b'24 Member News July 2021VolunteersThank you for aDate for your diaryphenomenal response Were really excited about our new-style Volunteer Conference on 5 October We have been bowled over by the positivity, creativity,because were going virtual flexibility and drive demonstrated by our many volunteersfor the first time ever. around the globe throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Our Volunteer Conference enables Thank you to everyone involved, youve done an amazing job. volunteers from around the world to network, exchange views and learn Katherine Bunting, Head of Volunteereffectively during the pandemic about volunteering best practice Support, said: Living through theincluding making small but importantand latest developments. In 2021 pandemic has been tough for peoplechanges, like altering meeting times towell be switching from a physical-the world over, with new restrictionsaccommodate the needs of parents whofirst to an online-first delivery.and rules to get used to, vulnerablewere home-schooling their children. family members to support and personalKatherine Bunting, Head of Volunteer tragedies to bear.We have learned many importantSupport, said: In previous years weve lessons that we will be applying goinghad up to 300 conference attendees Given all these additional pressures,forward. We should treasure flexibilityat IET London: Savoy Place, including youd expect people to press pause onand acceptance of the many varieddelegates from many international their IET volunteer activities. But thecircumstances in which our volunteersLocal Networks. By going virtual opposite turned out to be true.are still giving their time as an outcomewell open up the event to our entire Dawn Ohlson, Trustee, Vice Presidentof such a challenging situation. volunteer base and engage with a and Chair of the Volunteer EngagementOur volunteers response has beenlarger and more international audience. Board, added: So many of ournothing short of phenomenal and has wonderful volunteers redoubled theirinspired many more people to get efforts and reimagined how to operateinvolved. We are hugely grateful. Well be scheduling the conference carefully to optimise accessibility for participants in 100,000 Accreditation volunteers conducteddifferent time zones. The new virtual accreditation visits foronline format eliminates the people reached on professionaldevelopment need to travel, so is aligned with social media organicallyschemes and 31 higher our sustainability objectives.through On Campus andeducation programmes,Young Professional 3 of which were international Universities.volunteer activity.Although the agenda has yet to be Over ,000 Professionalspoilt for choice, with keynote speakers, Local and Technical20 undertaken onfinalised, attendees will definitely be Registrationvideos, interactive seminars, networking Networks delivered volunteer interactions applications. opportunities and the final of our webinars,new IET #PresentIn10 competition for attracting Education volunteers continued young engineers and technicians.over 47,000to inspire the next generationviewersof engineers through overacross online activities, creating 27 newThere will be something for 95 countries video teaching resources andeveryone at the 2021 IET Volunteer supporting 25 successful EngineeringConference, so watch out for Education Grant Scheme projects. more information coming soon!Find out more about IET volunteering at theiet.org/volunteering'