Hawai‘i Volunteer Leaders Conference Jan. 29

Hawaii Volunteer Leaders Conference image.

The County of Maui Volunteer Center will present the “Maximizing the New Breed of Volunteers Conference,” a workshop on recruiting, engaging, empowering and keeping volunteers on Jan. 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the King Kamehameha Club House in Wailkapū.

“How to recruit, engage, empower and keep that volunteer passion alive; engage Millennials or the smart phone generation is part of the conference message.” said Jan Shishido, deputy director for the Department of Housing and Human Concerns. “In our ever-changing technological world, this conference will provide participants with take-aways to develop their own volunteer strategies.”

Presenters will include Thomas McKee, Jonathan McKee and Jillyn Dillon.

Thomas McKee will start the day with his keynote speach, “Mobilizing the Power & Passion of a Whole New Breed of Volunteers.” He is a professional volunteer instructor who trained over 100,000 leaders over the past 40 years, speaking to over a one million people spanning three continents—Africa, Europe and the North America—and also the author of several books. He wrote They Don’t’ Play My Music Anymore—How to create your future when the world keeps changing and The New Breed—How to recruit, manage and even fire the 21st century volunteer.

Jonathan McKee, a coauthor and fellow speaker, will lead a workshop called “Understanding, Recruiting and Leading the Smartphone Generation.” Attendees will learn how to inspire and manage tech-savvy volunteers more effectively—how to embrace the under-30 generation, the Millennials or “smartphone generation, who cannot go three minutes without checking Instagram or messages.”

Jillyn Dillon, a Hawai‘i-based, Internet marketing and business strategy expert, will close the day with “Social Media Strategy: Why Your Organization Needs One & Where to Start.” Attendees will learn immediately actionable social media tactics and have a jump on a social media strategy for 2016.

Another volunteer resource is Maui County’s Department of Housing and Human Concerns Volunteer Center, handsonmaui.com, the first in the state to implement nationally recognized software that provides an online volunteer management platform, while expanding capabilities to track and report hours and realize volunteer opportunities in real time.

The website’s mission is to get more citizens involved in volunteerism, as well as enable public and private nonprofit agencies to enhance or maintain needed human services. It is way for agencies to get the word out on volunteer opportunities and also find, monitor and track time for volunteers.

“We see it as a dream come true for organizations,” said Wendy Stebbins, Maui County volunteer coordinator for the past nine years. “The website is a one-stop shop for volunteering and a powerful way to recruit volunteers throughout the world.”

“If an agency does not have a current way to track their volunteers, this is for them,” Stebbins said. “Plus, volunteers can track their own history and hours for mandated service work. There is also a community calendar and resources to learn more about volunteerism.”

“Best of all, the service is free!” Stebbins said.

Registration is $75 per person, which includes continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and a special door prize from Grand Wailea Resort & Spa. Each participant will also receive a copy of the book, “The New Breed – Understanding and equipping the 21st Century Volunteer” by Jonathan McKee and Thomas W. Mckee.

Seating is limited. Register online through Jan. 21. Checks paid at the door should be made payable to County of Maui.

For more information on “Maximizing the New Breed of Volunteers Conference,” contact Yuki Lei Sugimura at [email protected]. Contact Stebbins at the Hands On Maui Volunteer
Center at 270-7150 or [email protected].