About Us
DOVIA provides an exciting forum for sharing ideas and experiences with other professionals. Topics of interest about volunteer management are presented at each monthly meeting. Founded in 1981, Scotti McNulty, Bobbi Jernigan and Wanda Pyburn debated the possibility of forming a local DOVIA as a result of a “brown bag” training offered by the Volunteer Center of North Texas. After researching other DOVIAs and working with DADV, the three wrote bylaws establishing DOVIA of Tarrant County.
Our Mission
Directors of Volunteers in Agencies (DOVIA) Tarrant County serves as a professional association for volunteer managers who work in organizations that utilize volunteers.
Our Purpose
Promote volunteer management as a profession
Provide volunteer management training
Allow resource sharing of volunteer management material
Promote volunteerism within the community
DOVIA encourages professional development, networking, and joint training with other DOVIA affiliates. DOVIA also offers training, scholarships for members, mentoring, and information about state and national volunteer management trends.
Committee Involvement
Committees are where it happens! DOVIA members are invited to actively participate in one or more committees, led by the Officers for the current year. Without committees, much of what happens during monthly membership meetings, the Professional Development Workshop, communication and more would not be possible. Not only are committees how things get done, but they offer more opportunities to learn from one another and build friendships. DOVIA Tarrant County is proud to support members by engaging members. If you have great ideas or skills you want to share with DOVIA, join a committee today! Annual committees are as follows:
Membership
Hospitality
Programs
Scholarships
Professional Development Workshop (PDW)
Communications
Audit (meets once each year)
History
1981 - DOVIA of Tarrant County is born. The first organizational meeting was held on June 12, 1981. DOVIA began with 39 charter members and annual dues of $5.
1987 - Meetings were held at the Fort Worth Ramada Inn. Membership reached 56 members and annual dues were $10.
1989 - DOVIA began offering scholarships for professional training and publishing monthly newsletters for members. Meetings moved to American Red Cross and “brown bag” lunches began.
1992 - DOVIA began meeting monthly. Also, each July DOVIA met jointly with DADV and the Collin County DOVIA for a lunch meeting and program
1993 - DOVIA began publishing an annual membership guide as a resource for members.
2004 - The Deborah Evans Young award is established. Young worked with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and passed away in 2003. Each year, as a tribute to her life and time with DOVIA Tarrant County, on member who demonstrates leadership and commitment is honored with this award.
2012 - DOVIA established an online presence through a website and various social media platforms.
2019 to 2020 - DOVIA members continued meeting through the COVID-19 pandemic in a virtual manner, keeping the organization alive.
2022 - DOVIA members once again began meeting in-person growing membership numbers to the highest in the organizations history.
