Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Court-Appointed Community Service HOW TO

The Volunteer Center now offers a helpful tool for those required to do Court-Appointed Community Service.  Those looking to fulfill this commitment can download from our website a tracking form that can be helpful when tracking community service hours.  Below is a list of Volunteer Center Member Agencies that have agreed to utilize Court Appointed volunteers. 

Those applying for a volunteer job to fulfill a community service requirement need to be honest, flexible and upfront about the information required by the agency.  Not all agencies accept volunteers that need to complete Court-Appointed Community Service, but those that do will sign off on your tracking form to help you finish your hours efficiently and legitimately.

Some of the agencies that accept those completing Court-Appointed Community Service include: Center for Food Action, in various locations; Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, Englewood; Jewish Family Service of Bergen County, Teaneck; American Red Cross, Fairfield; and Paterson Habitat for Humanity.  Find more on our website here.

Monday, March 19, 2012

An Amazing Teen Doing Amazing Work

The Miss Amazing Pageant was founded in 2006 in Nebraska by Jordan Somer. This nonprofit organization in the form of a pageant is made to help women and young girls with disabilities become more self-confident and build their self-esteem in a supportive environment.

Bergen County’s own Maris Ferreira is now the New Jersey State Director of the Miss Amazing Pageant. “I became interested in the Miss Amazing Pageant when I saw the founder, Jordan Somer, on the HALO awards on Teen Nick. She was so inspiring and wanted to see the pageant go national. After a few weeks of interviewing I was chosen to be the first ever New Jersey State Director for the Miss Amazing Pageant. My involvement in this pageant will hopefully make a big impact on the disabled community! This is the first year of the pageant in New Jersey so to be a part of this is a amazing feeling!”

The mission of the Miss Amazing Pageant is to provide an opportunity for girls and young women with disabilities to build confidence and self-esteem in a supportive environment. All applicants are eligible to participate in the event. One representative in each age division will be selected to represent New Jersey for the 2012/2013 year. There will be opportunities to appear at events throughout the year and return as the reigning queen for the 2013 pageant. All participants will be awarded with a trophy. Join the Miss Amazing family and become the best you can be!

Volunteers are needed to help all participants with the activities throughout the day. If the participant requires someone other than volunteers to stay with them, please let us know at registration. The event is May 12, 2012, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm at Mount Carmel Church Auditorium, 52 Passaic Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Executive Directors' Roundtable Series : LEAD to the Top

Executive Directors' Roundtable Series  

In today's business world, "doing everything right" is not enough. Your stakeholders, from clients and board members to volunteers and the community at large, deserve everything your agency can do. In this highly interactive session, you'll learn how to use your leadership skills to create a high level of teamwork within your organization.

 
Information about the workshop 
Date: Wednesday, March 21 
Time: 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM  
Location: Volunteer Center - Hackensack 
Course Leaders: Robert Williams, Executive Vice President, CultureWorks
Registration Fee: $10 (automatic entry in 50/50 contest for  your organization!)  
Audience: Executive Directors, CEOs, Board Members, other leaders of nonprofit organizations

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

We're looking for 30 talented leaders...

“Prosperity is a great teacher;  adversity a greater. “
-William Hazlitt

Leading isn't easy in the best of times, but when times are tough, who and what you know just might determine how well you and your organization survive.
Bergen LEADS prepares local leaders to lead - in good times and bad.  This exciting, experiential leadership program reveals the inner workings of Bergen County and provides the opportunity to interact with the people who make things happen.

We're looking for 30 talented leaders for the Bergen LEADS Class of 2013    
Are you ready to LEAD?    

Bergen LEADS is an eye-opening, year-long learning and leadership experience for adults who live or work in Bergen County  

  • Gain access to leaders and decision makers in every sector  
  • Join a diverse network of knowledgeable and proactive individuals 
  • Learn about critical issues including education, healthcare, environment, diversity, government and public safety 
  • Challenge your thinking and attitudes
  • Discover and strengthen your leadership style  
  • Work to make positive change in Bergen County   

We're looking for men and women who

  • Have varying political, social and religious views
  • Represent all professions and segments of our community
  • Represent all racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds 

For more information, go to www.bergenleads.org.
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 13, 2012 

Monday, March 12, 2012

Special Evening for Special Volunteers

Celebrate Volunteers is a festive, fun and non-competitive volunteer recognition event, hosted by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. On Wednesday, March 28, the men, women and youth who give so much of themselves to make our community a better place will be honored at a dessert reception and inspirational program at the John Greico Auditorium at Bergen Academies, located on River Street in Hackensack, beginning at 6:30 pm.

Brenda Blackmon, popular news anchor for My 9 News will serve as Master of Ceremonies.  Ms. Blackmon has been a part of the Celebrate Volunteers event since 1996, helping to call attention to the many ways that volunteers enhance the community.  The evening will include an inspiring photomontage of volunteers from local agencies performing vital community work.
The evening’s entertainment will be ­­­­­the New Jersey Choral Society Chanteurs, under the direction of Jill Guartafierro, accompanied by Caroline Parody.  The Chanteurs is an ensemble that provides musical entertainment out in the community, bringing music and joy to those who enjoy choral music but may not be able to attend their concerts.
Every volunteer honored at Celebrate Volunteers will receive a special gift and certificate of commendation, and will be individually recognized during the program.     Reservations are on a first come, first served basis, and can be obtained by calling (201) 489-9454 or reserving online at www.bergenvolunteers.org.   The cost is $10.00 per person.
The contributing sponsor for Celebrate Volunteers is Inserra Shop Rite Supermarkets.  Benefactors are Dassault Falcon Jet and TD Bank.    

Friday, March 9, 2012

Executive Directors’ Roundtable to Present “Creating an Effective Team”

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County invites all non-profit leaders to an Executive Directors’ Roundtable to be held Wednesday, March 21, 2012, from 8:30 am to 10:00 am at the Center’s offices at 64 Passaic Street in Hackensack.  The cost to attend is $10, which includes hand outs, networking, refreshments and automatic 50/50.

Robert Williams, Executive Vice President of CultureWorks, Inc. will present “Lead to the Top:  Your Role in Creating an Effective Team”.  CultureWorks is a performance consulting company that enables people to transform their work environments to realize maximum performance and results.
“In today’s competitive environment, ‘doing everything right’ is not enough to achieve your organization’s full potential. You need enthusiastic executives and managers, board members and volunteers, who can work well with each other, welcome change and accept responsibility. An organization can be transformed by approaching problems in a different way,” says Janet Sharma, Executive Director of the Volunteer Center.
During the session, participants will understand why they act the way they do, and see their natural leadership tendencies surface.  They will learn how their attitudes and choices of behavior impact others in their organization and what personal changes will enhance their leadership skills to produce more positive results for them and their organizations.
Pre-registration is required by March 19th:  visit www.bergenvolunteers.org to register on-line, email training@bergenvolunteers.org , or call 201-489-9454 Ext.114.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Mentoring Moms Spring Training begins April 16th!

Mentoring Moms is looking for volunteer mentors who understand how hard it is to raise children and want to make life a bit easier for an overwhelmed mother. If you can you give a couple of hours each week to provide emotional support and practical guidance to a mother struggling to make a good life for her family, contact Beanne DeGuzman at 201-489-9454 x124 to sign up for the Spring Mentor training.

Mentoring Moms is a program that trains and supervises volunteers to serve as mentors to overwhelmed mothers dealing with the challenges of life while raising a family. Mentors provide a caring, supportive outlet for the mothers as they try to make a good life for themselves and their families.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Look What We've Been Up To

 
The Volunteer Center's Winter 2012 Newsletter is now available for viewing on our website
 
Newsletter Highlights:  Volunteer Center Named Innovation Hub!, Heart of Gold Gala photos, and news of our outstanding programs in the community.
 

Friday, March 2, 2012

Last Call!

Our fourth annual Comedy Night promises to bring in the laughs bigtime!  Friday, March 16 is the date, and Banana’s Comedy Club (283 Rt. 17 South, Hasbrouck Heights) is the place!  Doors open at 8:15pm; show starts at 9:00 sharp. Comedian Joey Kola will be headlining, and proceeds will benefit the Volunteer Center.

A very popular comic, Joey has worked countless comedy clubs, colleges, casinos, theaters, cruise ships and corporate functions. He’s had tremendous success in raising great amounts of money for the many different charities he currently supports.  Joey Kola’s TV credits include, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”, “The Late Show with David Letterman”, “The King of Queens” with Kevin James, “The Martha Stewart Show”, “Comedy Central Presents Joey Kola”, “The Rosie O’Donnell Show”, and Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” – among others!

Deadline is Friday, March 9. Tickets are just $30 plus a one food or drink minimum. Purchase your tickets here.