Participants in the third round of the Florida Volunteer Administration Certification program have new credentials to enhance their leadership of volunteers at Martin County agencies.

The certification is coordinated by the Volunteer & Community Resource Center (VCRC), a program of United Way of Martin County. In the past week, VCRC has been presenting certificates of accomplishment to 11 managers of volunteers for completing the training program. They are as follows:

• Angelica Aguilera, case manager
  Big Brothers, Big Sisters

• Steve Cargill, volunteer coordinator
  Boys & Girls Clubs

• Laura Dunne, case manager
  Big Brothers, Big Sisters

• Lauren Espitia, volunteer coordinator
  Council on Aging

• Kathy Fortney, match support
  Big Brothers, Big Sisters

• Anne Lalley, project coordinator
  Volunteer & Community Resource Center

• David Mitchell, case manager
  Big Brothers, Big Sisters
  (Now with New Horizons)

• Ava Pennington, volunteer coordinator
  Martin County administration

• Emma Smith, deputy supervisor
  Martin County Supervisor of Elections Office

• Lissa Smith, deputy director
  Indiantown Non-Profit Housing Inc.

• Lori Swift, volunteer/development assistant
  Hibiscus Children’s Center

These managers of volunteers went through a six-part training program that is designed to help nonprofit organizations increase the effectiveness of their volunteer programs. The curriculum, developed by the Points of Light Foundation, includes lessons on program management, planning, evaluation and volunteer recruitment, and training and supervision of volunteers.

“Because volunteers are so important to agencies being able to carry out their mission, it is vital that the people who manage volunteers are well-trained,” said VCRC director Carol Hodnett, who is in the midst of leading the fourth round of certification courses.

For more information, please contact Carol Hodnett, (772) 220-4472, ext. 221, chodnett@martinvolunteers.org. Or visit www.martinvolunteers.org.

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