Connect with us!
Virginia Master Naturalists
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Staff
    • Chapters: A Map and Contacts
    • What We Do
    • Sponsoring Agencies
    • Golden Circle Volunteers
    • Highlights: Volunteer Projects
    • Volunteer Photo Gallery
  • Become a Master Naturalist
    • What You'll Learn
    • What You'll Do
    • How Do I Start?
  • Training
    • Basic Training >
      • Being a VMN Volunteer
      • Aquatic Systems
      • Citizen Science
      • Virginia Biogeography
      • Coastal and Estuarine Systems
      • Forests
      • Plants
      • Urban and Developed Systems
    • Continuing Education >
      • Continuing Education Webinar Series
      • Diversity & Inclusion Series
      • High Five from Nature
      • VMN Statewide Conference
      • Leadership Month 2021
      • Leadership Month 2022
  • Documents & Resources
    • Receive Communications
    • Bi-Weekly Communication for VMN Volunteers
    • Program Documents >
      • Program Policies
      • Volunteer Enrollment & Screening
      • Volunteer Management
      • Risk Management & Civil Rights Responsibilities
      • Outreach Materials
      • Program Reports
    • Volunteer Opportunities >
      • At-Home Projects
      • Bat Acoustic Monitoring
      • Diversity & Inclusion Team
      • Educators Bureau
      • Vernal Pools Cooperative
      • Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail Adoption
    • Useful Links
  • Give

Leadership Month 2021

graphic showing connected people
Overview
What?

Online Workshops via Zoom to help you be more effective as a VMN chapter leader and board.

Who?
All VMN chapter advisors, chapter board members, and committee chairs. Prospective or upcoming board members and committee members are welcome too!
​

When and Where?
Leadership Month 2021 is a series of online Zoom sessions spread throughout the month. These sessions are statewide, not divided regionally. You can choose to attend as many or as few as you like, but we do hope to see at least one person from every chapter in most sessions. While we encourage you to participate live if you can, most sessions will be recorded, so that you can watch them later.

Registrations
You need to register for each Zoom session separately.  When you register, you will get an automated email with a personalized link to join the session.

If possible, please register at least 3 days before the session, because we may be sorting you into breakout rooms for discussions, sending out pre-session materials, etc.

Most sessions will be recorded, and we will share the links so that you can view them later. However, we cannot post the videos until the captions are edited, so it may be a few weeks after the events that the videos become available to you.  Sessions or parts of sessions that are primarily conversations amongst chapter leaders may not be recorded, because we want participants to feel they can speak freely.

​If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Michelle Prysby, VMN Program Director at 434-872-4571/TDD* during business hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event.
*TDD number is (800) 828-1120.

Schedule of Events and Registration Links

Wednesday, November 3
*Note that there are separate registrations for Parts 1 and 2
Part 1 - 6:30-7:30 pm: Welcome, Updates, and Networking With Your Peers
Description: We will start with a few updates and accouncements, and then spend most of the session in breakout rooms by leadership role.  Join in to swap ideas with other volunteers in similar roles or to share your own great strategies for success!
This session was not recorded, because it was primarily breakout room discussions.


Part 2 - 7:40-8:30 pm: Going Virtual - Tips, Tricks, and Lessons Learned
Description: While some chapters are back to all in-person activities, other chapters have found advantages to the virtual format.  Learn about what has worked and not worked for our chapters in terms of both virtual trainings and chapter meetings.  
Watch the video from this session.  


Tuesday, November 9, 6:30-8:30 pm: Diversity & Inclusion in the VMN Program
Description: Our VMN Diversity & Inclusion Working Group is excited to share with you our goals for increasing diversity and inclusion in the program and the action items we have developed to help us meet those goals.  After sharing what we have developed, we will divide into breakout rooms for interactive discussion.
Watch the video from this session.  


Thursday, November 18, 6:30-8:30 pm: Better Impact Help Session for Administrators 
Description:  Now that we are nearly nine months into our switch to a new volunteer management system, we know you have new questions that have arisen, new leaders who need more assistance in using the system, and additional features that you are now ready to explore.  We will solicit your top Better Impact questions ahead of time, and then we will spend the session answering the most frequently asked questions and demonstrating the most frequently needed tasks.  
Watch the video from this session.  

Expected Outcomes
Do you need further convincing to participate in our Leadership Month sessions?
  • Each year, more than 90% of VMN Leadership Day evaluation respondents rate the workshops as "Excellent" or "Very Good".
  • More than 88% report increasing their skills, knowledge, and/or abilities related to their effectiveness as a VMN chapter board member.
  • 97% say that participating made them feel more supported in their chapter leadership role.
  • More than 95% report they got new ideas they planned to implement in their chapters.
  • And, with this year's format, you can attend a few, many, or all of the sessions from the comfort of your home!
Virginia Master Naturalist Program | 460 Stagecoach Road, Suite E201 | Charlottesville, VA  22902 | Phone: 434-872-4587 | Fax: 434-872-4578

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.