Regardless of how much you know about reggae music, you definitely know about Bob Marley. And I think we can all agree that he knew what he was talking about when he said, “One love, one heart, let’s get together and feel alright.” Which is exactly what the Calgary Reggae Festival is all about.

The Calgary Reggae Festival was created in October 2003, when six Calgarians came together with the same vision – to increase the awareness of reggae music in Western Canada, and to provide an avenue where those tunes could be heard. The Calgarians came from all different backgrounds, such as DJ’s, broadcasters, promoters, musicians and event planners. They’ve been working ever since to educate the general public about the unifying power of reggae music.

That power is no joke. Since its creation, reggae music has influenced a range of people, cultures and lifestyles. The Calgary Reggae Festival gives this community the opportunity to connect, learn about and enjoy live music while providing artists the chance to share and spread the love. And love they do spread – this year the organization is donating several admission tickets to newcomer families, in hopes of allowing individuals who may not otherwise have the ability or means to attend the festival.

Another way this festival helps spread cheer? By using VolunteerLocal, instead of those pesky spreadsheets. When you’re recruiting over 150 volunteers, manually entering application forms into Excel is a pretty loveless job. “VolunteerLocal has saved us time and has helped us to focus on engaging volunteers in more meaningful ways,” says Liz Kehler, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator of the Calgary Reggae Festival. “I love the Export function, the ability to communicate to all or just specific groups, the dashboard for a quick overview of stats – there’s too many to list, it really covers all our needs!”

“VolunteerLocal organized everything for me beautifully, which is really what you want as a volunteer coordinator,” says Kehler.

Ready to join the community? Register to work at the beer garden, sell raffle tickets, get silly in the kids zone and more and become a one love volunteer today.

 

Photos courtesy of Calgary Reggae Festival

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Alright, so we’ve recently admitted we’re not fitness professionals. But that’s why we leave that to the experts – our awesome clients. And you know they’re a pro when it’s literally their first name.

canfitpro is the leading provider of fitness and wellness education. They work to empower people with fun and effective physical activity by delivering accessible and affordable fitness education. canfitpro was founded in 1993 as a voice for all fitness professionals. In the years since, the company has grown rapidly, with almost 100,000 members across Canada and over 25 countries. Now offering multiple certification designations, canfitpro has grown to not only be the largest provider of education in the Canadian fitness industry, but has also acquired the reputation as being one of the top fitness organizations in the world.

That spot at the top wouldn’t be possible without some helping hands. “Our largest event has over 400 volunteers,” says Tammy Lyle-Gravlev, Volunteer and Academy Experience Coordinator for canfitpro. Volunteers put their best foot forward assisting with the information booth, registration, IT consultation, social media and more.

Before using VolunteerLocal, canfitpro was using a paper application to manage those hundreds of volunteers, which then had to be manually entered. “It was a very time consuming process. Volunteerlocal has lightened my workload, which has allowed for the opportunity to focus on other projects,” says Lyle-Gravlev.

“The online database is easy to use, and gives our volunteers a lot more freedom in selecting shifts and jobs that they are interested in. They’ve been happy with the streamlined process. I would definitely recommend VolunteerLocal.”

Are you ready to be a pro? You can! Check out canfitpro’s fit-tastic upcoming events here.

 

Photos courtesy of canfitpro

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FloydFest is a unique music and arts festival held annually in Virginia. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 80 acre site lends for a serene setting and some serious views. But this fest isn’t just for mountain men – bands range from rock to bluegrass, from reggae to folk and everything in between, with something for all ears.

If the scenery and sounds aren’t enough to get your hips moving, the perks of volunteering for FloydFest might just do it. Beyond earning a 5 day ticket, volunteers are also given access to free camping, free parking, a sweet Volunteer shirt, a pair of Farm to Feet socks, free soda and water during shifts, an invitation to the exclusive Volunteer Welcome Bonfire and many others yet to be announced. And that’s not all! Leah DeLuzio, the Staffing, Volunteers & Special Projects Director for FloydFest guarantees there will be a few special surprises in store for folks this year. “FloydFest is always filled with magic and mystery, and this year will not disappoint!” promises DeLuzio.

Along with the free swag is the special Volunteer Welcome Bonfire, complete with s’mores and live music held each year on the Tuesday night prior to the festival. It’s a great way to kick things off and provides volunteers with the opportunity to mingle before the festivities begin.

Meeting other volunteers is possibly the greatest perk of all. FloydFest draws a unique and loyal volunteer base, pulling in folks from all over the country who are passionate about music and the outdoors. “So many amazing connections are made, and by Sunday we’re all FloydFest family!” says DeLuzio.

This year, FloydFest upgraded to VolunteerLocal’s newest plan, the Conquer Plan, allowing them to collect and refund deposits from volunteers, and help make things even more personal for their loyal volunteers. “It’s wonderful to have the ability now to create name badges for our festival volunteers, as well as create template messages through the Communication tool,” comments DeLuzio. “The Conquer Plan has allowed for ease of scheduling and volunteer management.”

Ready to become part of the family? Register now and get to grooving.

 

Photos courtesy of FloydFest

 

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Music for All is one of the nation’s largest music education organizations in support of active music making. Their mission? To create, provide, and expand life-changing experiences through music (you guessed it) for all. They advocate that music and arts education is core to students’ education and should be available to all students, with programs that support the efforts of instrumental music teachers on the high school and middle school levels.

Each year, more than 300,000 people attend Music for All events, over 85,000 teens participate, and 100,000 people subscribe to online services. Music for All’s programs include fall marching band Regional and Grand National Championships; The Music for All National Festival, which features the National Concert Band Festival, Orchestra America National Festival, Middle School National Music Festival, Chamber Music National Festival, Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival, Honor Band of America, Honor Orchestra of America, and the Jazz Band of America; and the Music for All Summer Symposium, a week-long music camp that draws 1,200 teen music students and teachers from more than 30 states and several countries.  

“It is hard to choose a favorite event because they are very different,” says Hannah May, Event Coordinator for Music for All. “One favorite is our Grand National Championships which is exciting as it’s the culmination of our fall season, and there are several special events that go on during the championships.”

VolunteerLocal has helped with the registration process, allowing for their musically (and non-musically) inclined volunteers to sign up when best suits them. “VolunteerLocal has been very useful in sharing our volunteer opportunities and logistics to our volunteers,” says May. “It’s great that our registration can be embedded into our website and easily shared. This allows our volunteers to easily register for their own events and shifts that best fit their availability.”  

“VolunteerLocal is available to our volunteers at all times, so they are able to sign up whenever inspiration strikes.”

Feeling inspired? You can learn more about their programs and events on their website.

 

Photos courtesy of Music for All

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VolunteerLocal was created and headquartered in Iowa, so you could say we’re fans of the great outdoors. We’ve spent our fair share of time among the cornfields, and we even tipped a few cows back in our day (we’re not proud).

Ambler Farm knows a thing or two about agriculture. The 200-year-old working farm has 22 acres of gorgeous land, and is one of Wilton, Connecticut’s best kept secrets. The farm was built in the 1790s by Revolutionary War veteran Josiah Raymond, and was continuously owned and occupied by his descendants for 200 years. In 1999, after the last surviving family member passed away, the town of Wilton purchased the land with overwhelming taxpayer support as part of an open-space initiative. A non-profit group called Friends of Ambler Farm was formed, and a mission was crafted to celebrate the town’s agrarian roots through active-learning programs, sustainable agriculture, responsible land stewardship, and historic preservation.

Today, Ambler Farm is active and fruitful with productive gardens; a successful farm stand; numerous educational programs for children, adults and families; and annual community events (maple syruping, anyone?). Many of these events are now Wilton traditions, as the town comes together to enjoy the best of what the farm offers and to celebrate the cycle of the New England year.

The Friends of Ambler Farm relies heavily on volunteers to help manage fundraisers, such as the annual Ambler Farm Day and Holiday Greens Sale, with over 100 volunteers needed for each event. “The reporting functionality has made it easier to track who is signing up and has allowed us to effectively acknowledge individuals for their service,” says Laurie Masonson, Marketing Board Member of Friends of Ambler Farm. “By keeping track of volunteers, we’ve also been able to use the database as a recruitment tool for reaching out to volunteers and requesting their support with other events. Demonstrating a more organized manner of recruiting volunteers promotes a sense of professionalism as we are working towards growing our volunteer base.”

 VolunteerLocal has also helped keep volunteers happy (the ultimate goal!). “To date, we’ve received positive feedback from our volunteers that they appreciate the VolunteerLocal system,” says Masonson.

So next time you want some one-on-one gardening tips, or are craving a delicious farm-to-table meal, consider giving Ambler Farm a visit. In the meantime, you can learn more about their amazing history and exciting upcoming events on their website.

 

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of Amber Farm

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In life, we all know that it’s important to stop and smell the roses from time to time. For those of us enduring a Midwest winter, that can be harder said than done (we don’t even remember what green grass looks like by February!) – but we do remember the feeling we get from smelling fresh flowers, it’s the same one we get giving back to our communities. 

Friends School of Minnesota knows all about great flowers and good feelings. Founded in 1988, the K-8 progressive education school is grounded in Quaker values. It strives to meet children’s intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs, with the belief that children learn best as active participants, collaborators, and problem-solvers within a community. The school boasts a very diverse community of students, and supports many of their families with need-based financial aid.

Friends School of Minnesota’s main fundraiser helps offset this cost of financial aid. Each year on Mother’s Day weekend in May, people gather for the biggest fundraising plant sale in Minnesota –  what began 27 years ago as a small affair held at the school is now a huge, sprawling event at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Each year, the Plant Sale offers over 2,500 varieties of plants for sale during the three-day event. The fairgrounds are packed with lines of annuals, perennials, climbing plants, native wildflowers, and vegetables, as well as selected water plants, roses, trees, and shrubs.

The sale is entirely volunteer-run, with more than 1,200 volunteers working 80 different jobs, and over 350 shifts. This is quite an undertaking for a small school like Friends School of Minnesota, with an enrollment of only 164 students. “We built our own volunteer management sign up system a few years ago,” says Garth Morrisette, Business Manager at Friends School of Minnesota. “While our system worked well and served our needs initially, it was expensive and time consuming to maintain.”

“We’ve been with VolunteerLocal since 2014 and we love it,” says Morrisette. “VolunteerLocal’s system is easy to use and manage, and also doesn’t break our budget.”

If you’re looking to smell some (virtual) roses, check an amazing timelapse video of the Plant Sale. You can also learn more about Friends School of Minnesota and ways you can get involved at their website.

 

Photos courtesy of Friends School of Minnesota

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Last month, our very own Kaylee Williams decided it was time – she wanted to adopt a kitten. So we took a VolunteerLocal field trip to the Des Moines Animal Rescue League (one of our clients in the Des Moines Metro!). We were so impressed by the enthusiastic and helpful volunteers – and it was amazing to see the staggering number of animals they had rescued and were actively working to place into loving homes.

The Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach, Florida, is another example of an efficient, caring and safe environment for animals of all kinds to find refuge. Established in 1925, the Peggy Adams Rescue League services more than 30,000 animals each year, providing shelter, medical attention and protection for lost, homeless, or unwanted animals. The League also advocates for animal welfare through community events and educational forums.

“Humane education is very important in any community. Healthy animals mean healthy families, and healthier communities,” explains Tara Pregnolato, Manager of Volunteer Programming at the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. “The League provides care, education, tools and resources to help our community’s animals.”

This nonprofit hosts a number of fundraising and social events to bring the community together for the love of animals – such as the Christmas Ball, Off the Leash, Walk for the Animals, Blessing of the Animals, Spay Days, and Countdown2Zero. “I enjoy the Blessing of the Animals,” says Pregnolato. “It’s not a major fundraiser, but a feel-good event. We invite the community to visit our campus with their animals for a morning of song and inspiration. It’s a warm event.”

Before using VolunteerLocal, the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League relied heavily on email blasts and spreadsheets to schedule their volunteers. This led to missed messages and technical errors. “The work I do on the backend to create roles and shifts takes some effort, but not having to field dozens of calls and emails and changes has freed me up to focus on event instructions and details,” says Pregnolato.

“We upgraded our account to a Discover Plan so we’d have the communication tool available. It’s been a very effective tool for us.”

To adopt your own “forever friend,” volunteer for one of the League’s events, donate, and more, check out their website here. And, for those of you undoubtedly wondering, Kaylee did get a new cat. Her name is Basil and we are all a little bit obsessed.

 

Photos courtesy of www.peggyadams.org

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Every year our country remembers the acts and declarations of our forefathers. And every year, 30,000 runners take in the sights and long-standing history in the city of brotherly love. As George Washington once said, “Let’s run this thing!”

The Philadelphia Marathon was founded over 60 years ago and is consistently listed among the top ten courses in the country. While the theme changes every year, the course and the people remain favorites among the runners trotting along the water and through downtown Philly.

Christine Waite is the volunteer coordinator for the ~3,500 volunteers it takes to make this race happen each year. Between the Kids Fun Run, 8K, Half Marathon and Marathon, she says the event could not be the success it is without these volunteers.

While this is a long-standing event with many repeat participants and volunteers, the process to get there has been far from seamless. In fact, they have switched volunteer registration processes three times in the last three years.

With the ability to send confirmation emails to volunteers, customize volunteer roles, and run up-to-date reports, the Philadelphia Marathon has finally found their perfect match with VolunteerLocal. Waite says, “Compared to last year’s system, it is 100 times better!”

It’s not too late to help these founding runners!

To life, liberty, and happy volunteering!

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You may recognize the name “Grapevine” as one of your favorite dance moves, but did you know that Grapevine, Texas is a nationally-acclaimed destination spot in the Southwest? Boasting 80 locally-owned shops, wineries and restaurants amid the gorgeous scenery of north Texas, it’s no wonder thousands travel here every summer for a relaxing, tannin-infused getaway. 

Beyond the local attractions, Grapevine is also the home of multiple events, such as GrapeFest®, the largest wine festival in the Southwest; the Christmas Capital of Texas®, which features 1,400 Christmas events over more than 40 days; Main Street Fest, a three-day family-friendly festival of fun; and numerous others. Grapevine has even been officially recognized as a World Festival & Events City by the International Festival & Events Association (IFEA).

These events are made possible by the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). “The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau is the destination marketing organization for the City of Grapevine, Texas,” says Luke Wolfard, Festival and Event Manager at the Grapevine CVB. “It’s our mission to attract new and repeat meetings and conventions, leisure travelers and local residents to experience the superior level of attractions, shopping, dining, annual events and more.”

These festivals are also a way to support the local community. “Grapefest (and others) are very important to the community because the proceeds help finance the Grapevine Heritage Foundation,” explains Wolfard. The Grapevine Heritage Foundation is a not-for-profit community organization committed to promoting the preservation, protection, and economic development of Grapevine’s physical and cultural heritage.

Before switching to VolunteerLocal, Grapevine recruited volunteers using paper forms that volunteers filled out by hand, and then mailed, faxed, or dropped off at the CVB. Data was then manually inputted and stored in (you guessed it!) Excel spreadsheets. For an organization that recruits up to 1,000 individual volunteers for some of it’s largest events, VolunteerLocal has made it much easier to organize and communicate.

“[VolunteerLocal’s] ease and online use for the volunteers to sign up for shifts has enabled us to recruit a larger amount of volunteers with greater efficiency,” Luke Wolfard, Festival and Event Manager at the Grapevine CVB says. “I will continue to use VolunteerLocal at our future events and would definitely recommend it to others.”

When you’re planning your next family vacation, or simply craving a glass of the best wine the southwest has to offer, consider Grapevine, Texas: it’s as fun (and accessible) as your favorite dance move (step-behind-step-touch)!

 

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