The APVA held its first "seminar for volunteer administrators" on October 26, 1996.  Ten volunteer administrators who had felt a lack of networking opportunities and information about their profession banded together to make it happen.  Nearly 50 people attended.

Since that time, the APVA has held several educational workshops each year.  Topics have ranged from the basic 3 R's of volunteer administration (recruitment, retention and recognition) to professional ethics, stress management, burnout prevention, volunteer-staff relations, newsletter & brochure composition, public relations and much more.  Programs have highlighted speaker presentations and facilitated discussion groups.  Professional literature is always available for purchase.

The APVA has always been a member-driven organization, anxious to reach out to as many colleagues as possible.  Meetings are held in various venues in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  Ideas for topics to be covered are solicited from APVA members and other meeting attendees.  The APVA continues to look for fresh ideas, while still providing new volunteer administrators with the basics.