ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - WBFN

Career and Volunteering ProgramWBFN’s Career & Volunteering Program (C&V) supports spouses and partners transitioninginto their new environment in the Washington, DC metro area by concentratingon the nexus between careers and volunteering opportunities. Through C&V, WBFN isable to keep up-to-date with career-related concerns emanating from the membership.In the first half of FY12, a team of five volunteers developed a C&V strategy. The team benefitedfrom input and advice from past and present EC members and WBFN volunteers inother programs. The strategy was approved by the Executive Committee in November 2011,and the program was operationalized in January 2012. The C&V strategy calls for an explicitevaluation of its usefulness prior to continuing the service in January 2013.The program offers four key services and is built to provide supplementary offers as additionalresources become available. Thus far, C&V offers:1. Orientations: Two-hour orientations introduce participants to the cultural significanceof volunteering in the U.S. and explore volunteering opportunities related to participants’interests and careers. The main purpose is to expose participants to concrete volunteeringopportunities.2. Thematic Sessions: Bi-weekly, two-hour sessions provide an opportunity for participantsto engage with presenters to improve their understanding of the workforce and theirprofession in the U.S.3. Professional Groups: These groups allow WBFN members to build a lasting networkwith other members from similar industries. Participants support each other throughthe job-seeking and career development process, by sharing experiences and suggestingrelevant resources and opportunities. Groups also take on capacity-building projects thatsupport C&V and other WBFN programs.4. Google Group: Participants who attend three or more C&V events have the opportunityto join a C&V Google Group, using email to share career-related information andresources.FN’s engagement with members who have day-jobs, Orientations and management meetingsare held in the evenings, while Professional Groups usually choose to meet during the day.In FY13, C&V intends to continue to grow their current services and expand into new areas,including extending outreach and serving members abroad, improving C&V’s links withother WBFN programs, and engaging with more external organizations.Since its launch in January until June 2012, C&V has achieved:• 60 regular C&V members• 90% of participants attend three C&V events or more• 30% of attendees are men• The engagement ratio of members taking on responsibilities has been evenly splitbetween men and women• 4 external organizations engaged with C&V• 3 Orientations held• 10 Thematic Sessions held• 3 Professional Groups established by members (Finance, Social Media and InternationalDevelopment).C&V is run by a volunteer Management Team with support from the WBFN office. TheManagement Team meets bi-weekly and coordinates via email. In order to strengthen WB-36 37