NYAVA: The New York Association for Volunteer Administration

04/19/2026

This Global Volunteer Month and National Volunteer Week, NYAVA celebrates you. To our members, supporters, and leaders: thank you for your dedication and the thoughtful guidance you provide in championing the power of volunteerism.

04/16/2026

Ready to level up your volunteer leadership? 🚀

NYAVA’s signature Principles & Practices of Volunteer Engagement Strategies course is back! Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro looking for a fresh perspective, this 4-session intensive is designed to help you build a high-impact, equitable, and sustainable volunteer program.

What’s in it for you?
✅ Master the "Big 12" modules—from position design and recruitment to recognition and leadership.
✅ Hands-on learning with real-life examples and group exercises.
✅ Walk away with a customized plan you can use at your agency immediately.

📅 Dates: Thursdays (May 7, 14, 21, and 28)
⏰ Time: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM (via Zoom)
🎓 Scholarship Opportunity: We believe professional development should be accessible and inclusive.

Don't miss the chance to invest in your professional growth and your community.

🔗 Learn more and apply for a scholarship at nyava.org

03/31/2026

NYAVA is excited to announce that registration is open for 2026 Principles and Practices of Volunteer Engagement Strategies! Our signature course covers 12 modules over 4 Thursday mornings (5/7, 5/14, 5/21 and 5/28). Four co-instructors will lead the virtual learning experience and attendees will leave with plans to immediately incorporate into their work.

Scholarship(s) are available.

Learn more and register at nyava.org

03/30/2026

On Thursday, March 26, NYAVA hosted it's first workshop of the year, a panel discussion titled "Diversity Among Our Onboarding Strategies." This workshop drew on the experiences and practices of NYAVA member panelists Barrie Madasu, CVA (Guide Dog Foundation), Nick Lockyer (South Street Seaport Museum), Gail Morse (Big Apple Greeter) and Kameil Grant-Knight, CVA, CAVS (New York Presbyterian Hospital). Thank you to our panelists, and members and guests who attended the workshop and posed thought provoking questions!

03/26/2026

Bring your beverage of choice and join NYAVA and your peers to talk all things Volunteer Recognition & UN International Year of the Volunteer for Sustainable Development. This networking event is free for NYAVA members, GNYADVS members and guests.
We can't wait to see you!
Tuesday, April 21st
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Virtual

More info & registration at nyava.org

03/16/2026

Meet two of the panelists featured at NYAVA's Virtual Panel Discussion: "Diversity Among Our Onboarding Practices"

Thursday, March 26th
9:30 am - 10:45 am

Gail Morse is recently retired from her role as the Director of Programs and Volunteers at Big Apple Greeter, where she spent 17 years working with about 235 volunteers in greeter and administrative roles. Before Big Apple Greeter she worked at the Tenement Museum as Director of Community Relations. Gail has been on the NYAVA Board of Directors for the past five years, is a past Vice President and Officer Liaison to the Communications Committee, and she is now a Member-at-Large.
Kameil Grant-Knight, CVA, CAVS, is the Corporate Manager of Volunteer and Interpreter Services at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Kameil supports 7 of the ten campuses. She has held this role for the past three years but has worked in volunteer resource management for the past five years. In her initial career as a Recreation Therapist and Recreation Manager, Kameil held comprehensive responsibility for supervising, training, and coordinating volunteers who supported a wide range of therapeutic and recreational programs. Kameil oversees 2,800 volunteers annually across multiple sites. She is a former member of NYAVA’s Membership Committee and a past recipient of NYAVA’s Presidents’ Circle Scholarship.

Visit nyava.org for more info and to register.

03/11/2026

Registration is open for NYAVA's upcoming panel discussion and we want to introduce you to two of our panelists:

Barrie Madasu, CVA, is the Volunteer Services Manager at the Guide Dog Foundation, where she has worked for 24 years. Barrie and her staff supervise 750 volunteers in ten different volunteer roles, including individual, family and group volunteer roles, as well as corporate, dog caring, office and off campus opportunities. Barrie also oversees programming for the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs. She has been in non-profit administration since 2015. Previously Barrie was a guest host for a Brown Bag Breakfast on the topic of Volunteer Recognition. She is a new Member-at-Large on NYAVA’s Board of Directors and she sits on the Membership Committee.
Nick Lockyer is the Volunteer and Development Manager at the South Street Seaport Museum, where he has worked for 4 years and he oversees 240 volunteers in archival, sailing and ship maintenance roles. Nick has also worked with volunteers at the Prospect Park Alliance and has been a volunteer at a handful of museums in Pittsburgh (his hometown), the first being when he was 13. He sits on the NYAVA Membership Committee. Nick is a recipient of the NYAVA Presidents’ Circle Scholarship.

NYAVA Virtual Panel Discussion:
"Diversity Among Our
Onboarding Practices"

Thursday, March 26th
9:30 am - 10:45 am
virtual

Visit nyava.org to register and get more info

03/06/2026

Registration is open for NYAVA's Virtual March Panel Discussion workshop, "Diversity Among Our Onboarding Practices."
Learn how your colleagues are onboarding volunteers. Panelists include:

Barrie Madasu, CVA, is the Volunteer Services Manager at the Guide Dog Foundation, where she has worked for 24 years. Barrie and her staff supervise 750 volunteers in ten different volunteer roles, including individual, family and group volunteer roles, as well as corporate, dog caring, office and off campus opportunities. Barrie also oversees programming for the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs. She has been in non-profit administration since 2015. Previously Barrie was a guest host for a Brown Bag Breakfast on the topic of Volunteer Recognition. She is a new Member-at-Large on NYAVA’s Board of Directors and she sits on the Membership Committee.
Nick Lockyer is the Volunteer and Development Manager at the South Street Seaport Museum, where he has worked for 4 years and he oversees 240 volunteers in archival, sailing and ship maintenance roles. Nick has also worked with volunteers at the Prospect Park Alliance and has been a volunteer at a handful of museums in Pittsburgh (his hometown), the first being when he was 13. He sits on the NYAVA Membership Committee. Nick is a recipient of the NYAVA Presidents’ Circle Scholarship.

This event is virtual and will take place on Thursday, March 26th from 9:30 am - 10:45 am. Visit nyava.org to register and get more info!

01/13/2026

It's not too late to register to join NYAVA for our first event of 2026! Meet the 2026 Board of Directors, learn about new member benefits and network with your peers. We hope to see you there!
Thursday, January 15 from 9:30 - 10:45 (virtual)
Registration is now open at nyava.org

12/30/2025

Join NYAVA for our first event of 2026! Meet the 2026 Board of Directors, learn about new member benefits and network with your peers. We hope to see you there!
Thursday, January 15 from 9:30 - 10:45 (virtual)
Registration is now open at nyava.org

12/23/2025

📰 NYAVA’s December e‑Newsletter dropped this morning!

As we wrap up the year, we’re excited to share a fresh edition packed with updates, insights, and opportunities to engage with NYAVA. This month’s issue highlights recent networking and continuous learning events, annual election results, and resources to help you kick off 2026 with inspiration and connection.

✨ Inside this issue:

A look back at NYAVA’s 2025 accomplishments, and reports from our Nominating, Membership, Continuous Learning and Communications Committees.

Recaps of our October Happy Hour at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and our Annual Member Meeting & Workshop, "Generational Trends in Volunteer Engagement" with Beth Steinhorn.

Presidents' Circle Scholarship recipient announcement!

An update on NYAVA's bylaws revision...and more!

This is the first e-Newsletter primarily edited by our incoming Vice President, Samantha Calandrino. Thank you to Gail Morse, outgoing Vice President, for her steady leadership and mentoring!

On December 5th NYAVA members gathered online for the final Brown Bag Breakfast of 2025 to reflect on the challenges and wins of this past year and to share aspirations for 2026. These terrific events are where connection, peer learning, and new ideas take root.