In the general volunteerism associations I gained a broader understanding of why some challenges exist regardless of setting. I also gleaned lots of seed ideas from other types of facilities to adapt and apply in my setting. When we compartmentalize ourselves by only attending setting-based training workshops or conferences, or only reading books and journals with our specialized vocabulary, we don't challenge ourselves. Hospital DVSs should occasionally read something written for volunteer programs in the cultural arts, and vice versa. Make it a point, at a conference, of speaking to someone whose name tag indicates a setting far different than your own.
True professionals keep themselves informed.
And career ladders are built by gaining recognition through published articles. It isn't in the nature of many directors of volunteers to take a stand and fight. One value of a professional association is that it allows collective assertiveness while protecting the identity of individuals. Our professional associations ought to be about function , not salary. Anyone who is in a leadership position managing volunteers should be welcome.