What's a DOVIA?
"DOVIA" stands for "Directors of Volunteers in Agencies" and is the generic name for local associations of volunteer program managers (regardless of setting). They are professional societies that meet regularly for members to exchange information and ideas, host workshops and speakers, and plan collaborative activities. There are several hundred DOVIAs operating in cities
and counties across the USA and they are beginning to emerge in other countries.

However, only some of these professional societies actually have the name "DOVIA." There are numerous other names. Some cities start from the name of the Association for Volunteer Administration-AVA-and place their location in the title (although none of these groups are "chapters" of any national network). So, NY AVA is the New York Association of Volunteer Administrators and SCAVA is the South Carolina Association of Volunteer Administrators. Note that at the international level, the ending "A" stands for Administration, while at the local level it usual stands for Administrators.

If you look through the DOVIA Directory on the Energize Web site at http://www.energizeinc.com/prof/dovia.html, you will see the wide variety of existing names, including: Volunteer Directors Roundtable, Council of Volunteer Coordinators, (Location) Association of Directors of Volunteer Programs, etc.

Networking Beyond the Local Level
In the United States and Canada there are also professional networks of volunteer program managers at the state and provincial levels. These are rarely referred to as "DOVIAs," but are generically called "state/provincial associations."

State/provincial associations generally sponsor volunteerism conferences and other training events, link members with each other, publish a newsletter, and manage special projects. In sparsely populated areas, the state/provincial group may also handle some of the functions of a more local DOVIA.

Internationally, national organizations are the most common form of professional networks. Evidence exists that when a country starts with a national association without a local infrastructure, over time members in geographic proximity find ways to interact with each other, eventually either forming local chapters or independent DOVIAs.

Special Setting Concerns
A number of specialized professional networks are also active, with possible activities at the national, state/provincial, and local levels. Again, the Energize Web site gives details about many of these at http://www.energizeinc.com/prof/orgspec.html.

The most common groups are those for directors of volunteers in hospitals and other health care, nursing homes, hospices, justice programs, literacy programs, schools, and government-run (as opposed to nonprofit organization) programs.

What Does this All Mean to e-Volunteerism?
This Keyboard Roundtable feature is based on the premise that ALL of these associations share certain common challenges, questions, and concerns-and the field of volunteerism needs each of them to succeed. So don't let vocabulary deter you from reading this discussion each quarter. Chances are that you will find your professional network reflected here.