January 12, 2010
Alan Kumamoto workshop A8 at the 20th IAVE World Volunteer Conference, Panama 2008
IAVE PANAMA PRESENTATION
Workshop Leaders: Alan Kumamoto, Ellen Linsley
Workshop Title: Collaborating In The 21st Century: Developing A Connection Model To Link Volunteers and Community Resources
Today, institutions, organizations, public and private sectors and individuals are being asked to collaborate with each other in order to solve some of the society’s social and economic problems. Much of the initiative toward this collective problem solving has to do with the realization that few, if any, organizations have sufficient financial and human resources to address the myriad of problems we face. Certainly some of the drive for collaboration is based on governmental and private foundation funding guidelines which encourage, and even require, interagency and interdisciplinary collaborations, public/private partnerships, community consultations and citizen oversight. This has relevance to the conference theme “Volunteering for Human Development - More Solidarity Less Poverty.”
Potential for establishing new projects/partnerships through a virtual organization will be introduced. The concept of a “Virtual Organization” is the linking together of various community-based organizations. The Virtual Organization is not one entity; it is a combination of various resources joining together in an ongoing collaborative process. It demonstrates the collaborative process since it provides different roles for various community groups such as, Volunteer Centers, DOVIA’s and Chambers of Commerce.
Gathering key leaders from private and public nonprofits and corporations committed to addressing the challenges facing community-based organizations is an essential first step for replication of a Connect Model.
Before seeking long term corporate and foundation support the Connect Model must carry out an organizing strategy:
- Develop a reliable means of documenting and measuring the success of the work it does.
- Conduct a market research/market analysis as a part of assessing the feasibility of the connect process and the community’s ability to support the brokering of collaborations.
The power point presentation will introduce the concept of a connect organizational structure. Models of successful collaborations will be presented. Participants will be introduced to different ways to address our societal concerns. The exemplar projects will give participants an excellent start. Participants will exchange in an interactive dialogue in small groups. They will design a “Connect Model” for their group based on the conference theme.
Examples of Exemplar Projects:
- Connections With Direct Results
- Unexpected Outcome Of A Successful Connection Meeting
- Teen Make A Difference Day
- National Youth Project Using Minibikes (NYPUM)
Partnership:
- National Board of YMCAs
- United States Department of Justice
- American Honda
