Friday Facts: Aussie Volunteer Conference Reactions

There are suggestions that the Volunteering Australia conference set to operate in a few weeks has failed to meet target. It is been suggested that there are about 300 attendees compared to 600 last year. True, there may be a rush of last minute attendees but numbers do appear down.

No doubt the very recent change of date and venue, which I have previously blogged about may be a factor. Listening to people, across Australia I am hearing a range of reasons why numbers are down:

1. The price of close to $950 for a volunteer conference is very high. The mutterings about the cost have now risen to a crescendo. Add to the cost, accommodation which is not included ($250 to $450 depending on how you organise it), airfares $200 to $500, meals (up to $150), transfers etc etc and you are looking at over $2000. By contrast, you could have flown to New Zealand, paid for accommodation,  attended the NZ conference, eaten well and spent half of that
2. The economy is making not for profits extra careful
3. The lack of significant or sufficient quality volunteer management workshops or plenaries
4. The late addition of this conference into a crowded 2011 calendar
5. What is perceived as the on going disconnect of Volunteering Australia from the rest of the volunteering world in Australia
6. The poor decision to charge volunteer presenters full fee, even when they are presenting, stopped some from submitting papers

One wants the peak body to succeed and do well. These disappointing numbers at the conference reduce their income from the event and will impact negatively on their ability to provide support for volunteering across the country. Hopefully in reflecting and evaluating, some constructive changes will be made.

Show me the Money

Money is very tight for most of the not for profit sector. There are a few exceptions but for most, scrambling to keep budgets together is the order of the day.

We all know that to get revenue, agencies will:

1. accept donations
2. charge memberships
3. seek government or trust grants
4. run fundraising events
5. charge fees for service
6. operate commercial ventures

Different agencies will have different mixes of income sources.


LIkewise, Conferences for the Sector are having to draw disparate sources of finance together.
For example, the National Conference on Volunteer and Service in the USA appears to try to do a combination of the fundraising I have listed above. 

Their counterpart in Australia, the National Volunteering Conference follows suit. DJ Cronin on his blog draws into question how much the Conference is charging this year. 

• To attend will cost just under $1000 for registration (before airfare and accommodation)
• To exhibit at a display booth will cost between $10,000. and $50,000.

I have made some critical comments on DJ 's blog about this but today I just want to ask some questions. I am happy for Volunteering Australia or anyone else to answer them. 

1. If only wealthier agencies can afford to attend, which audiences are missing out?
2. What steps can we take that allows the experience of these events to be shared?
3. Volunteering Australia has a stated policy of not promoting anything that is not run by a not for profit. Does this policy get overturned when large sums of money are involved? Is such a policy relevant in an era when we are trying to promote new and different models?
4. How can community agencies, social enterprises and small business models get access to display booths at such conferences?
5. How can we better support Volunteering Australia to get much needed revenue to deliver services?
6. How can Volunteering Australia  connect better with those who are critical of the costing structures rather than avoiding these discussions that may be critical?

Volunteer Week design

Keeping my unofficial survey from last week's post about the Australia Volunteer Week Poster design. Keep the comments and the survey replies coming - I love them!

But What does it Mean?

Volunteering Australia have launched their designs for 2011 Australian National Volunteer Week (May.2011) They engaged a volunteer to do the design which is a great model. Heres the full size Poster (it is a PDF) 

I  am curious to know what people who work with volunteers think about the design and what you think it represents.

Can you comment below as to what you think of the poster and what you think it means or complete a quick 3 question anonymous survey (or do both) - you don't have to be Australian to comment!


NB The survey is not an official survey endorsed by Volunteering Australia but I will pass on the feedback to them.