The Nature of Volunteerism in Florida (November 04, 2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Webinar Presented by

Michael Miller, Volunteer Services Director

Volunteer Florida

The Nature of Volunteerism in Florida survey explored how Floridians are serving their communities, what barriers limit participation, and how Volunteer Florida can help strengthen engagement. The survey findings show that willingness to serve isn’t the issue as Floridians are already helping, often informally-but many face a growing disconnect from their neighbors and their community, along with an increasing pressure to balance competing life priorities.

The survey also showed that volunteering doesn’t just have a positive impact on the community but on those who serve as well, as volunteers have reported higher levels of fulfillment and overall life satisfaction.

By helping nonprofits streamline onboarding and operations, and by working with employers to encourage their employees to volunteer, as well as to expand paid volunteer time, and reducing other barriers, Volunteer Florida can close the gap and connect more people to meaningful, formal volunteer opportunities.

About Michael Miller

Michael is originally from Tennessee where he completed his undergraduate work in Social Work and Psychology at Middle Tennessee State University. Michael obtained a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Barry University and a Certificate in Program Evaluation from Florida International University in Miami. Michael has a background in community development working with community-based organizations to combat generational poverty. Michael has been an advocate and facilitator of afterschool programs and youth development and prior to coming to Volunteer Florida he was the Assistant State Director at the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program office at the Florida Department of Education. Michael began working with Volunteer Florida in August of 2024 as an AmeriCorps Program Manager and was promoted to Volunteer Services Director in August of 2026.

FAVRM Open Forum: Connect, Share, and Thrive (December 02, 2026)

Wed, 02 Dec 2026 14:00:00 GMT

FAVRM Open Forum Faciltated by

Karen Connetta, Volunteer Coordinator

Collier County Museums and

Linda Sanders, Director of Volunteer Services

Humane Society of Broward County

Please join us for the FAVRM Open Forum on Wednesday, December 2, 2026 at 9:00 am ET.

This group is designed to provide support, connection, resources, networking, and plenty of cheerleading! Please bring your questions, concerns, ideas, challenges, and experiences to share with the group.

We have members who are new to their volunteer roles, as well as seasoned volunteers, and everyone brings valuable knowledge and experience to the table. We encourage everyone to participate, share what they’ve learned, offer support, and celebrate one another’s successes.

Together, we can learn from one another, build connections, and help each other thrive in our volunteer roles!

About Karen Connetta

Karen Connetta has been a Volunteer Program Coordinator with the Collier County Museums for over four years and was a Volunteer Supervisor with a local hospice for over 10 years. Karen manages a team of more than 250 volunteers who support five local history museums. Karen has developed a deep appreciation for the compassion and commitment of volunteers and is dedicated to creating meaningful volunteer experiences while supporting community engagement and education, while helping preserve local history and memorable experiences for visitors of all ages. Karen is a dedicated volunteer to her church, loves spending time with family and is thoroughly enjoying being a Grammie to her 9-month-old granddaughter.

About Linda Sanders

Linda Sanders is the Director of Volunteer Services at the Humane Society of Broward County, where she leads a dedicated volunteer program supporting the organization’s animal welfare mission. Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, Linda spent nearly 20 years in corporate marketing before making a career change to pursue more meaningful, community-focused work. Today, she helps connect volunteers with opportunities to support homeless animals, assist with adoptions and foster care, participate in community outreach, and contribute to special events. Linda brings both professional experience and a strong passion for volunteer engagement to her work, helping create meaningful experiences for volunteers while advancing the mission of the Humane Society of Broward County.

Florida Association For Volunteer Resource Management upcoming events

The Nature of Volunteerism in Florida (November 04, 2026)

FAVRM Open Forum: Connect, Share, and Thrive (December 02, 2026)