04 APRIL 2006

THE NEW JVPFI MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM: Reaching Out and Growing into a Wider Community of JVP Volunteers
By Donna Marie Vergara, Program Officer for Membership and Communications

After 25 years of running the full-time volunteer program, JVPFI embarks on a new chapter in its history with the launching of a part-time volunteer program patterned after the full-time program. The new program hopes to engage more people in nation-building through faith-driven service. Membership Kits with invitations have been sent to former volunteers of JVP's full-time Volunteer Service Program (VSP) while the Executive Director and Program Officer for Membership and Communications have met separately with the JVPFI local communities in Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Manila, Naga, and Zamboanga to discuss the new JVPFI structure and membership program for implementation in May 2006. Applications to join the new program are also open for those who are not former volunteers of the VSP.

Even as some former JVP volunteers expressed overwhelm at the content of the Membership Kits or concern over the workload the new program will entail on the part of the members and the local chapters* that will primarily implement the new program, many have expressed a positive outlook on this development of an "impressive structure that would answer the membership issues in the past, as well as accommodate the membership needs at present", in the words of Vicky Cabañes-Montaño (JVP Batch 6, former head of Zamboanga Local Community). Several members echoed that "it is about time" to strengthen the JVPFI structure by clarifying its membership. Many others welcomed the idea that the program will not only re-connect former JVP volunteers to the communities JVP serves, but will also allow people who cannot join the full-time volunteer service program to share the JVP experience of nation-building through faith-driven volunteer service.

Irene Guitarte (JVP Batches 8/9, JVPFI Cagayan de Oro Local Executive Officer) pointed out in the CDO Local Community meeting on membership that it will not be hard for members to fulfill the responsibilities of membership since the local communities will help provide avenues for the three components of the program, namely: volunteer service, spiritual formation and national development education. She noted that some activities of the local communities over the years fall under these components. Members who are outside of the geographical scope of the JVPFI local chapters are also encouraged to join activities of the nearest JVPFI local chapter or may also participate in activities of JVPFI partners or accredited activities or activities of their choice that are accessible to them. Non-members can also be part of the work of JVP members and full-time volunteers by supporting them as JVPFI cooperators, donors and supporters.

With more people working together in building our nation through faith-driven service, we can make a bigger difference in the lives of more people. Just as JVP blazed the trail twenty-five years ago with the birth of the full-time volunteer service program, we are hopeful that the trail-blazing membership program will likewise grow and flourish through the years.

* Beginning May 2006, JVP Local Communities will be called JVPFI Local Chapters while the JVPFI Central Office will be called JVPFI National Office as part of the reorganization that will clearly bring local communities within the structure of the JVP Foundation.

Writer's note:

The writer thanks the Membership Committee composed of Eric Soriano (Batches 19/20), Irene Guitarte, Regina de Gracia (Batch 19), Trina Pineda (Batch 20), and Jo Maribojoc (Batch 13) for putting "flesh, muscles and bones" to the Membership Program. She also extends her gratitude to the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees who reviewed the program and sealed it with approval. She especially thanks her boss and mentor, Jo Maribojoc, who tirelessly and selflessly worked to bring the idea of the Membership Program this far, and all local chapter officers who have accepted the task of spearheading the realization of the Membership Program in the various JVP local chapters.

She enjoins all who are aware of the Membership Program to spread the word for former JVP volunteers to confirm their membership and participation in the program and to invite family and friends who are not former JVP full-time volunteers to be part of the growing community of JVP volunteers rendering volunteer service.

For questions, comments or clarifications on the Membership Program, please contact the local communities nearest you or email the Program Officer for Membership and Communications (POMC) at jvppoccs@gmail.com. Details of the program are also in the JVPFI website at www.jvpfi.org. Inquiries about being a cooperator or supporter may be addressed to the POMC. For details regarding donations to support the Membership Program or the full-time Volunteer Service Program, please get in touch with Arnel Sanchez, Senior Resource Development Officer at the JVPFI National Office contact information or sanchez_arnel@yahoo.com.