Building New Communities: VMPC’s Path to Regional Engagement

Borderless connections. Building a local community. Navigating regional nuances. These desires could be topical in any profession, and the reality is that volunteer engagement is not immune to an ever evolving and changing landscape.

Connections that transcend borders allow for professional expertise to be shared and accessed while also enabling collaborative mobilization and unifying efforts towards shared goals, all of which bring value. At the same time, local connections that can nourish relationships, build community, and create opportunity are equally as important.

Like many organizations, VMPC (Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada) has been adapting to the change of the last five years in real time. While doing so, trends have begun to emerge positioning us in a unique role to support and grow relationships that foster both individual and professional advancement. As a result, it allows for the reimagining of partnerships and the value that can be found in collaborative projects and events.

Is there a roadmap? Not really.
So what’s driving the change? You—leaders of volunteers.
As more is asked from less, and resources and time are scarce, you’re carefully choosing what’s of value to your development, how you can contribute your time, and the projects that are meaningful to you. I can imagine the same is true in any country.

Do we have all the answers? Nope.
Will we get it right each time? I doubt it.
What makes a difference is that we are adjusting to the changes that we see, and acknowledging that evolution is a process. At VMPC, we also acknowledge the balance required between meeting the needs of members while adjusting to variations in regional priorities, all while ensuring the stability and long-term success.

What is this going to take? Flexibility.
A one-size-fits-all approach isn’t something that works. There was once a time and place for this, but we feel confident that, to move forward, we need to be open to new possibilities, while still striking the balance previously referenced.

How is this already happening? Regional Engagement.

As the Regional Engagement Chair, I want to take you on a tour of VMPC’s evolutionary path forward, as we are seeing more and more interest in regional engagement.

How did we get here?

If you rewind to 2019, this historical milestone marks the establishment of the BC (British Columbia) Regional Committee. Formed out of the dissolution of a provincial affiliate in AVRBC, the Regional Committee was created to foster a VMPC presence within the province, serving the leaders of volunteers who were members and those entering the field without the limitations of bureaucracy and bylaws. VMPC houses those responsibilities, enabling leaders of volunteers to contribute to their local communities with national support. The BC Regional Committee has successfully grown in operations, involvement and impact and VMPC is better as a result.

One example is a pilot. When something works well, attempted replication is often what follows. Enter Manitoba. While similarly, the provincial affiliate in that province chose to dissolve, a direct transition into a regional committee wasn’t in the forecast. It took over two years for the appetite, capacity and leadership to emerge for us to try again. And we did. The Manitoba Regional Committee was established, and since 2022 has successfully been driving local impact and VMPC presence in the province. While similar in name, regional variations between provinces lead to structural and operational differences between the two. Not better, not worse, just different.

These two examples allow for comparison and evaluation. When given the opportunity to learn lessons amongst a plethora of changes, you don’t want to miss out. That has been the role I’ve been playing on behalf of the board for the past 4+ years. In the midst of discussion with three other provinces, we are identifying trends, listening to members, and forecasting what’s next. I don’t have a crystal ball, but increased interest in regional engagement has necessitated the importance of this strategic opportunity across VMPC.

What’s next? The development of a menu to explore regional engagement. A model built on lessons and the voices of members, and an organizational desire to evolve with the times. New possibilities. New volunteer opportunities. Embracing and reimagining partnerships. The chance to pilot new ideas. A focus on the changing landscape.

VMPC is adapting to the changing volunteer engagement ecosystem within Canada, with our mission top of mind. We are looking to the future as we champion the volunteer engagement profession through the pillars of advocacy, professional development and partnership that elevate volunteerism across Canada.

Stay tuned as we, as leaders of volunteers working on behalf of other leaders, continue this journey. How do you and your organization fit into this landscape? Has your country undergone similar changes? Share your journey or reach out to help VMPC, or associations in your country, plot, construct and support the new ways leaders of volunteers can connect to strengthen the profession and our impact on communities.