Nevada Volunteers certifies first Service Enterprise organization in Nevada

For Immediate Release

Contact: Janet Wright

(775) 825-1900 | janet@nevadavolunteers.org

Nevada Volunteers certifies first Service Enterprise organization in Nevada

RENO|LAS VEGAS, Apr 29 – Nevada Volunteers, the Governor’s commission on service and Nevada’s only Service Enterprise training hub, is pleased to announce that the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum has achieved recognition as Nevada’s first, and only Certified Service Enterprise organization. The Discovery Museum joins the rank of 210 organizations across the country recognized as a Service Enterprise organization. Service Enterprises fundamentally leverage volunteers and as a result are significantly more effective operationally than their peers not operating as a Service Enterprise.

Nevada Volunteers presented the Discovery Museum with its certification on Monday, March 28 to Stephanie D’Arcy, the Visitor Services Director, and Valerie Gillette, the Volunteer Coordinator who led the Discovery Museum in applying this research, evidence-based organizational assessment and change process to achieve certification.

“[Through the Service Enterprise process] we have strengthened relationships with our volunteers, increased retention and buy in, better utilized volunteer skill sets, created a comprehensive training program and improved the overall effectiveness of the program. We appreciate the guidance we have received through this program and look forward to our continuous improvement moving forward.” said Mat Sinclair, the Executive Director, during the site visit.

To achieve certification the Discovery Museum completed a training series and implemented Service Enterprise strategies. The Discovery Museum uses skilled volunteers to write lesson plans and assist with exhibits and programs. One of the ways they diversified their volunteer base was by creating a Teen Advisory Committee to advise the Discovery on ways to make the museum more teen friendly. The committee planned and ran the first Teen Science Night, held in March and had over 300 attendees.

Nevada Volunteers joined the Points of Light national Service Enterprise Initiative as a Service Enterprise Hub in spring 2015 and is in the process of training and supporting eleven organizations working towards certification. This initiative is focused on working with non-profits and agencies to better achieve their mission through strategic leveraging of volunteers.

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