March 27, 2008

(For a detailed agenda, click here.)

Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service is looking for statewide participants to assess its volunteer matching database, www.volunteerwv.org, and learn about statewide volunteer and funding opportunities. 
           
“The Link to Making a Difference,” sponsored by the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service, is a free series of focus groups and informational sessions taking place throughout West Virginia this spring in an effort to evaluate existing tools and opportunities for volunteers.

“This is a great opportunity to seek out community feedback on the volunteer matching database, which we developed several years ago,” Kim Tieman, Executive Director of the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service, said. “This is the first time we’ve completed a formal evaluation of the database. We want to see how well it’s working and how it can be improved to better serve our state’s volunteer sector.”

The Commission’s web site, www.volunteerwv.org, serves as the statewide database that matches people who want to volunteer with the organizations that need volunteers.

Current and potential partners registered in the database are encouraged to attend as well as individuals and organizations looking for opportunities to volunteer. Attendees will participate in a facilitated focus group about volunteerism in the community and the role of the Commission’s web site, www.volunteerwv.org, as a volunteerism tool from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to stay for information sessions on national service, volunteer opportunities and statewide funding opportunities for service projects from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The statewide schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, April 17 – Blennerhasset Hotel - Parkersburg, W.Va.
• Tuesday, April 22 – Cabell County Public Library - Huntington, W.Va.
• Tuesday, April 29 – Days Inn - Bridgeport, W.Va.
• Wednesday, April 30 – Graceland Inn - Elkins, W.Va.
• Friday, May 2 – Ramada Inn – South Charleston, W.Va.
• Thursday, May 8 – Bavarian Inn - Shepherdstown, W.Va.
• Wednesday, May 14 – Greenbrier County Public Library - Lewisburg, W.Va.
• Thursday, May 15 – Tamarack - Beckley, W.Va.

All sessions are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. Due to limited space, individuals are encouraged to register for the free sessions. Individuals are encouraged to attend any session, regardless of location, if they are unable to attend the session closest to them. 

To register, please contact Gina Namay at the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service by calling (800) WV-HELPS or emailing gnamay@mail.state.wv.us.
           
The West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service is a state agency that seeks to strengthen West Virginia communities through service and volunteerism.