The BBC has grown immensely since our beginnings as part of the Brookings Institution’s Initiative on International Volunteering and Service. Today our coalition is over 300 strong, representing the leading international volunteer service organizations, corporations, universities & colleges, government agencies, policy makers, and other important stakeholders. Over the past five years, through hard work, dedication and a collaborative spirit, we have created an invaluable convening space that has acted as a galvanizing force to move our field forward in a myriad of important ways.

As we celebrate the success of our recent conferences, we are also looking forward to several exciting BBC initiatives and activities in the first three months of 2011, including:

• Continuing to craft and advance a ServiceWorld policy initiative that will drive aquantum leap in international volunteering
• Sharing the results from the Effective Practices Working Group’s first ever survey of the field (watch for a copy of this to accompany our conference synopsis)
• Hosting and co-hosting additional in-person conferences to provide educational and networking opportunities
• Developing opportunities to provide coalition members with even more tools and resources to accomplish our goals
• Continuing in our global efforts to increase public awareness about international volunteering and service

2010 was a huge success for our coalition and 2011 will be another ambitious year. Our accomplishments thus far and the range and breadth of our goals and objectives are even more impressive considering that the BBC remains a volunteer-powered, grassroots organization. Indeed, the real action to implement our Strategic Plan takes place via the BBC’s Board of Directors, eight Working Groups, and among our members as we individually and collectively advance international volunteer service through the support and efforts of our member organizations.

As you can see, member engagement is a major theme, both in our history and for our future as we look forward. In order to ensure that we can continue to advocate for, research, support, and promote the field of international service, please take a moment to reflect on the value of BBC for you and your organization. Then, we urge you to contribute, preferably at the level of 2011 suggested membership fees (attached), to support our work in the coming year.

We have a relatively small budget that we need to raise, but it is critically important that every member contribute as per their ability. Please note that our suggested membership fees are the same as last year, but we have also added the ability for individuals to join and set up a new tier called “’Associate Members.” (Please see the attached membership document for a detailed outline of benefits).

To become a member, please register by selecting the sign-up button bellow. BBC is proud to maintain a “big tent” philosophy and will continue to offer membership (“Associate Member”) to any individual or organization that is a stakeholder for international volunteering and unable to contribute at the suggested level. The commitments we’re requesting above are voluntary but strongly encouraged. As you know, volunteer organizations accomplish their goals in proportion to the commitment of its members. This is certainly true for the Building Bridges Coalition. Please help us reach and exceed our goals for 2011. We look forward to working with you this year and beyond.