Siloam manager only Canadian selected for U.S.-government sponsored program
WINNIPEG, MB (April 6, 2011) — Siloam Mission’s volunteer manager, Lindsay Poggemiller-Smith, has been selected by the United States Consulate as the only Canadian to attend a government-sponsored International Visitor Program Leadership Program (IVLP).
On Monday, April 11th, Poggemiller will join 18 other participants from all over the world – including Afghanistan, Kenya, China, Haiti and more – in a three-week group project focusing on volunteerism in the United States.
The U.S. Congress established the IVLP program to promote cultural and professional exchanges between the U.S. and other countries. Participants compete for an extremely limited number of grants every year.
The goal of the program is four-fold:
- To illustrate the role of volunteerism in U.S. communities and how volunteers help foster a culture of service and civic responsibility
- To learn best practices in volunteer recruitment, retention and management
- To highlight social entrepreneurship and efforts to promote social change
- To encourage mutual sharing of information to further voluntary initiatives among nonprofits the world over.
Although the program focuses on volunteerism in the U.S., Poggemiller hopes to gain new insights into volunteer recruitment and appreciation in Manitoba.
“I want to observe and participate in communities that have found unique ways to incorporate volunteers into their services,” says the 28-year-old.
“Siloam has always valued volunteers in a very significant way, and I look forward to learning how other nonprofits have developed opportunities for volunteers and invited them in as part of their family.”
During the last fiscal year alone, more than 5,000 Manitobans volunteered at Siloam Mission. Combined, those volunteer hours make up the equivalent of 29 full-time staff.
Michelle Jones, Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate, said, “We nominated Lindsay because we were impressed with her dedication and her creativity, and felt that she would not only learn from the program and other participants, but with her great enthusiasm and energy, contribute what she has learned at Siloam to the group.”
The International Visitors Leadership Program is the flagship exchange program of the U.S. Department of State and is aimed at developing emerging leaders.
Over 200 former and current heads of state are alumni of the program, including Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom, Mary Robinson of Ireland, Gerhard Schroeder, Nicolas Sarkozy, Anwar Sadat and Hamid Karzai.
Said Jones, “Lindsay’s international experience, her community involvement, and her leadership qualities make her a great candidate for this program and a fine representative. She is a great choice to carry out the goal of the program – mutual understanding.”
For more information, please contact:
Mike Duerksen
Communications Coordinator
Office: 204.956.4344 ext.238
Cell: 204.228.6429
mike.duerksen@siloam.ca
Congratulations Lindsay on your accomplishments
and thank you for your committment and dedication in volunteering for Siloam Mission. I hope you will be able to share what you learned at the IVLP.
God’s richest blessings to you
Warmly
Marie
Congratulations, Lindsay! We are thrilled for you. What an accomplishment! What an adventure! We look forward to hearing all about this amazing opportunity.
The Lord bless you as you serve.
Tom & Barb