Seminar Series Celebrates Volunteerism, Networking

Matthew Hersh

Princeton University hosted an event that offered a social network for individuals to meet others in their fields, receive advice from veterans, and hone in on valuable industry-specific job training to enhance employee output.

Sound like a corporate-training seminar? The whole event was actually tax-exempt and run by volunteers.

Community Works, a networking organization designed to support the partnership between volunteers and non-profit agencies, is in place for volunteers to receive industry training in an area that typically does not have the funding to train volunteers, or to "inspire the volunteer ethic." It also seeks to create an atmosphere where individuals can network Princeton's not-for-profit circuit.

The conference, which is in its seventh year, was developed by Marge Smith, a non-profit consultant and former executive director of the YWCA.

"I believe that it's important for volunteers, boards, and staff who are trying to do something significant, to get the skills necessary to do something effective," she said.

"Non-profits have very significant goals, but there is very little training provided at any reasonable price," she added.

The problem of volunteers being challenged enough to stay on a project is also an obstacle, she said. She stressed that when individuals are not getting paid, there needs to be an element that keeps them motivated.

"It's far more challenging to work for a non-profit, and it made no sense that there was no formal training," she said.

This year's program, held on Monday, January 26, attracted 300 people and featured 16 workshops covering a wide-range of issues relating to the non-profit realm. Subjects included: event management; developing, researching, tracking, and reporting grant money; development plans for public relations; strategic planning for boards and education; and public speaking.

For more information, contact info@princetoncommunityworks.org.