Although MAVA was incorporated August 9, 1982, its roots began in 1981. Pam Simmons, the first President of MAVA, chaired a meeting on September 15, 1981, where 11 volunteer administrators gathered to discuss forming a professional association for volunteer administrators. Sixteen others who were not able to attend, expressed support for the new association.
Martin Itzkow presented background information, noting that there were 50 - 60 directors of volunteer services in Winnipeg and there was a need for promoting volunteer co-ordination as a profession. No national association existed, and Manitoba was too isolated to become part of another province's volunteer administration association.
Some of the reasons for forming a professional association
and needs identified at the original meeting were:
- the need for sharing and for establishing standards and training
- to recognize the work being done by volunteer administrators and lend credibility to endeavours
- to provide mutual support
- to contribute to public awareness and education about volunteerism
- to set adequate salaries and working conditions
- to set and enforce standards of practice
- to lobby and support - "to speak to the issues"
- to advocate for reform
It was at this meeting that the name, Manitoba Association for Volunteer Administration, was suggested.
Shortly after this first meeting, a letter was sent to people involved in volunteer administration, services and programs, inviting their participation in a survey to see what interest and support there might be for organizing such an association.
By the November 24, 1981 meeting, by-laws had been drafted and were presented and amended, article by article. Membership application forms were ready for distribution, and an initiation fee of $20.00 was set. Founding members included: Ginette Johnstone, Ed Lagiewka, Joan McKeag-Barker, Pam Simmons, Barb Sparling and Nancy Vincent.
A general meeting was held on January 13, 1982 to elect officers for the year. The first Board included:
Pam Simmons - President
Ginette Johnstone - 1st Vice President
Gail Isaak - Vice President
Ed Lagiewka - Secretary
Evelyn Evans - Treasurer
Sixteen people attended the next general meeting which was held on June 15, 1982. Helen Hayles of the Volunteer Centre sent a letter of congratulations to the Board of Directors on the formation of MAVA, thus beginning MAVA's productive association with the Volunteer Centre.
The first annual general meeting took place on January 24, 1983. Pam Simmons reported that membership had risen to 42, with one affiliate member. A mailing address was established. The first logo was designed, along with letterhead, membership cards, and certificates. Application procedures and a membership fee structure were established. MAVA was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization on August 9, 1982.
In 1990 a decision was made that MAVA would host a bi-annual conference for membership. Since that time conference dates and themes have included:
November 30, 1990 Fitting it Altogether - Managing Volunteers Through the 90's
November 26 & 27, 1992 Exploring Partnerships
November 24 & 25, 1994 Finding the Answers Together
October 15, 1996 Leadership Skills for Today and Tomorrow
May 13 & 14, 1999 Networking: Our Future
February 21 - 23, 2001 Celebrating the Volunteer Spirit
May 12-13, 2003 Making the Grade
2005 - Out of the Box
2007 - MAVA/CAVR Navigating the Volunteer Landscape
In September 1997 the bylaws were amended to change the fiscal year from January 1st to December 31st to April 1st to March 31st with the recommendation that the next conference be held in the spring of 1999.
List of MAVA Presidents
1981 - 1982 Pam Simmons
1983 - Gail Isaak
1984 - Nancy Ekdahl
1985 - 1986 Angie Munch
1987 - Roselle Paulsen
1988 - Barb Sparling
1989 - Doreen Phimister
1990 - Donna Biglow
1991 - 1992 Shelley Gurvey
1993 - 1994 Janet Smith
1995 - Barb Gemmell
1996 - Colleen Watts
1997 - Gordon Alvare
1998 - 1999 Roberta Verch
1999 - 2001 Judy Lister
2001 - 2002 Liane Davidson
2002 - 2003 Karen-Denise Cyr
2003 - 2004 Lola Baral
2004 - 2005 Shelley Young
2005 - 2006 Susan Shortill-Lopez
2006 - 2007 Nancy Taggart
2007 - 2008 Nancy Taggart
2008 - 2009 Shaun Leonoff