the time to nominate them for this recognition,” said Linda Remsburg, Associate at the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development and partner in the U.P. Volunteer Network. “We want to honor these indispensable community servants and tell their stories so that others are inspired to serve.”

Categories for the awards include Youth, Adult, Senior, Business Community Leader and Volunteer Program. Award recipients will be announced in July and honored at a luncheon during the U.P. Nonprofit Conference at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, October 9.

Nomination forms are available online at UPvolunteer.org/nominate or at the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, 712 Chippewa Square, Suite 200, Marquette.

For more information, call 906-228-8919 or email upvolunteernetwork@glcyd.org.

The Upper Peninsula Volunteer Network’s mission is to build the capacity of U.P. organizations to connect with and manage volunteers. In addition to promoting volunteerism and recognizing volunteers, the network provides volunteer management training to nonprofits and is the administrator of UPvolunteer.org, an online volunteer recruitment and management tool which the network provides at no cost to nonprofits in the U.P.

In addition to Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, network partners include U.P. 2-1-1, United Way of the Eastern U.P. Volunteer Center, Volunteer Center and Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Dickinson Iron Community Services Agency, RSVP of Delta, Menominee, Schoolcraft and Marinette Counties, and RSVP of Marquette County.

Give us your feedback!

The U.P. Volunteer Network has been awarded a grant from the Volunteer Centers of Michigan to work with a consultant to update our strategic plan! The strategic planning retreat will be held on July 29-30. If you are a volunteer or an organization that utilized volunteers and you’d like to participate in the retreat, please contact Linda Remsburg at lremsburg@glcyd.org or 906-228-8919 x26.

As part of the strategic planning process, UPVN is surveying orgnaizations and volunteers to find out the needs of the Upper Peninsula. If you are a volunteer, please take the Volunteer Needs Survey. If you represent an organization that utilizes volunteers, please take the Nonprofit Needs Assessment. Each survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. The surveys will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 19.

 

Upcoming National Service Grant Opportunities

Are you planning a youth-led service project? If so, check out the Disney Friends for Change Grants and the Captain Planet Foundation Grants!

Disney Friends for Chang Grants

Deadline: February 10

Disney Friends for Change Grants offer young change-makers an opportunity to receive a $1,000 grant for youth-led service projects that demonstrate youth leadership, creativity, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the community.  Whatever your interests, a Disney Friends for Change grant can help you make a difference for people, communities, and the planet. Youth ages 5-18 located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply for a $1,000 grant. www.YSA.org/grants/disney-friends-change-grants

Captain Planet Foundation Grants

Deadline: February 28

U.S.-based schools and organizations with annual operating budgets of less than $3 million are eligible to apply for grants from the Captain Planet Foundation. Grants  support high-quality educational programs that enable children and youth to understand and appreciate our world through learning experiences that engage them in active, hands-on community service projects to improve the environment in their schools and communities. Preference is given to requests seeking seed funding of $500 or less and to applicants who have secured at least 50 percent matching or in-kind funding.   http://bit.ly/y1tPpz

Holiday Volunteering

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, many people are interested in volunteering. There is currently a shortage in volunteer opportunities, so we created a list of ideas of thing that individuals and families can do to give back to their community.

1. Invite an elderly or disable neighbor over for Thanksgiving dinner.
2. Encourage family members to bring canned goods to Thanksgiving dinner, and then donate the canned goods to a can drive, like the TV 6 Canathon.
3. Call a local church  or check around your neighborhood to see if there are any individuals that need help with yard work before the snow flies.
4. Adopt-a-family or take a name from a giving tree, and shop for the family or individual on your Thanksgiving holiday.

What other volunteering traditions do you celebrate at Thanksgiving?

If you are an organization that is in need of volunteers for Thanksgiving, or any other time, please visit UPvolunteer.org.

Iron Mountain 9/11 Veteran Appreciation Project

A Veteran Appreciation Project will be held in conjunction with the 9/11 Day of Service in Iron Mountain on Tuesday, September 11^th. Volunteers from the local RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program), high schools and Cub Scout Pack 510 will be showing our thanks and appreciation to area veterans. The group will meet to make hand-made thank you cards and will then personally distribute those along with fleece blankets and pillows to veterans at our local VA Hospital. Cards of appreciation will also be distributed to veterans at area nursing homes. For more information contact Kristin Sommerfeld at 906-774-2256 ext. 225.

Nominations sought for 2012 U.P. Service Awards

MARQUETTE – In recognition of the tremendous contributions of volunteers across the Upper Peninsula, the U.P. Volunteer Network (UPVN) announces the launch of the fourth annual U.P. Service Awards to coincide with National Volunteer Week, April 15-21. Nominations will be accepted through June 11.

Categories for the awards include Youth, Adult, Senior, Business Community Leader, Volunteer Program, and Volunteer Connect. The latter honors organizations that have effectively used and promoted UPvolunteer.org, an online database which volunteers use to search for volunteer opportunities in their community. Award recipients will be announced in July and honored at the U.P. Nonprofit Conference at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, October 19.

“Making a nomination for the U.P. Service Awards is a great way to recognize and thank the outstanding volunteers we have in the U.P.,” said Linda Remsburg, Youth Development Associate at the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development and partner in the UPVN. “The awards pay tribute to all volunteers and help to inspire potential volunteers as well.”

To submit a nomination online, or to download a nomination packet, go to http://www.upvolunteer.org/nominate. Nomination packets are also available at the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development office, 1175 Erie St., Marquette.

For more information, call 877-339-6884 or email upvolunteernetwork@glcyd.org.

The UPVN’s mission is to build the capacity of organizations to connect with and manage volunteers. In addition to promoting volunteerism and recognizing volunteers, the UPVN provides volunteer management training to nonprofits and is the administrator of UPvolunteer.org.

The UPVN is led by the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development with core partners including U.P. 2-1-1, United Way of the Eastern U.P. Volunteer Center, Volunteer Center and Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Dickinson Iron Community Services Agency, RSVP of Delta, Menominee, Schoolcraft and Marinette counties, and RSVP of Marquette County.