Like so many mass gatherings of the past few months, our in-person 2020 Conference slated for Friday, August 14th has been cancelled.  In its place will be a virtual session with the theme Where Do We go From Here ? which will be presented on Thursday, August 20th.. The half-day virtual event will feature two general sessions. More to come on that.  Registration will be free and will open in mid-July.

The 2020 Illinois Conference on Volunteer Administration will be held on Friday, August 14th at Morrison Conference Center at the Raplh Metcalfe Federal Building in downtown Chicago.  Planning for the 2020 conference will kick off soon.  Consider being a part of the p-lanning committee.  Information will soon follow.

Thank you to everyone who submitted workshop proposals. The program committtee reviewed all of the proposals submitted and made their selections last week. The workshop sessions are now being scheduled and a full program should be available on this site the week of June 10th.  Registration will also open that week.

Conference Mission
The Illinois Conference on Volunteer Administration (ICOVA) provides valuable networking opportunities for volunteer management professionals. The Annual Conference, held each summer, promotes innovative and dynamic thought by presenting quality professional development opportunities focusing on the future of volunteer administration, including the role of technology and its impact, and strategic approaches to issues facing our society.  
 
Conference Content
The conference consists of fifteen to eighteen 75-minute breakout workshops and an opening plenary session. We welcome proposals from individual presenters as well as teams and panel presentation proposals.  We ask that you focus on providing a great learning experience for the participants and refrain from promoting any products or services with which you may be affiliated.  The general areas that workshops should relate to are:

• Starting from the Bottom Up - Fundamentals of Volunteer Management
• Social Networking and Using Technology to Engage Volunteers
• Best Practices – Volunteer Recruitment, Appreciation, and/or Retention 

           (especially relating to generational differences)

• Strategic Planning
• Budgeting, Accounting and Auditing
• Online Training
• Resource Development and Funding Diversification
• Partnerships and Collaborations (Team Presentations Encouraged)
• Personal and Professional Growth and Development

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Audience
The conference traditionally attracts a wide range of volunteer administration professionals representing the non-profit, governmental and private sectors in the metropolitan Chicago area. The experience level varies rom those early in their careers (1 to 5 year) to those at mid-point 5-10 years) to those more advanced (10-plus years).
 
Benefits to Presenters
ICOVA is an all-volunteer organization. Though we are unable to pay honorariums, workshop presenters are given the following benefits:

• Invitation to attend all other portions of the conference
• Option to distribute promotional materials to conference delegates
• Names and organizations highlighted in registration materials with links on our website.

 
Submitting a Proposal
ICOVA will only accept online proposals. To submit a proposal click here.

Planning is underway for the annual Illinois Conference on Volunteer Administration.  Be a part of it !  The Planning Committee meets monthly by conference call to brainstorm ideas and review program suggestions.  The Planning Committee also has sub-committees that need members - Program, which solicits and reviews workshop proposals and maintains communication with speakers; Arrangements, which solicits donations and in-kind goods and handles "day of" activities - packets, registration, signs & volunteer assignments; and, Outreach, which develops and maintains ICOVAs digital footprint - web site, social media, and e-mail marketing.  Interested ?  Click on "Contact Us" and send a note or send an e-mail directly to illinoiscova@gmail.com.

We have fully reached capacity and registration as well the waiting list are both closed. Thank you for your interest.  If you missed this year's conference we are sorry, but we hope to see you next year.

Riegistration for this year's conference was strong and we have reached capacity !  Sadly that means that registration is closed.  Since as of this writing we are still two weeks away from the conference, it is possibile that there will be cancellations.  For that reason we will have a waiting list.  If you missed the opportunity to register and are interested in being placed on a waiting list please send us an e-mail at illinoiscova@gmail.com.

​Whether you’re new to volunteer programming or a seasoned veteran there is always something for everyone at the Illinois Conference on Volunteer Administration (ICOVA). Conducted In partnership with the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Serve Illinois) and the Corporation for National and Community Service, ICOVA is intended to promote good volunteer engagement practices in Illinois. The day-long conference offers a general session and fifteen workshops exploring a variety of issues relevant to program and agency management  The conference begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Registration which includes breakfast snacks, boxed lunch and conference materials is $25.  The event is in a federal building, so in arriving allow enough to clear security and still make it on time for the 9:00 start.  

Thank you to everyone who submtited workshop proposals. The Program Committee is currently reviewing them and will be back in touch with everyone who submitted one by June 14th.  We expect to have the full conference program in place short.ly thereafter and are anticipating opening up registration the thrid week of June.

In the meantime, we are pleased to announce our Keynote Speake - Eric Weinheimer, President and CEO, Forefront  (formerly known as the Donors Forum).  Eric will address the conference at the Opening Session.   

Remember to keep in mind that the conference is in a federal building and everyone entering needs to pass through security.  Allow yourself enought time to clear secruity and make it on time for the 9:00 a.m. start.