Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mailnes of Pohick Bay Regional Park.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
The Northern Virginia Association for Volunteer Administration (NVAVA) presents volunteer management training on “Volunteer Retention: Keeping the Spark" Thursday, March 15, 9:30 a.m.-noon. The training will take place at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, in conference rooms 2 and 3. The meeting is open to all who manage volunteers, be it in a nonprofit, for profit and/or faith-based setting. The training is free to members, non-members $10 at the door. RSVP by Wednesday, March 7 to Susan Stolpe at susan.stolpe@restoninterfaith.org or 571-323-9569.
The Virginia Cooperative Extension and Loudoun Volunteer Financial Council (LVFC) are seeking volunteers for upcoming "Reality Store" events March 15 and March 20. The "Reality Store" is a hands-on, "real-life" simulation for high-school seniors in Loudoun County. The purpose of this event is to provide students with a taste of reality through an educational role-playing simulation relating to making financial choices. Commitment will be from 8:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering, contact Debra Foster by e-mail at dfoster@vt.edu, by telephone, 703-771-5836, or by mail Virginia Cooperative Extension, Loudoun Office, 30-B Catoctin Circle, Leesburg, VA 20175.
The Loudoun Museum seeks volunteers to assist guests as they visit the museum. Duties include greeting guests, providing basic tourist and heritage information, collecting admission fees and answering the telephone. Hours are flexible with both morning and afternoon shifts available. Training will be provided. The Loudoun Museum is located at 16 Loudoun St., S.W., Leesburg. E-mail bfriedmann@loudounmuseum.org or call 703-777-7427.
The Wingler House lunch program is looking for volunteers to serve a hot nutritious meal and the gift of friendship to older adults. E-mail debra.bressler@loudoun.gov or call Debra Bressler at 703-777-0257.
There are vacancies for representatives on the following county and regional advisory boards, commissions and committees.
* Agricultural District Advisory Committee: One at-large landowner engaged in agriculture or forestal production and one at-large local landowner.
* Animal Advisory Committee: Broad Run District.
* Commission on Women: Sterling District.
* Community Action Agency Advisory Board: Three at-large, low-income representatives.
* Community Services Board: At-large representatives.
* Commuter Bus Advisory Board: At-large and Potomac District.
* Disability Services Board: At-large business representatives or representatives who have a disability or who have a family member with a disability.
* Equal Employment Opportunity Plan Committee: At-large representatives.
* Library Board of Trustees: Potomac District.
* Transportation Safety Commission: Sterling and Sugarland Run districts.
* Western Schools Task Force: One citizen of western Loudoun from the Blue Ridge District or Catoctin District. Note: the deadline is Friday, Feb. 16.
* Woods Road Special Exception Oversight Committee: At-large representatives.
For information about specific vacancies, contact Cherie Giles, Board of Supervisors, 703-771-5034 or by e-mail at Cherie.Giles@loudoun.gov. Information about each board, committee and commission is available on the Loudoun County Government Web site at www.loudoun.gov/advisory.
Loudoun Volunteer Services (LVS) is seeking nominations for outstanding student volunteers, to be recognized as Student Volunteer of the Month. The qualifying student, or group of students, must be enrolled in Loudoun County public, private or home school, grades kindergarten through 12. Nominees must demonstrate contributions to the Loudoun County community through exceptional volunteer service. Nominations should originate from the school, civic, religious or cultural organization in which the student volunteered. Parents who wish to nominate their child should have the organization in which the student volunteered submit the nomination in order for LVS to verify service. Visit www.loudoun.gov/pio/volunteer.htm or call 703-777-0113. Send nominations to Loudoun Volunteer Services Board, Student Recognition Committee, MSC 03, 1 Harrison St., S.E., Leesburg, VA 20175, by fax at 703-771-5841 or by e-mailing pivs@loudoun.gov.
The Home-Delivered Meals Program is looking for volunteers to deliver a hot nutritious meal and the gift of friendship to Loudoun older adults confined to their homes. Leesburg, Purcellville, Ashburn, Sterling and South Riding
areas need drivers. E-mail dbressle@loudoun.gov or call Debra Bressler at 703-777-0257.
AARP Tax-Aide, a free, volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service, is seeking volunteers to electronically complete and file 2006 federal and state income tax forms, through April 15. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome but ability to use a computer is a must. Evening and Saturday shifts are available. Tax counselors receive free tax training and become IRS certified by passing the IRS examination. Call Patty Callahan, 703-207-0056 or via e-mail pcallahan@cox.net or call toll-free 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669) or visit www.aarp.org/taxaide.
Loudoun Volunteer Services (LVS) is seeking nominations for the 2007 Loudoun Volunteer Services Outstanding Volunteer Awards. which honors citizens and organizations who donate time and service to their community.
Nomination forms are available in the Loudoun Volunteer Services office at 1 Harrison St., S.E., Leesburg, or on the Web at www.loudoun.gov/pio/volunteer.htm and must be returned by March 1.
Contact Loudoun Volunteer Services at 703-777-0113 or e-mail pivs@loudoun.gov.
The Youth Music Preservation and Promotion Association (YMPPA) is seeking interested parties to fill committee and board vacancies. If interested in applying for a committee or board for the Youth Music Association, submit a letter of interest to Gabriela Bohnett at 44021 Aberdeen Terrace, Ashburn, VA 20147 or by e-mail at info@ymppa.org. For more information about participation, contact Sasha Tomomatsu at 703-729-0001.
Loudoun County Community Corrections is looking for volunteers to serve as court assistants. Volunteers must be 18 years of age and pass a criminal background check. A commitment of one year at four hours a week requested. Duties include providing court coverage, performing financial interviews on indigent defendants, data entry, case compliance, case intakes and basic administrative duties. Training is provided but a knowledge of the court system is helpful. Contact Karen McQuaid, deputy director at 703-737-8519 or kmcquaid@loudoun.gov.
Loudoun Families for Children, a nonprofit, volunteer organization providing temporary homes for children in crisis and a mentoring program for at-risk children, needs volunteers. Anyone interested in more information about the orientation program, call Kim Burk, 703-771-9505 or e-mail kburk@burkinc.com.
Loudoun Volunteer Services is seeking volunteer opportunities appropriate for youth, ages 12-18. Students may be looking for short-term or long-term opportunities and may be available to complete tasks that can be done at home.
Anyone who can use the assistance of a youth volunteer, go to www.loudoun.gov/pio/volunteer.htm to register your organization and opportunity. Contact Lisa Rose, volunteer coordinator, at 703-777-0113.
The ASPECT Foundation is looking for families to host a foreign exchange student for the upcoming school year. The students come from all over the world for the chance to experience life in the USA while attending high school. These students have their own health insurance and spending money. Host families provide the student with room and board. Call 703-433-0362.
La Voz, conduit between the Hispanic/Latino and immigrant populations, government agencies and other groups in order to promote self-sufficiency, is in need of volunteers for a range of different activities such as grant writing, ESL instructors and child care for educational presentations. In addition, it is seeking a minimal amount of office space to initiate the Newcomer Welcome Center. La Voz is always in need of financial support. All donations are tax deductible. Contact La Voz of Loudoun at 703-777-1417.
Loudoun Volunteer Services (LVS) announces its volunteer-match Web site, a service of the Points of Light Foundation, corporately sponsored by Dominion Power. The Web site is aimed at both volunteers, who are seeking to find opportunities best suited for their particular interest or skill, and organizations seeking a way to publicly advertise their volunteer opportunities. To register for this free service, visit www.loudoun.gov/pio/volunteer.htm and click on "register your organization's volunteer opportunities," or to volunteer click on "looking for volunteer opportunities." Contact Lisa Rose at 703-777-0113.
Loudoun Interfaith Relief Inc., is seeking volunteers that can pick up food from local grocery stores in the Leesburg and Ashburn areas. Drivers are needed every morning. Loudoun Interfaith Relief Inc. is a nonprofit food pantry that provides emergency food supplies to residents in need living in Loudoun County. Call 703-777-5911.
The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, has volunteer opportunities available. Call 703-430-2397, Ext. 123.
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is seeking Blood Services Volunteer Ambassadors to assist its blood collections staff at blood drives and blood donor centers. This position is offered to people who are 14 years of age or older. Specific responsibilities include greeting donors and providing them with essential reading materials, serving refreshments, and observing donors for post-donation reactions to giving blood. Training is provided. A commitment of two or more blood operations each month is requested. Blood drives last four and half to six hours and are held daily throughout the Potomac area, including Loudoun County. To register for training, call the American Red Cross Volunteer Office at 1-800-272-0094, Ext. 1 or e-mail karlofft@usa.redcross.org.
LINK, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization, is seeking volunteers for its food-bank, assisting needy families in selecting five-day allotments of food items, to restock shelves and load food into family vehicles. Call Roberta at 703-450-4643.
Prison Fellowship’s National Office, located in Lansdowne, supports the work of thousands of churches in their hands-on ministry to prisoners and their families. Volunteer opportunities are primarily during business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The fellowship is looking for people who have skills or interests in any of the following areas: office administration, marketing, hospitality, data entry, library administration, prayer support and Web research. There are also opportunities for high-school students during the summer months. Contact Dawn, volunteer services, 703-554-8440 or at volunteers@pfm.org.
Inova Loudoun Hospital is looking for adults to volunteer within its Chaplaincy Services department. The mission is to visit patients and help them draw upon their own spiritual resources in order to cope with their experience of illness. Volunteers are expected to attend a 14-week training program and commit several hours per week for one year visiting patients. Classes begin in September and meet on Monday evenings. The training program, now in its third year, offers mature adults an opportunity to develop personal and professional skills necessary to offer effective pastoral care in the health care setting. The volunteers were recently recognized by Loudoun Volunteer Services and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors as the 2004 Outstanding Adult Volunteer Team. Contact Chaplain Tom Chirdo at 703-858-8034 or tchirdo@lh.org.