WORKSHOP PROPOSALS ARE NOW OPEN! 
 
Volunteer Tennessee invites you to submit a proposal to present a workshop or panel session at the Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning, to be held February 19-20, 2024, at the Franklin Marriott in Franklin, TN.

Volunteer Tennessee is also seeking Showcase Exhibit Proposals. Showcase exhibits will be given display space/table in the exhibit hall. Find out more about showcase exhibits here. 

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning aims to increase service and volunteerism across Tennessee.  The conference encourages collaboration between service leaders and participants to address needs in Tennessee while utilizing service and service-learning as a vehicle of change. 

AUDIENCE
Conference participants are service leaders from across Tennessee, including but not limited to:
  • Non-Profit and Volunteer Management Professionals: Non-Profits, HandsOn Network affiliates, volunteer centers, philanthropists, workplace volunteer managers, faith-based service initiatives, youth leaders, and community members.
  • National Service Programs: AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors, give Americans of all ages an opportunity to create healthy communities through service.  
  • Service-Learning Practitioners and Students:
    • Educators in K-12 and Higher Education who utilize Service-Learning in their classrooms.
    • Students who participate in these projects and who are transforming communities with their work.
    • Community-Based Service-Learning: Out-of-school programs that use service-learning to promote civic engagement and youth development.
  • Government Professionals and Leaders
  • Corporation/Businesses
 
WORKSHOP TOPICS
The conference seeks proposals for high-caliber and engaging workshops or panels addressing innovative topics for the following tracks:
  • Volunteer Management & Organizational Capacity Building-Demonstrate best practices and innovative new methods to grow and strengthen a volunteer program or bolster organizational effectiveness.
  • Service as a Solution-Identify how service builds and strengthens communities, fostering growth and economic opportunity.
  • Civic Leadership and Service-Learning-Demonstrate how to build leadership skills of the service participants. Best practices, innovations of service-learning both in academic settings and in other volunteer programs.
  • TN-SLC Higher Education Faculty- In partnership with the Tennessee Service-Learning Consortium (TN-SLC), the conference offers a Higher Education Faculty Track. The TN-SLC is a non-profit membership association of colleges and universities committed to promoting active citizenship as an aim of higher education.
  • Student Track-A space for youth from Tennessee to engage on volunteerism, service-learning, and community engagement.
Not sure what to present? Click here for more info on the workshop tracks and a list of suggested topics.
WORKSHOP SELECTION CRITERIA

The Workshop Review Committee will review and select conference workshop sessions. For standard workshops, including hands-on activities, opportunities for dialogue, or small group activities is preferred. See the criteria exceptions for the TN-SLC Faculty Track below.

Proposals are reviewed by the following criteria:

Detailed Agenda
  • Workshop Objectives
  • Presentation Methods: Opportunities for Interaction* 
  • Presentation Methods: Time for Reflection (For all other service-learning workshops, the committee expects agendas will include time for reflection, as well as the essential elements of quality service-learning. Including time for attendees to engage in discussion or a Q&A period is recommended for all workshops.)
  • Audience Appeal
  • Experience with Subject Matter
  • Workshop Track: Content is Clearly Aligned With Selected Track
* For all tracks, informative sessions that are not interactive will also be considered.

Review the Workshop Scoring Rubric here.

Please also review our "Tips and Best Practices for Conference Proposal Submissions"

SESSION DETAILS
Typical Session Attendance: 15-30 attendees
Session times:
--Standard workshop sessions: one hour and fifteen minutes (Monday, February 18 and Tuesday, February 19)
--Student Track workshops: presenters may opt for one hour and fifteen minutes or a thirty-five minute session. (Sunday, February 18 and Monday, February 19) 

Audio-Visual Equipment:
We will provide a projection screen and LCD projector w/ a VGA cable, flip chart stand and paper/markers (if needed) at no charge to you. 

Please note the following are not provided and presenters are responsible for bringing the following:
--Laptops 
--Mac users will need to provide their own connection cables.

CONFERENCE LOGISTICS

Lodging Information
A block of rooms will be available for reservation at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, TN. These rooms will be available at the Tennessee state rate of $125.00 per night. Limited rooms are available, and the block expires on January 20, 2024. Book your group rate for Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service Learning.  (LINK)

Conference Registration
The lead presenter for each selected workshop will receive complimentary registration to the conference.  Volunteer Tennessee will automatically register lead presenters.  Co-presenters who would like to attend the conference will need to register and pay by the appropriate deadlines. For more information about registration, visit us online at www.volunteertennessee.net.

Conference Materials
You will be responsible for preparing and copying handouts for your session(s).  Estimate approximately 30 attendees.

Presentation materials will be made available on Volunteer Tennessee's website shortly after the conclusion of the conference. Presenters are asked to submit electronic versions of all session materials to Volunteer Tennessee by February 2, 2024.

Serve InDeed Submissions
Conference presenters will have additional opportunities to promote their topic, through ServeInDEED, the Tennessee Journal of Service-Learning and Volunteerism. Submission guidelines will be sent to selected presenters.

Updated information can be found at: www.volunteertennessee.net

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