Volunteer Spotlight: Dianne Dyslin

Dianne Dyslin
Associate Director of Stewardship
Clark University

What inspired you to volunteer with ADRP?

I began volunteering with ADRP almost nine years ago when I was asked to serve on its Public Relations committee. This gave me an opportunity to use my previous work experience in communications and publications, which I was delighted to share with our organization. I quickly discovered how much I liked working with other members of ADRP and was eager to stay involved as more opportunities arose, including the chance to serve on the Member Experience committee for almost 2 ½ years.

Please tell us something about your current volunteer role, i.e., the duties you perform, etc., and any other volunteer experience you’ve had with our organization.

Since January 2012, I have served as editor of The Hub’s Member Spotlight column, where it has been my joy and privilege to feature the many interesting and dedicated members of the ADRP, who work in an amazing variety of non-profit organizations. Each year, when it’s time to select the next group of members to profile, I always feel like a kid in a candy shop as I browse through the member directory or cull back through listserv queries I’ve saved with the thought of profiling the author and her/his organization.

Working in this capacity on The Hub, and as a member of The Hub’s editorial board since January 2015, has also given me a chance to contribute the occasional article, which I have found very fulfilling, especially when it comes to interviewing our members and having the opportunity to showcase their expertise.

 What is your favorite ADRP memory?

My favorite ADRP memory comes from December 2010, when I was serving on the Public Relations committee charged with creating a new logo and mission statement for our organization. Mary Solomons was the Chair of the committee at that time, and she had just presented our work to the membership at the 7^th Annual International ADRP Conference in San Francisco, which she said was greeted enthusiastically.

Mary sent me a very kind note on stationery sporting our new logo, along with some chocolate coins covered in gold foil embossed with the logo (used in its roll-out), thanking me for my contributions to the committee and saying she wished I could have been there. Her thoughtfulness meant a lot to me and it was gratifying to know that our work had been so well received.

What do you find most fulfilling and/or challenging about your ADRP role?

My greatest challenge as the ADRP has grown is to be as comprehensive as possible in representing our membership in the Member Spotlight profiles. As I select the members I would like to profile each year, I try to pay special attention to geographic location (both here in North America and abroad), gender, race, job title, and type of organization (educational, health care, the arts, community service, etc.). It is my goal to celebrate our diversity as an organization. 

Why do you continue to volunteer with the ADRP?

Serving as editor of the Member Spotlight column gives me great joy. I am always so impressed by the time, thought, and heart that our members put into their responses to the article questions. It has been my greatest privilege as a member of the ADRP to have the opportunity to present their stories.