MNRAAA Receives Prestigious Service Enterprise Accreditation

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Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (MNRAAA) is pleased to announce that it has achieved national accreditation in strategic volunteer engagement by AL!VE. Achieving Service Enterprise accreditation is a prestigious accomplishment. In fact, MNRAAA has joined the top 11 percent of nonprofits nationwide in volunteer management and organizational performance. Accreditation signifies that MNRAAA has the capability and management expertise to strategically engage community members and volunteers to improve the performance of our organization and meet community needs.

 

MNRAAA is the designated area agency on aging in Southwestern Minnesota, serving twenty-seven counties. Its vision is to assist older adults to thrive. In working with community-based organizations, MNRAAA provides funding (through the Older Americans Act) to support home-delivered meals, congregate meals, transportation, and caregiver support. MNRAAA, with the Minnesota Board on Aging, also operates the Senior LinkAge Line. 

 

To be successful, MNRAAA utilizes volunteers to reach out to older adults and caregivers. Volunteers assist in outreach events such as leading presentations, dropping off materials, or managing a booth at community events. As a non-profit organization, MNRAAA relies on volunteers to serve on our Board of Directors or Committees. Finally, MNRAAA features an administrative volunteer opportunity.

 

MNRAAA completed an extensive assessment, including training and coaching, and a comprehensive internal planning and change process to integrate volunteers into our human capital strategy better. By achieving this level of excellence and accreditation, we are better equipped to leverage community members’ and volunteers’ time and talent to deliver our mission more effectively.

 

“Working through the SEI process has allowed us to reflect, renew, and reimagine volunteerism at MNRAAA. We have been more intentional in our volunteer roles that support our staff and clients, which enhance our opportunities to help older adults to thrive.” Stated Kylie Chandler, Contact Center Manager with MNRAAA. 

 

MNRAAA began this journey in February 2022. “The COVID-19 pandemic produced a large exodus of volunteers from our organization and other community-based non-profits.” Stated Jason W. Swanson, Executive Director. “We needed to learn to recruit new volunteers. It was a perfect opportunity to reimagine our program.”

 

MNRAAA worked closely with the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA). MAVA is an organization that assists other non-profit organizations in maximizing mission capacity through the utilization of volunteers. Holly Daniels of MAVA worked closely with MNRAAA in preparing their application for accreditation.

 

“The Service Enterprise process allowed MNRAAA to successfully decentralize volunteer coordination across several staff positions and beef up their cross-organizational support and communications about volunteers. They have seen new energy and momentum about engaging volunteers after giving staff a sense of ownership and a structure to work within.” Daniels commented on MNRAAA’s work through the process.  

Research conducted by the TCC Group, a national program and evaluation firm, found that organizations operating as Service Enterprises outperform peer organizations in all aspects of organizational effectiveness. They are more adaptable, sustainable, and capable of scaling their work.

 

The Service Enterprise program is a national change management program that helps organizations gain a greater return on volunteer investment to achieve their mission better. For more information regarding volunteer opportunities with our organization, please visit https://mnraaa.org/volunteer-opportunities/. For further information regarding Service Enterprise, please contact AL!VE’s National Service Enterprise Administrator, Kayla Paulson, at 319.310.0901 or ServiceEnterprise@volunteeralive.org.

 

About the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging 

MNRAAA’s vision is to assist older adults to thrive. MNRAAA provides advocacy, information, resources, and assistance so that older adults in southwest Minnesota can maintain the lifestyle of their choice. Learn more about MNRAAA at www.mnraaa.org. 

 

 

For more information on the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA) visit their website at https://mavanetwork.org/  

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April is National Volunteer Month

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“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart.” This quote, attributed to Elizabeth Andrew, is one of my favorites about volunteerism. MNRAAA’s ability to fulfill our vision and mission relies on not only our staff, but also our volunteers.

In the post-pandemic world, volunteering looks different. Over the past year, MNRAAA has prioritized growing our volunteer network and partnered with Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA) to assist in growing this network. MAVA works on advancing communities through excellence in the leadership of volunteers and identifying best practices around organizational volunteerism. One of the programs that they offer is the Service Enterprise Initiative (SEI), a program sponsored by Points of Light. This holistic change management approach helps organizations position volunteers as a strategic resource to build capacity, increase volunteer investment return and better achieve their social mission.

Through this process, MNRAAA has identified ways to engage volunteers, such as serving on the Board of Directors or a committee. A volunteer could assist staff in presentations on topics for older adults and caregivers, or they could assist in spreading the good word about the services MNRAAA offers.

There are opportunities for volunteering. If you are unable to volunteer with an organization, we encourage you to do things to help your neighbors, friends, and family. You could pick up mail, offer to walk a pet if someone does not feel well, check in with people via telephone or prepare or deliver meals for others. This month of April, we show our appreciation to everyone who volunteers their time and gifts.

All you volunteers, thank you!

If you have a penchant for volunteering or want to give back to your community, go to mnraaa.org and click on volunteer opportunities. Staff will be happy to assist you with any questions.

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National Volunteer Week was April 18-24

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Across the United States and Washington D.C., Minnesota ranks second for volunteerism, according to an AmeriCorps survey. This data puts the phrase “Minnesota nice” into perspective. It is gratifying and humbling to know that so many Minnesotans have the empathy and passion to offer a helping hand.

As a volunteer coordinator, it is an honor to help serve people living in Southwest Minnesota and to support volunteers in achieving their missions. “Witnessing volunteer acts of kindness resonates as an affirmation of our ability to be selfless and contribute to the greater good”, states Brittany Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator for Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging. Volunteers often underestimate the power of their touch, a smile, offering a listening ear and other small acts of kindness. In other words, volunteers have the potential to turn a life around by donating their most valuable asset, time.

The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging wants to thank the dedicated volunteers that make an impactful difference within their communities by sharing their wealth of knowledge and compassion. This week, we honor our volunteers and express our gratitude for their commitment to making older adults that live in southwest Minnesota thrive.

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October 2020 MNRAAA news is Available

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MNRAAA news  Volume XI – Issue III

Read the MNRAAA news in it’s entirety…(Read the PDF)

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