Help A-SPAN with their Cornhole Tournament

A-SPAN is having a Cornhole Tournament this Sunday, March 25^th and they are looking for 12-15 volunteers over the age of 21 to help them run the event. It will be held in Gateway Park in Rosslyn. Here’s the link to the event: www.victorytoss.com.

There are two shifts:

1)      11:30am – 2pm

2)      2pm – 4:30pm

The volunteer stations/tasks will be:

·         Checking IDs and giving out wristbands

·         Selling drink tickets

·         Pouring drinks

If you are interested in helping at the Cornhole Tournament, please email Sarah at smorse@a-span.org or call her at 828-429-2128.

Volunteering on Ice

A modified version of this post was originally shared on Voluntary Happiness.

About two years ago, I reached out to Arlington County's Therapeutic Recreation Office to see if they had any opportunities that might work well for the Community Volunteer Network. At the time, I was started to take a more active role in the group and helping individuals with disabilities was missing from the group's activities.

The first activity the group approached us to help with was a family ice skating night. Truth be told, I cannot really ice skate. I can propel myself slowly across the ice by moving my right leg just a few inches at a time and keeping my arms straight out to the side for balance. Fortunately, my fellow volunteers came through and most of them were able to take the lead.

Last year, the opportunity came up again, but rather than fear the ice as I had done last year, I went in with a big smile determined to set a good example. Before long, I was on the ice with a tiny hand holding my left hand with all her might. She looked up at me with an expression that said both "Come on grown-up, let's go!" and "Please don't let me fall." With a nod from a fellow volunteer, I pushed off from the wall and we slowly made our way around the rink. Neither one of us fell and before long, she was doing just fine on her own. I helped a few more kids that evening and even did a few rounds on my own. It wasn't fast and I never really learned how to stop, aside from just running into the wall, but I was having fun and so were the kids.

The event is coming up again this year. Will I be there? Absolutely! And this time, I have a renewed sense of confidence to share with the kids. 

If you'd like to volunteer with Therapeutic Recreation (same group I wrote about before with #1: We Ask That You Be Patient), CVN is helping out for the ice skate night on Friday, March 16th, and there are a few open slots. Please note that they have enough volunteers to help off the ice, so a skill level slightly higher than mine will be helpful!

Also, to get involved long-term, some of their opportunities are listed on Volunteer Arlington in the Parks & Recreation  list. Or, let me know what you'd like to do and I'll put you in touch with the right person.

Opportunity to Serve as Table Host at PLACE Open House

CVN is proud to be a partner for the County's PLACE Open House coming up next week. (If you've missed the info on PLACE, see our last email.) We encourage you to attend and represent CVN and other groups you're involved in. 

Also, if you'd like to get more involved with the logistics of the event, the planning committee is looking for volunteers to serve as table hosts for each open house session. Training will be provided and all of the details are below:

Volunteers are Needed to Serve as Table Hosts at the PLACE Open House

Chair Mary Hynes is inviting residents to get involved in shaping the future of civic engagement in our community.  As part of this initiative, the County Board is hosting a PLACE Open House event next Thursday evening from 6 - 9 PM and Saturday from 9 AM - 2 PM.  Table hosts are needed to facilitate and record the ideas and suggestions that community leaders will share. 

If you are willing to volunteer to be a table host either from 6 - 9 PM on Thursday, March 15 or from 9 - 12:00 PM or 12:00 - 2 PM on Saturday, March 17, we would love to hear from you.  Please contact Kathryn McCarty at kmccarty@arlingtonva.us with your interest and availability.

Opportunities with Arlington Little League & Best Buddies

These events have been shared with CVN and we wanted to pass them along in case you're interested. In both cases, please follow up with the contact person for the group directly if you'd like to get involved.


Arlington Little League Seeks Coaches 


Our AAA division, 9-10 year olds is in need of coaches.  The AAA level is the first where players pitch to each other for the entire season--at lower levels coaches pitch or, for 8 year olds, the teams transition from coach to player pitching.  Arlington Little League is a non-profit, community, youth baseball league serving Arlington County.  Our coaches are generally a mix of young men and women in the 20's and 30's volunteering their time and parents.  We sincerely appreciate non-parent coaches who are willing to step in and give us a hand as it sets a very positive model for our players.  Generally speaking there are several practices/games during the week starting at 5:30 p.m. or later and one on the weekend.  The County's facilities scheduling may modify that schedule.  With rainouts, the number may increase as the season progresses.  Baseball experience is helpful but not required.  For those interested, please email aaa@arlingtonlittleleague.org


Dance with Yorktown High School's Best Buddies Chapter (3/10)

Best Buddies is a program promoting the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Best Buddies chapter at Yorktown High School is hosting a community wide square dance on Saturday, March 10th from 5-7:30 in the Yorktown cafeteria. There will be a live caller, and all are welcome. We are anticipating students from 8 different schools to attend, in addition to parents, teachers, and other community leaders! This community event is the culmination of our disability awareness outreach program, which gives disability awareness presentations to groups within the Arlington community. We would be honored to have any of your volunteers come dance with us! Please don't hesitate to contact Kelly Willner, chapter President, with any questions.

CVN's March Events

Message from the Chair Spring is just around the corner and we have several upcoming volunteering opportunities, so I hope to see you at an event soon! Last month Tuckahoe gardening resumed and this month gardening returns at the Arlington Traditional School (ATS). If you haven't been to a CVN event before, these recurring gardening events are great events and they both usually attract a good crowd. Also, Family Ice Skate Night with the Department of Therapeutic Recreation is a very fun and rewarding event. So if you enjoy skating, I encourage you to sign up! Also, last month I told you about PLACE, the civic engagement initiative led by the County Board. The open house events are coming up on March 15th and 17th. I'll be attending the 7:30 pm session on March 15th and would love to have fellow CVNers join me. I look forward to seeing you next Tuesday at Sine or at the PLACE open house! Garry Knobler cvn.chair@gmail.com
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Upcoming CVN Events
March Monthly Meetup @ Sine (Pentagon City) – Tuesday, March 13th, 7:00 - 9:00pm | Join CVN at Sine in the Pentagon Row shopping center to learn more about our upcoming events and meet fellow volunteers. RSVP here. Family Ice Skate Night- Friday, March 16th, 6:00 - 8:30pm | For the third year, CVN will be volunteering at the Arlington County Therapeutic Recreation Office's Family Ice Skate Night at Kettler Iceplex. The ice skate night is an opportunity for individuals with disabilities and their families to have some fun with the whole rink to themselves. For the past two years, this event has filled up quickly and it's always a lot of fun! Register here. Leadership Arlington Monte Carlo Night Fundraiser - Saturday, March 17th, 10:00am - 2:00pm and 7:00 - 11:00pm |  This fundraiser raises money for the Leadership Arlington Youth Program. In the first shift, CVN will assist by setting up and preparing for the event. The second shifts will involve greeting guests, helping at the registration table, and assisting at the silent auction tables. Register here. ATS Schoolyard Garden - Sunday, March 18th, 2:00 - 4:00pm | Lend a hand with the monthly crew of CVN volunteers helping out in the garden at Arlington Traditional School. Newcomers and regulars are welcome to join us for landscaping projects large and small. This crew is continuing to transform the ATS garden into a fun space for kids to learn outdoors. Register here. Bikes for the World Recycling - Saturday, April 7th, 12:30 - 3:30pm | CVN will be assisting Bikes for the World with a multi-commodity recycling and reuse event sponsored by Arlington County. We will be managing the bike donation area—issuing receipts, helping people get the bikes out of their vehicles, and prepping the bikes.  CVN will be hosting this event from 12:30 to 3:30pm, though CVN volunteers can participate in all or part of the earlier shift from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Please email cvn.m.volunteering@gmail.com if you prefer the earlier shift. Register here. Check out CVN's calendar or browse other volunteering opportunities in Arlington.
Community Calendar
Volunteer Arlington's Volunteer Open House - Monday, March 12th, 6:30 - 8:00pm  | more details PLACE - Civic Engagement Open House- Thursday, March 15th, 6:00 - 9:00pm and Saturday, March 17th, 9:00am - 1:00pm | Registration required. | more details Grab a Book, Make a Connection - Sunday, March 18th, 6:00 - 7:30pm  | more details

Invitation to County's PLACE Initiative Open House

The Arlington County Board has launched PLACE – Participation, Leadership and Civic Engagement – an initiative that builds on Arlington's valued tradition of civic engagement known as “the Arlington Way.”  The goal of PLACE is to expand Arlington’s civic conversation by identifying and linking the many organizations that serve the community and strengthening the relationships between these organizations, the people they serve and County government.  The Community Volunteer Network is proud to partner with the County Board on this initiative.

On March 15th or 17th, we encourage you to attend an open house to learn more about the PLACE initiative and opportunities for civic engagement in the County. More information on the event and how to RSVP is in invitation below:

Keeping Our PLACE Great. Together. Help us Kick-off PLACE County Board Chair Mary Hynes, the County Board, the County Manager and community leaders want you to represent your organization at the kick-off for PLACE, (Participation, Leadership and Civic Engagement). Join Arlington's communitywide effort to broaden, deepen and improve the way we engage with one another to make key decisions that shape our County's future. WHO Representatives of community organizations and groups who care passionately about Arlington -- and want to revitalize the Arlington Way. (Please forward this invite to groups you know). WHAT An Open House and community engagement workshop where you will: Learn more about PLACE and how you can help ensure its success. Include your organization in a community map of Arlington's civic society. Share your ideas in small group discussions with County government and civic activists eager to help build better connections between County government and our diverse community. Join the effort to create a framework for open, accountable, responsive government and constructive civic engagement. WHEN Choose your 90-minute session. Thursday, Mar. 15     • 6:00 - 7:30pm     • 7:30 - 9:00 pm Saturday, Mar. 17     • 9 - 10:30am     • 10:30 - noon     • Noon - 1:30 Register online or call Hilda Quinteros at 703-228-3249 for assistance. WHERE Metro-accessible Artisphere, in Rosslyn,1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 (parking is free!). Detailed directions online. Reasonable accommodations made. BONUS! After your session, you're invited to tour Artisphere's fabulous Frida Kahlo exhibit  – the only North American exhibit of the artist's recently discovered photographs. PLACE Open House Partners – the list keeps growing! Arlington Chamber of Commerce Arlington Civic Federation Arlington Committee of 100 Arlington County Government Arlington Interfaith Council Arlington Independent Media Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment Community Volunteer Network    County Council of PTAs Edu-Futuro Hispanic Committee of Virginia (El Comité Hispano) Inter-Service Club Council LULAC Council 4606 Leadership Arlington League of Women Voters of Arlington NAACP-Arlington National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Chapter 7 -- Arlington Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations Virginia Cooperative Extension

CVN Volunteer Leader Training

VOLUNTEER LEADER TRAINING

If you are interested in learning more about CVN, taking on new leadership opportunities, or finding out more about our plans for the year, we encourage you to attend our Volunteer Leader Training. We'll share how you can lead events for CVN and ways to start your own project. 

Tuesday, February 28th, 6:30 - 8:00pm

Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard
Cherry & Dogwood Rooms (1st Floor)

Free parking. Refreshments will be served.

REGISTER HERE.

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Click here to see more upcoming events with CVN, including our March meet-up, gardening days, and family ice skate night.