Volunteer Fair Makes It Simple To Serve From: University of Cincinnati Currents Date: February 11, 2000 By: Chris Curran There will be a massive match-making effort at UC next week that has absolutely nothing to do with Valentine's Day. The Community Connections Fair is an expanded effort to help local nonprofit agencies benefit from the vast experience, energy and talent available in the UC community. The fair runs 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Kingsgate Conference Center. Fifty different agencies will be represented, all looking for volunteers or new board members. "This provides an opportunity to tie the campus community back to the broader local community," said Eric Rademacher, research associate in the Institute for Policy Research and one of many UC faculty and staff helping to coordinate the fair. "There's no special expertise needed. All it requires is an interest and a commitment to get things done." The event is an outgrowth of the United Way's Volunteer Leadership Development Program (VLDP), which trains people to serve as board members of nonprofit agencies. Kathy Grant, assistant dean for the Career Planning Center in the College of Law, is a graduate of that program. She emphasized how easy it is to find the right volunteer opportunity. "I wanted to work with kids in my neighborhood, and I was able to be matched with an association there," said Grant, who works with the Espy Boys and Girls Clubs in Price Hill. "It is amazing how valued I felt the very first time I volunteered at the club. The staff, the kids, even the board members made me feel that anything I was able to contribute - time, ideas or even coloring with the kids, was special." Annette Georgin, assistant director for the Institute for Policy Research and the Institute for Health Policy and Health Services Research, is also a VLDP graduate. She started volunteering last year with the Community Resource Center (CRC), a nonprofit clearinghouse that collects in-kind donations from businesses and redistributes them to area nonprofit organizations. The nonprofits benefit directly from the donations and so do the people they represent. "Bringing this year's volunteer fair to the UC campus is a terrific way to bring together so many people who want to volunteer but are not sure how to go about finding the right nonprofit organization to work with," said Georgin. "Volunteerism truly makes a difference in your life." Robert Bell, manager of training and development at the United Way Volunteer Resource Center, said the Community Connections Fair was such a popular idea 20 agencies ended up on a waiting list, unable to get a spot at this year's event. "The University of Cincinnati has such vast resources with so many talents. It's a godsend for agencies to tap into that. I'm really excited about the UC connection." Bell also emphasized that it doesn't matter whether you're a new student who knows very little about Cincinnati or a senior administrator with extensive fund-raising or financial expertise, there is an opportunity for everyone to serve. "Even if you have only an hour to spare each month, you can make a difference. We can find a volunteer opportunity for any volunteer." The greatest need is often for agencies helping those addicted to drugs or alcohol. Bell explained that counseling expertise isn't required. Simply being able to provide transportation or serve coffee during meetings can help ease the burden on the agency's staff. Those able to make a greater commitment might find opportunities on boards of directors. The need is staggering, considering that there are almost 1,000 nonprofit agencies in Greater Cincinnati and each board has an average of 17 members. Still, Bell is optimistic the agencies will find the help they need. "Cincinnati has a strong history of civic and community service. It's not that it's hard to find volunteers, but we need to match resources and needs." So, the fair will allow potential volunteers to explore a wide range of opportunities, both in the type of programs offered and in the areas served. From Brown County to Northern Kentucky and northward to Dayton, there are agencies looking for more volunteers. For more information about the Community Connections Fair, contact Holly Schnapf at 762-7175 or Jan Hoferkamp at 762-7156. If you're unable to attend the fair, but are still interested in helping, call the United Way Helpline at 721-7900. The fair is co-sponsored by the following groups at UC: the Association for Women Administrators, the Commission on the Status of UC Women, and the UC Association of Administrators, Managers and Professionals (UCAAMP).