Networking Metaphors and More: An Interview with Miguel Abascal
My primary challenge was that I didn’t have a network in Canada. In Mexico, I knew everybody and everybody knew me.
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In this blog, I'll share my experiences from the non-profit sector and discuss new things I learn every day.
- Jul 29
- 3 min
About Me at Work: A tool to help onboard or transition employees to your leadership
I'm in a Facebook group called Nonprofit Happy Hour where this question was recently asked, "When you've started at a new job or welcomed...
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- Jul 7
- 1 min
"Striving and Thriving": A Community Forum with Asian Community AIDS Services
In May, I participated as a panellist in a community forum with Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS). I loved this opportunity to...
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- Apr 12
- 7 min
Making Videos for Non-Profits with Volunteers: A Chat with David Phu
In 2011, David and I worked together at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House (SVNH). He was a leader for the Out of School Program and I...
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- Jan 28
- 4 min
PB&J: Why Leaders of Volunteers should create Job Aids
Earlier this week, I found my partner laughing uncontrollably. He was watching this TikTok video shared on LinkedIn:...
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- Jan 19
- 5 min
Community Organizing Insights: An Interview with Steve Boyle
Is anyone still on Facebook these days? I am and one of my reasons for staying on the OG social media platform is to follow the...
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- Dec 25, 2022
- 6 min
Book Recommendation: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
A Christmas 2022 note: It's been more than a few months since I've shared on this blog, and a lot has happened this year. I'm not the...
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- Mar 12, 2022
- 7 min
Personal Branding Series Part 3 of 3: An Interview with Corina Sadler, CVA
Welcome to the final installation of this blog series on personal branding. For the first installation where I outline some thoughts on...
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- Mar 6, 2022
- 6 min
Personal Branding Series Part 2 of 3: An Interview with Kristen Loblaw
Welcome to the second installation of this blog series on personal branding. If you want to check out the first installation, please...
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- Feb 27, 2022
- 2 min
Personal Branding Series Part 1 of 3: A Personal Reflection
My definition of personal brand encompasses how one reflects themselves into the worlds they interact with. Different worlds can have...
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- Dec 27, 2021
- 3 min
Une petite amélioration en 2021 : A few ways this anglophone worked on her French
I'm decidely anglophone. Growing up in British Columbia, the most western province of Canada, learning French was an academic exercise....
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- Oct 12, 2021
- 5 min
Volunteering as a Bereavement Photographer: Annie’s Journey and Call to Action
Content Warning: this article mentions infant loss and miscarriage Images provided for this article are courtesy of Annie Chen, with...
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- Jul 10, 2021
- 3 min
If I could turn back time... I'd tell myself: Advocate
Today's post was inspired by a question from the VolunteerPro Insiders Facebook group: "What advice would you give to someone just...
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- Jun 19, 2021
- 3 min
Internet Inquiry: June 2021 Edition (Volunteer Appreciation Gifts)
This question came through the VoluneerPro Insiders Facebook group. To paraphrase, another leader of volunteers asked for "ideas on some...
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- May 20, 2021
- 4 min
"Ginny & Georgia": Lessons in Volunteer-Related Risk Management from Netflix Show
I've taken a few days off work to celebrate my wedding anniversary and extend the May 2-4 long weekend. So of course, it's an opportunity...
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- Apr 25, 2021
- 3 min
Internet Inquiry: April 2021 Edition (Improving Your Writing for Job Applications and Beyond)
This question came to me from a family member who has spent about 30 years climbing the career ladder in Canada but was recently...
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- Mar 27, 2021
- 1 min
7 Ways to Increase Donations by Stewarding Volunteers
Volunteer Toronto is an incredible resource for people looking to volunteer and organizations looking for volunteer engagement support in...
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- Feb 14, 2021
- 5 min
Internet Inquiry: February 2021 Edition (Gut Feelings and Volunteer Screening)
This question was posted to the Volunteer Engagement Professionals - connection & camaraderie Facebook page on January 22, 2021, and...
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- Jan 16, 2021
- 9 min
Celebs x Volunteer Engagement: An Interview with Dana Litwin
Dana Litwin, CVA is a volunteer engagement consultant from San Francisco. She is also the host and producer of "Dana's Priceless Advice...
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- Jan 9, 2021
- 3 min
Internet Inquiry: January 2021 Edition (Volunteer Feedback Surveys)
To manage expectations for everyone, be transparent about the purpose of the survey and what will happen with survey responses. Many times,
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- Dec 29, 2020
- 5 min
Celebrity Volunteers
Just like we cannot assume that every accountant wants to be board treasurer, we cannot assume that every celebrity wants to do what they do
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- Dec 13, 2020
- 4 min
Internet Inquiry: December 2020 Edition (Celebrating Volunteers' Birthdays)
Volunteer birthdays- do you celebrate them? How? Our team has started taking note of volunteers' birthdays to acknowledge and celebrate them
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- Jul 28, 2020
- 5 min
Building Relationships Through Presentations
Don't see a presentation, or a donation, or a new member, or a six-month volunteer commitment, as the end game. To maintain relationships, y
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- Jun 25, 2020
- 5 min
Canada Student Service Grant: Some Answers- Finally!
Students must complete eligible volunteer hours by October 31, limiting the time available for screening, orientation, and training, as well
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- Jun 10, 2020
- 2 min
Black Lives Matter: Learning and Unlearning
This is a blog about learning so I'm going to share my experience of learning about systemic racism, effective allyship, and Black...
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- May 22, 2020
- 1 min
O Canada: Four Uniquely Canadian Things about Volunteerism and Volunteer Engagement during COVID-19
Rob Jackson's blog is one of the Resources I Love for volunteer engagement. So, when Rob asked if I'd like to contribute a guest post, I...
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- May 13, 2020
- 4 min
Employee Partners: It's Time to Level Up
Employee Partner: a paid staff member who works with volunteers throughout the volunteer engagement cycle, to enable success for a...
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- May 7, 2020
- 3 min
Sharing My Values with a Soul-Baring Story
I am the child of immigrants from Hong Kong. On my first day of kindergarten, my mom said to me, “and one day, you’ll go to university.”
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- May 3, 2020
- 5 min
Boundaries: Cover Your A$$ and Consider Your Capacity
I live in a Toronto neighbourhood called Willowdale. I have lived in this same neighbourhood since I moved to Toronto a decade ago. I...
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- Apr 22, 2020
- 4 min
Canada Student Service Grant: I have so many questions!
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised $9 billion to support students across the country in his daily coronavirus briefing today...
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- Apr 21, 2020
- 2 min
Do or don't: calling volunteers "family"? And why you should use "community" instead
I'm on several non-profit professional groups across social media and I've always wanted to delve deeper into questions that I give brief...
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