Taking The Plunge
I was sitting between Aleks Vasic and Shannon Hill in a restaurant in Toronto in 2014. Faiza Venzant had organized an after-work gathering of TAVA (Toronto Association of Volunteer Administrators) members for a casual evening of connection. I had been a member for a couple of years and was starting to think about expanding my involvement, ready to move beyond the comfortable role of “member-at-large.”

I turned to Shannon Hill, then TAVA’s President, and said, “If there was an opportunity to get involved on TAVA’s Executive, I’d like to be considered.” With those words, my volunteer engagement world changed for good.

Like many stepping into leadership for the first time, I took on the role of Recording Secretary. As Adriane Beaudry told me, it’s one of the best positions when you’re “green”: responsible for taking minutes, connected to all Board and committee members, and usually without an additional portfolio.

In this role, I benefited from strong connections with fellow members. The requirement to attend every monthly meeting meant I also participated in every professional development workshop offered during my two-year tenure as Secretary. My network of volunteer engagement professionals grew, and I made new friends along the way.

Mentored by Shannon and Aleks and supported by the rest of the TAVA Board and its membership, I thrived in my first experience as part of a board. I made mistakes and was gently corrected. A couple of my ideas were adopted. Most importantly, I learned a great deal. Those lessons not only strengthened my work with TAVA but also influenced my role as a volunteer manager with a local social service agency. Serving on TAVA’s board gave me access to a highly skilled group of colleagues I could turn to between meetings with questions and concerns — and the volunteers I supported in my day job benefited directly.

Through TAVA, I learned about PAVRO and its relationship with the AVA. Before my first term on TAVA’s Board had ended, I joined PAVRO. Through its webinars and resources, my confidence as a leader of volunteers continued to grow and all from taking the initial step of saying, “I’d like to get involved.”

Stepping outside your comfort zone can feel uncomfortable, even a little scary. That small voice may try to talk you out of it, whispering that you won’t be “good enough.” But let me be clear: no one steps into a leadership role sprinkled with pixie dust that magically turns them into a board or committee member. There is work to do and things to learn.

Here’s the secret: the other members of the board or committee — and the organization’s membership — want you to succeed. No one invites a colleague into leadership hoping they will fail.

So if you’re considering getting involved with your local AVA or PAVRO, with apologies to Nike...Just Do It!

As Heather's term on the board comes to a close in June, we want to recognize and celebrate her incredible contributions, leadership, and dedication. While we’ll miss Heather's presence at the table, we’re excited that she’ll be sharing her insights and experiences in a special three-part series. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn from Heather's journey and the wisdom she’s gained along the way.