Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Conference on Volunteering and Service?
The National Conference on Volunteering and Service is the leading gathering of its kind, bringing together more than 5,000 service leaders to learn and cultivate new ideas for service, discuss the challenges we all face and work together to create solutions through the power of people.
Regardless of age, experience, industry or affiliation — nonprofit, social entrepreneur, schools/universities, faith organizations, government or corporate, domestic or international — we share common goals. For the future of our economy, education, environment and emergency preparedness, we believe individuals have a central role in addressing these critical issues.
When and where is the 2012 National Conference on Volunteering and Service?
The National Conference on Volunteering and Service will convene in Chicago on June 18-20, 2012 at McCormick Place West. If you are seeking ways to better connect people through volunteering and national service in order to strengthen your community; if you recruit, manage or train volunteers; if you want to target volunteers where they are most needed; or if you seek to learn and apply effective practices in a constantly changing field, you are eligible to attend.
More information on Conference host hotels and other locations.
Who is Points of Light?
Points of Light is the leading volunteer organization with more than 20 years of history, a bipartisan presidential legacy and the largest volunteer footprint in the nation. Our mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. We connect people to their power to make a meaningful difference by providing access to tools, resources and opportunities to help volunteers us their time, talent, voice and money to meet the critical needs of our communities. We are organized to innovate, incubate and activate new ideas through our Action Networks, including: HandsOn Network, the largest network of 250 volunteer centers across the country and around the world; generationOn, the youth service movement that ignites the power of kids to make their mark on the world; AmeriCorps Alums, the national service alumni network that activates the next generation of service leaders; and Points of Light Corporate Institute, which enables companies to engage their employees and customers in service.
Points of Light is the convener of the National Conference on Volunteering and Service. As the leader in service sector innovation, Points of Light strives to accelerate progress by convening and connecting the brightest and most cutting-edge civic entrepreneurs for change.
For more information, visit www.PointsofLight.org.
Where do I go to receive more information about submitting a proposal for a workshop or becoming a presenter?
The process for all workshop presenters is completed for 2012. If you would like to present in 2013, please make sure to join our mailing list at www.volunteeringandservice.org.
Registration
How much does it cost to attend?
Registration costs start as low as $250 and vary by registrant. For a full list of registration fees, please view our pricing chart. All general sessions, the Welcome to Chicago celebration and access to the exhibit hall are included in the basic pricing. Some sessions (especially pre- or post-Conference sessions or those with a meal served) have additional fees that will be noted in the itinerary builder application.
What is a "Points of Light Member?"
Formerly known as "HandsOn Network Member," a Points of Light Member is an organization that has access to and relies on the services provided by Points of Light and HandsOn Network through a membership. Points of Light members are broken into five categories: HandsOn Network Affiliates, Business Members, Corporate Service Council, CVC Advisory Council, and Nonprofit and Government Members.
Learn about membership programs with Points of Light and how to receive conference discounts through them using the links provided above.
What is a "Nonmember?"
Nonmembers are organizations that do not have a Points of Light membership. Nonmembers also include grantees, sub-grantees, participants and program sponsors of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Are registrants allowed to bring guests?
Registered attendees are welcome to bring a guest for an extra fee. Guest registration is available to any spouse/partner of a registered attendee. Their participation, however, is limited. Workshops are open to registrants only. Co-workers and/or business partners are not considered guests and should register as attendees.
Please register your guest(s) when you register for conference.
Schedule and Itinerary Builder
Where can I find a schedule of the Conference events?
A schedule at a glance is available on the Conference website.
Where do I select workshops and events that I would like to attend?
This year, our registration system has an application called the Itinerary Builder that will launch in early March. Once the Itinerary Builder launches, attendees can select the specific workshops and events they would like to attend. At that time, all registered attendees will receive an email announcing the launch of the Itinerary Builder. Preconference and post conference sessions, special events and service projects will all be located in the Itinerary Builder.
Where can I get more information for pre-Conference and post-Conference events?
Information regarding pre- and post-Conference meetings and events will be available when the Itinerary Builder application launches in early March. All registered attendees will receive an email communication once the application is available.
Payment
I'd like to pay my balance by check or purchase order. Where do I send the check?
Paying by check or purchase order requires all payments to be postmarked by June 1, 2012. If you are registering after June 1, 2012, you will be required to pay during the onsite registration process unless you pay with a credit card online.
There is a $50 fee for all returned checks. Your attendee status will be considered "pending" until payment is received and processed.
Please make your check payable to "Points of Light Institute" and be sure to reference "Conference 2012" on the memo line to ensure accurate processing. Please mail checks and purchase orders to:
Tradeshow Multimedia, Inc.
ATTN: POLI Event Staff
4350 Renaissance Parkway Suite D
Warrensville, OH 44128
Where can I get a completed W-9 form?
For organizations that need a W-9 form to process payment, download a completed W-9 form.
Cancellation
What is your cancellation policy?
All requests for cancellations and refunds must be made in writing and emailed to registration@volunteeringandservice.org with "Cancellation Request" or "Refund Request" in the subject line. The date of the cancellation will be the date the email is sent. It is the responsibility of the registrant to confirm receipt of cancellation.
There is a $100 processing fee for all cancellations. No refunds will be issued for registrations cancelled or created after 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, June 1, 2012. Credit card refunds will be issued at the time of cancellation approval by the conference team. Check refunds will be issued within 60 days of the cancellation request.
I have already registered, but can no longer attend. Can one of my colleagues attend in my place?
Substitutions will be honored until 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. In order to process a substitution, the original registration must be paid in full and should not be cancelled. Payment method changes will not be honored. Please contact 404-891-0028 or polregistration@tmiexpos.com to make a substitution.
My registration question is not answered. Who should I contact?
Please call 404-891-0028 or email polregistration@tmiexpos.com with further questions related to registration.
Volunteers
What volunteer opportunities are available?
We have hundreds of opportunities to volunteer this year including workshop evaluation, greeting and assisting other conference attendees, packing conference bags, assisting with registration and many more. You may sign up for as many shifts as your schedule can accommodate
We will do our best to place you in the role you choose, but may need to make some adjustments based on the needs of the conference planning team.
If I volunteer during the conference, do I receive a discounted registration rate?
Yes, we do offer a discounted registration rate for attendees who will volunteer for at least one four-hour volunteer shift.
Volunteering at a service project does not count as a conference volunteer shift and you will not receive a discounted registration rate for participating. All conference volunteers must register and show up for his or her four-hour shift to receive the discount. If a volunteer misses their volunteer shift, he or she will be charged the full registration fee.
To register as a conference volunteer and sign up for one four-hour shift, please select "Conference Volunteer" on the registration log-in page.
Exhibitors
When will exhibitor registration open?
Exhibitor registration will open in March 2012. Visit www.volunteeringandservice.org or contact exhibit@volunteeringandservice.org for more information on becoming an exhibitor.
What kind of organizations exhibit with the National Conference on Volunteering and Service?
Conference participants are interested in the latest education, communication, recognition and consulting tools and techniques to support and enhance their volunteer programs and civic engagement. Past exhibitors have included:
- Civic organizations
- Community-based organizations
- Computer software companies
- Education-based companies
- Government agencies and organizations
- Professional development and training companies
- Promotions and gift companies
- Publishers of educational and youth-focused materials
- Service-learning organizations
- Companies providing youth-oriented products and services
Being an exhibitor means exposure to 5,000 leaders in the nonprofit, corporate, innovation and activism arenas. With a full schedule of registration, workshop sessions, networking space and special events, you're assured a steady stream of traffic throughout the conference.
Media
When will media registration open?
Media registration will open in May 2012. Visit www.volunteeringandservice.org/press or contact Anne O'Neill at aoneill@pointsoflight.org for more information.
Travel, Accommodations and Transportation
What airport should I fly into?
Attendees can fly into either Chicago O'Hare International Airport or Chicago Midway International Airport. Midway is more convenient to the convention center and Conference host hotels.
Where should I stay when I'm in Chicago?
The National Conference of Volunteering and Service has reserved room blocks at five hotels. Discounted rates for these hotels will be available through our housing website which attendees will have access to once they have completed the registration process. The official conference hotels include Hilton Chicago, Palmer House Hilton, Renaissance Blackstone Hotel Chicago, Best Western Grant Park and the Hampton Majestic Chicago Theatre District. Rates range from $189 - $229 per night plus applicable taxes.
Will ground transportation be provided?
Free shuttles between McCormick Place West and select Conference hotels will be available beginning Saturday, June 16, through Wednesday, June 20. Shuttles will pick up at the Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House Hilton. Attendees staying at the Renaissance Blackstone or the Best Western Grant Park should walk to the Hilton Chicago to catch the shuttle. Attendees staying at the Hampton Majestic should walk to the Palmer House Hilton.
