Celebrating 30 years of Serving Berrien, Cass &  Van Buren Counties

ABOUT THE CENTER

How does the Volunteer Center function?

The Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan is staffed by an executive director, a business manager, an adult volunteer program coordinator, a youth volunteer program coordinator, two court referral coordinators, and a corps of dedicated office and special project volunteers. The Volunteer Center serves southwestern Michigan under the guidance of a Board of Directors, which represents various segments of the southwest Michigan population.

The Volunteer Center serves is community in four core areas:

• Connecting People with Opportunities to Serve

• Building Capacity for Effective Local Volunteering

• Promoting Volunteering

• Participating in Strategic Initiatives that Mobilize Volunteers to Meet Local Needs

Volunteer Center's Services

• Adult and Family Volunteer Recruitment and Referral - Debra Panozzo Recruitment services for adults - aged 18 and older

 

• Youth Volunteer Recruitment and Referral - Callie Campbell learning services for school-based personnel Recruitment services for youth (through 12th grade)

 

• Community Mobilization Services - Doris Higgins/Staff Issues-related volunteer recruitment New project development

 

• Recognition and Advocacy Services for Volunteers - Doris Higgins/Staff National Volunteer Week; includes recognition awards made to outstanding volunteers Advocacy services for volunteers and/or nonprofit community Media support for volunteer needs and recognition initiatives

 

• Training and Consultation Services for Agencies - Doris Higgins individual consultation/training sessions as requested by affiliate organizations Volunteer Management Certification training for agency directors of volunteers

 

• Court Referral Program - Sandra Marietta and Cindy Ehrenberg Court-ordered offenders are placed with nonprofit agencies to complete community service hours (funded by Berrien County)

 

• Corporate Neighbor Program - Doris Higgins  Corporate/business members receive monthly mailing about volunteer opportunities for employees; also ongoing support for building in-house volunteer programs Yearly award made to an outstanding Berrien or Cass County business which models
community involvement principles

 

• Wishbook and Volunteer Connection Directory publications - Debra Panozzo

 

• DOVIA sponsorship - Debra Panozzo/Staff Professional development organization for volunteer coordinators

 

• Senior Ambassador Program - Staff

 

• Boardbank - Doris Higgins Volunteer recruitment service for nonprofit boards of directors

 

• Boardsmanship Training Workshops - Doris Higgins 2-hour skill development workshops "on-site" for boards of directors' members

• Mentoring - Staff promotion and placement of mentors.  Supports mentoring organizations.

Board of Directors:

• President, Janel Groth, '09 St. Joseph
• V.P. External Affairs,  Lou Ann Schafer, '10 Benton Harbor
• V.P. Internal Affairs,  Brenda Regan, '09
  St. Joseph
• Treasurer , Glen Matz, '09 St. Joseph

• Nicole Birmingham-Moersch, '11 Bridgman

• Ronald Hein, '09 Niles
• Eric Hoppstock, '11 Berrien Springs
• Michelle Kerns, '10 St. Joseph
• Pat Leonard, '10 Benton Harbor
• Glen Matz, 09 St. Joseph
• Paula Wygonik, '10 Stevensville
• Celia Zhang, '11 St. Joseph

Emeritus:
J. Robert Wildeman

Hamilton E. (Buzz) Calvert

Richard Remus

Christina Shearer

Paid Staff:

Executive Director	Doris HIggins 2006-present B.S. Indiana University M.P.A. Western MI University
Business Manager	Sharon Peeters 1981-present B.S. Mount Mary College
Court Referral Coordinator	Cindy Ehrenberg 2006-present B.A. Albion College
Court Referral Coordinator	Lisa Schmidt 2008-present B.S. Northern Arizona Univ
Youth Volunteer Coordinator	Callie Campbell 2008-present B.S. The King's College and Seminary
Adult Volunteer Coordinator	Debra Panozzo 2000-present B.S. Western Michigan

Volunteer Staff:

And many other short-term and project volunteers! A most sincere thanks to our many volunteers! 

Volunteer Center Affiliations:

• Hands On Network (formally The Points of Light)
• Volunteer Centers of Michigan
• The Michigan Nonprofit Association
• National Community Service Sentencing Association
• Cornerstone Alliance
• Connect Michigan Alliance
• DOVIA of SW MI. (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies)
• Michigan Community Service Commission
• Niles Chamber of Commerce
• St. Joseph Today
• Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council
• United Way of Cass County
• United Way of Greater Niles
• United Way of Southwest Michigan
• Youth Volunteer Corps of America

(Copyright 2008) All Right Reserved.
Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan
info@volunteerswmi.org

Check out the Volunteer Center's WISHBOOK
on our website and see if local nonprofits need
any of the items you are discarding?

United Way of Southwest Michigan

United Way of
Greater Niles

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