The Alexandria Volunteer Bureau is celebrating much more than just its annual silent auction. It is celebrating change and growth and even better service to the community.
Bill North–Rudin is AVB’s new director. He was hired in December when the previous director left the area.
“We have the best volunteers I have ever worked with,” North-Rudin said. “But we want to make our services even more user-friendly than they are now.”
To that end, North-Rudin and his staff are working on a new integrated database that will allow volunteers to fill out applications on line. “Our hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” he said. “Those are the same hours that people work. Sometimes it is hard for them to come into the office and fill out forms. We want to make that process easier.”
That process will help track the exact number of volunteers AVB serves. “Everything right now is an estimate,” North-Rudin said. “Some of our volunteers go directly to the agencies that we serve without ever filling out a form here. But they get to those agencies from our web site. We would like to be able to capture that information.”
North-Rudin also has plans for some Saturday hours. “Once the Del Ray Farmer’s Market opens, I am planning to have the office open perhaps one Saturday a month,” he said. “This will allow people to shop at the market and then come in and register to volunteer.”
AVB WILL HOLD its annual silent auction at the Virginia Theological Seminary this Friday night, March 26. “We are still receiving items,” North-Rudin said. “But I can tell you that we already have more items than ever before.”
This year’s auction will feature a number of pieces of art. “We have gotten a number of local artists to donate their work,” North-Rudin said. “Also, we have gotten some of the artisans who come to our arts and crafts fair to participate. We are excited.”
Some tickets are still available but space is limited to 225 people. “I would like to say that there will be tickets available at the door, but I would also like to say that we won’t have any room,” North-Rudin said.
For information about the silent auction or on volunteering, call 703-836-2176.