 Donna has been a volunteer since the age of 12, when a teacher gave her an experience that would change her life. That experience helped her appreciate the role adults play in listening and mentoring youth, and the incredible benefits that volunteering can bring to your life.
Donna's work with the nonprofit sector spans 30 years. Always keen to learn, she often took part-time positions that gave her practical experience, while allowing greater flexibility to pursue other interests.
Her personal mission is "to build best practices in volunteer management." She does this through training, consulting and resource development. Her most exciting contribution was publishing - The Youth Volunteer Audit - a practical workbook to help organizations engage youth as volunteers.
Donna's career started in recreation as a community development worker, assisting volunteers to develop locally based recreation opportunities. Moving from Toronto to Peterborough Ontario in 1982, lead her to the United Way, as Director of Leadership Development. She recruited and trained volunteers who in turn provided training and consultation services to nonprofit boards of directors. She honed skills in board governance, workshop design, developing resource materials and conducting train-the-trainer sessions. She was instrumental in developing youth leadership programs that continue to this day.
In 1995, Donna designed the first certificate program in volunteer management at Sir Sandford Fleming College. She continues to teach this course as a way to promote and increase the professionalism of those working in volunteer management.
After holding many volunteer board positions, she was eager to see the other side of the partnership, that of senior staff. As Executive Director for Junior Achievement of Kawartha Lakes, she applied her interest and passion for helping youth by assisting them as young entrepreneurs. As a volunteer, Donna coordinated the first youth leadership awards in the Peterborough region. From 1998 to 2003, she pursued a continued interest in training but this time in the health care field, as Director of Education and Activation in long term care.
Donna has been a front line volunteer in special events, a board and committee member and a volunteer trainer. She is currently the Director of Education for PAVR-O, the Professional Administrators of Volunteer Resources, Ontario. Under her leadership, volunteers developed Standards of Practice for those working in volunteer management as managers, administrators, coordinators or directors. These standards were approved by the PAVR-O membership, over 350 administrators of volunteers in Ontario. Standards are meant to move the profession forward and provide a benchmark for those who work with volunteers. As a "best practice" document, Donna is proud of this accomplishment.
Most recently, Donna received her designation as a Certified Volunteer Resource Manager with the Ontario Provincial Association (PAVR-O).
When not working, Donna enjoys boating on the Trent-Severn Waterway, building creative skills in a women's craft group and a lot of reading. One son, an entrepreneur from age 15 recently graduated from computer science.
Donna, her husband Rob and dog Nikki, live north of Peterborough, Ontario in an 1843 log home reminiscent of the early pioneers. Donna appreciates that being an entrepreneur is a bit like being a pioneer...everyday is a new experience!
You can reach Donna at donna@rethinkgroup.ca or through her web site www.rethinkgroup.ca
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