WELCOME NAVPLG BOARD MEMBERS
 
Thank you NAVPLG Members for your support of community and our mission. Thank you NAVPLG Board of Directors for service and leadership. We are pleased to introduce new board members in upcoming issues. New board of director members answered two questions for me: What inspired you to serve on the board, and what do you enjoy most about service? Here are their answers.

• I have worked in a federal government agency for 15 ½ years and always with volunteer engagement. And I have worked with volunteers for 25 years. Eyeing NAVPLG from a distance for the last several years, reading the newsletter, browsing the website, and with transitioning off other professional boards, I thought perhaps it was time to see how I can support NAVPLG and its mission.
• I think I was always meant to be in public service. From a young age, I was always volunteering and giving back. While I had other ideas about what I wanted to do after college, I was somehow drawn to the field of volunteer engagement. After different jobs in nonprofits, I made my way into healthcare volunteerism and ultimately to where I am now with the Department of Veterans Affairs. I love being able to work with the best part of people – their hearts. I love knowing I have leadership support to be creative, innovative, and flexible in my position to support our staff, Veterans, and volunteers. It’s a lifelong journey and one that I am proud to be a part of.

• What inspired me to serve on the board of directors was to learn about and help grow capacity for volunteer programs in city/county governments as well as meet like-minded individuals!
• What I most enjoy about service work is getting out of my self and helping others. Nothing feels better than either learning what people need to accomplish their goals and having experience to share with them or simply putting a smile on someone’s face!

• I have worked with volunteers for over 15 years and love helping people. I want to help build a stronger volunteer community across America while learning from and being inspired by my peers.
• I love the journey and the results of bringing people together to build a community that creates and enhances the quality of life.

• I served two years as NAVPLG Member-at-Large.
• In addition to continuing to assist with the coordination of medical volunteers as part of Boulder County’s COVID-19 response, I am modifying and developing the county’s existing Respite & Companion Volunteer Program for the new reality. I also lead Boulder County Area Agency on Aging efforts in reframing aging, a communications project to combat prejudice and discrimination against people based on age (ageism). Unfortunately, such prejudice and discrimination have frequently been on full display during the pandemic, so there is much work to do to foster a more just environment for everyone, regardless of age.

• I served two years as NAVPLG E-Newsletter Chair and am currently serving on the DOVIA Sacramento board as Education Chair, and Vice President of the Sacramento Region Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). I remain an active member of NAVPLG by serving as Committee Associate and am helping transition the E-Newsletter to Member-at-Large Melissa A. Heinlein as well as assisting Education Chair Deirdre Araujo with developing enrichment sessions on virtual platforms for NAVPLG members
• Since retiring the end of June, I am enjoying having more time to pursue my personal interests such as yoga, meditation, Qi Gong, writing, exercising, singing, learning and performing hula, visiting with grandchildren, camping and traveling (when restrictions are lifted). Here is a link to one of the songs we've been working on with the All Voices Choral Project - Resilience:  https://youtu.be/sfGZhxhVCQE 

• I served one year as NAVPLG Social Media Chair. I worked at Portland’5 Centers for the Arts for 1 ½ years before COVID hit in March 2020
• Unfortunately all of our performing venues will be shuttered until at least January 2021. Oregon (the Portland Metro) is still under the phase 1 quarantine, meaning that groups of 10 or less are allowed to gather. All of our performing arts companies along with the Oregon Symphony have cancelled their 2020 performances. We won’t be called back to work until 2021. I loved my job and all of our volunteers, so I definitely want to return when restrictions are lifted.

While COVID-19 connects the world, please be inspired to turn this opportunity into hope and resilience for amazing service. Individually and collectively we are responding by helping our local communities, families, friends, coworkers, and dear beings the world over. Believe we live in promise by viewing each other through eyes of compassion.
 
Please share your stories with NAVPLG as it relates to volunteer programs and volunteer coordinators. How are you, your community, and volunteers responding to COVID-19? Please share your narratives with Member-at-Large Melissa A. Heinlein as she is stepping up to publish the NAVPLG E-Newsletter. Share with Melissa at memberatlarge7@navplg.org.
 
Please be safe, well, peaceful, happy, and resilient. Thank you for your service!

Kandy LeMoine, CVA
NAVPLG President (2018-2021)
president@navplg.org
WWW.NAVPLG.ORG
Mayor’s Volunteer Partners
Volunteer Program Manager
City of Farmington Human Resources