BVC Members Serve Hot Breakfast to Homeless

Representatives from Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council (BVC) member companies joined together to provide a piping hot breakfast for those participating in the January 25 Project Homeless Connect at the County’s Housing, Health, and Human Services Center in Hackensack. Volunteers from Cole Schotz, EisnerAmper, and Sealed Air dished out waffles, sausage, eggs, bacon, and cinnamon buns for the crowd participating in the County-sponsored event.  The purpose of the one-day event is to provide information, services, and hospitality in a convenient, one-stop location for people experiencing homelessness. The breakfast was made possible through the financial support of BVC member companies Sealed Air, Cole Schotz, EisnerAmper, and Hunter Douglas.

For more information on how your company can get involved with the BVC, contact Tess Tomasi at 201-489-9454 ext. 114 or by email at ttomasi@bergenvolunteers.org.

NEW Volunteer Opportunities

Several outstanding local nonprofits need the help of volunteers.  Have a look and get in touch with them if any of these positions pique your interest!

Bergen Family Center is looking for a PR/Technology Intern to do Website updates, video development, and social media development.  Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver is required.  Please contact Edward Choi at 201-568-0817 x18 or echoi@bergenfamilycenter.org.

Women’s Rights and Information Center, Englewood, is looking for a specialist to produce a video for an up-coming fundraiser. Saturdays or evenings can be arranged to accommodate the right person.  Please contact Joan E. Grzenda, at 201-568-1166.

Spectrum for Living, River Vale, is looking for volunteers to help with rehearsals of “Spectrum Idol,” a competition in May when the clients of Spectrum will show off their singing talents.  Volunteers are needed now through May, for 2 hours, one night a week.  Get more details by calling Marie Hacker at 201-358-1685.  Great opportunity for high school students!

Bergen County Division on Disability Services, Hackensack, needs facilitators for Post Stroke and Disabled Adult Support Groups. Volunteers will work at one of the two sites: Englewood Site, Fridays, 9:30 am – 1:00 pm leading a conversation club. Topics could include current events, pop culture, etc. Ridgewood Site, Tuesdays, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm leading the group in arts and crafts projects, current events discussions and socialization. For more information, please contact Daniel Kotkin at 201-336-6504.

Fifth Friday LEAD Sponsor

Wells Fargo has signed on as the 2012 lead sponsor for Bergen LEADS Fifth Friday, a powerful networking and learning event that attracts leaders from every sector in Bergen County.

Fifth Friday luncheons will take place this year on March 30, June 29 and November 30 at the Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack - the perfect venue for stimulating conversation, a delicious lunch and high profile speakers.  Fifth Friday is hosted by Bergen LEADS, the area’s premier civic leadership program, which is sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.  

“Fifth Friday is an excellent fit with our stated purpose of developing networks and exploring current issues,” says Amanda Missey, director of Bergen LEADS.  “Response to the event has been overwhelming, and we’re very excited to have the support of Wells Fargo for the series.”

"Wells Fargo is extremely proud to be the lead sponsor of the Bergen LEADS Fifth Friday series. For many years, Fifth Friday has been the premier networking event in Bergen County attracting people from all sectors of the community. As such, it makes a lot of business sense for us to support this initiative and it aligns with our business objectives to gain market share and raise brand awareness in this strategic space in Northern New Jersey,” says Michael Reynolds, wealth advisor, Wells Fargo Private Bank in Paramus.  “It also means we will be supporting the important mission of the Bergen LEADS program, which was designed to provide leadership development skills for emerging leaders in our home market. The Wells Fargo Private Bank, Community Bank and Mortgage Division look forward to a mutually rewarding experience."

With all eyes on economic development, the March 30 program will focus on A New Course of Action for Making New Jersey a Home for Business Growth.   Speakers will be Tracye McDaniel, President and CEO of Choose New Jersey; Linda Kellner, Acting Executive Director, NJ Business Action Center; and Caren Franzini, CEO, NJ Economic Development Authority.  The three agencies comprise the NJ Partnership for Action, a three-pronged public-private approach to economic development.

The cost for the luncheon is $35.00.  Seating is limited, and tickets must be purchased in advance.  Click here to purchase tickets.

Volunteer Center presents Comedy Night!!

Our fourth annual Comedy Night is set for Friday, March 16, at Banana’s Comedy Club, 283 Rt. 17 South, Hasbrouck Heights. Doors open at 8:15pm and the show starts at 9:00 sharp. Comedian Joey Kola will be headlining, and proceeds will benefit the Volunteer Center.

As a stand-up comedian for 30 years, Joey Kola has performed for hundreds of thousands of people in the US, Canada and England. His high energy, spot on punch lines, and fast delivery assault an audience like a comedic freight train. Joey’s topical and timeless material combines to always make his audiences laugh – and laugh hard!

Tickets are $30.00 and there is a one food or drink minimum. Purchase your tickets here and let the good times roll!

Save the Date - Derby Day

20th annual Derby Day

Saturday, May 5, 2012

3:30PM - 7:00PM

Apple Ridge Country Club, Mahwah, NJ

Get Your Tickets NOW!

Happy Retirement Susan!

The Volunteer Center wants to wish one of our long-standing employees all the best in her retirement. Susan Hogge has been with the Volunteer Center for 10 years. She served as assistant to Cindy Andrake and our Mentoring Moms program and also worked closely with Amanda Missey and the Volunteer Center’s Business Volunteer Council and Business Volunteer Services Department. She’s leaving us to spend more time with her grandchildren and to travel, and we wish good times, good health and long life!

Thank you, Susan!

Chore Volunteers Needed!

The Volunteer Center’s Chore Service is looking for volunteers. Each Chore volunteer is scheduled one day a week as part of a crew, and each crew is assigned 4-5 service calls per day. Chore volunteers should be able to perform minor household repairs that most homeowners do, such as putting in/taking out air conditioners, replacing faucet washers,  installing a smoke detector, etc.  Volunteers should be available on a regular basis so they can be scheduled with a regular crew.  Call Maureen McCormick at 201-489-7790 for further information.

The ABC’s of EVP’s

The Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council (BVC) is kicking off its series “Employee Volunteer Program Essentials” with a two-part webinar: The ABC’s of EVP’s.  Part I – The Starting Point: Strategy and Structure-- will be presented on ­­­­­Friday February 24 and Part II—Ready, Set, Implement! -- on Friday March 9. Both sessions will be from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.­­­­ The cost to register for either session is $25 per person--$40 for both; employees of BVC member companies may register for free. Registration deadline is February 20, at which time the log-in information will be provided. Recordings of each webinar will also be available to registrants. Click here to register.

The webinars are designed for companies that want to start an employee volunteer program (EVP) for the first time—or take a fresh look at their existing program. Part I will explore how to develop an approach that works, how to structure and organize the program, how to build support for the EVP, and how to develop policies to guide it. Part II will explore how to choose community partners for the volunteer efforts, how to recruit volunteers, how to recognize and reward employee volunteers and how to measure the success of the EVP.

  

David Warshaw of Vistas Volunteer Management Solutions, and Jo Ann Dow-Breslin of JD Communications, LLC will co-lead the sessions. Together, they have more than 40 years experience in community relations and corporate communications. For more information about these and other corporate volunteerism training opportunities, visit us online at www.nnjbvc.org or contact the BVC at ttomasi@bergenvolunteers.org or 201-489-9454 ext. 114.

Community Celebration of Volunteers - March 28

The Volunteer Center will salute volunteers from all parts of the county at its annual Celebrate Volunteers recognition event on Wednesday, March 28.  Join us at the John Greico Auditorium at Bergen Academies for a dessert reception at 6:30 pm followed by an inspiring program highlighting the extraordinary ways that volunteers enhance our community.  Brenda Blackmon, popular news anchor for My 9 News, will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Public and private non-profit organizations, hospitals, libraries, religious organizations and schools in Bergen County are invited to bring volunteers they would like to honor, along with staff, to this non-competitive, community-wide event.

Each organization can choose to honor its top volunteers based on its own criteria for determining exemplary volunteer achievement, such as impact, dedication, hours served and loyalty.  Reservations are on a first come, first served basis, and are due by March 16th.   The cost is $10.00 per person.  Call (201) 489-9454 ext. 127 to reserve a place.

Every volunteer will receive special gifts and certificates of commendation.  Entertainment and refreshments will be provided.

 “This event is a great way for organizations to honor their volunteers,” explains Janet Sharma, the Volunteer Center’s executive director.  “Hundreds of volunteers will be honored and receive a public ‘pat on the back’ for their good work.  At the same time, agencies can save themselves the expense of hosting a separate event to salute their volunteers.”