AWAG Conference: Volunteers invited for annual professional development sessions

AWAG leaders are urging volunteers to get registered early for one of the U.S. military in Europe’s largest professional development seminars to be held May 15-19 at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

“If you are a volunteer, then you are invited to AWAG,” said Madison Burke, AWAG publicity chair and Rheinland-Pfalz Area representative, who added that this year’s conference will feature Christi Ham and Joyce Ward as guest speakers.

“Our mission is to train, strengthen and connect volunteers across Europe,” Burke said.

The conference is designed to effectively develop volunteers for work in military communities by offering a variety of workshops that range from core development courses focused on leadership, organization and management to advisory from specialists on nutrition, home economics and acquiring employment.

“It’s really to offer all different types of training and resources to the volunteers,” said Burke, who added that the event will also offer fun activities for attendees in the evenings.

Through supporting volunteers, AWAG indirectly makes an investment in numerous military communities by hosting the annual convention. “If you ask any garrison commander across Europe how important volunteers are to the community, they can tell you the millions of dollars they save because of volunteers,” said Burke.

While the annual assembly accomplishes much, the main achievement is that it is a venue that facilitates networking and collaboration among people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Attendees leave with new resources and skills to help sustain multiple military communities.

“People come from different backgrounds who are able to share their ideas, their successes and their not so successful ideas, and then take those back to the communities and help to support,” said Burke. “By arming those volunteers to go back to those communities and hopefully be even more successful, we’re also helping to support the troops here in Europe.”

And while the conference date is still far into the future, administrators are expecting to reach capacity well before the registration closing date. Registration begins Jan. 28 online at www.awagonline.org for the 55th annual AWAG Conference. Individuals can also inquire with area representatives to learn more about AWAG.