The Herald Sun last Sunday (September 13th 2009 edition) had a small article in it that caught the boss's eye. It was titled "Let's be in tune with volunteers" and mentioned the high profile celebs and dignitaries who are supporting the Victorian State Government's newly launched statewide campaign called Volunteers for Victoria.
The Volunteers for Victoria website gives ordinary Victorians opportunity to send a personal word of thanks to the vast numbers of emergency services volunteers - particularly those who assisted during the February 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. You can leave a personal message of thanks on the website or send an sms "Vols" and your message to 0488 505 050.
The position the Government is taking is admirable in this. Thanking volunteers is critical for encouraging people to continue to serve and join services such as the CFA, SES and Life Saving Victoria. It's good to thank people for their willing and unpaid services to others.
The CFA is coming into a critical time of year now. The fear and stress that many heroic volunteers would have faced in the last horrific fire season, must be weighing on their minds and hearts again as they mentally gear up for yet another, potentially, lethal summer period. I guess the best thanks we can give our CFA and SES volunteers is to PREPARE our homes and properties appropriately in readiness for the season! That way we minimise the risks to them and lessen the stress on everyone.
So while its good to thank our volunteers via modern tools such as internet or mobile phone... it's even better to listen to their experiences, follow their skilled advice and act upon that advice appropriately.
On another tangent to this subject. Wimmera Volunteers encourages organisations and groups to recognise their volunteers in ANY capacity they may serve.
I'm talking about the ordinary people doing extraordinary things - every day, every week, every year - that don't end up with celebs and pollies falling over themselves to shower kudo's all over them. There are tiny community groups all over the country keeping their local communities alive and flourishing, because they give and give and give without any other recognition than a spoken word of thanks from someone or the occasional "Life Membership" plaque...if they're lucky!
Remember these volunteers too! Not everyone can be an amazing, heroic and highly trained CFA or SES volunteer...but everyone can volunteer, and as such,deserves equal recognition, acknowledgement and appreciation.
International Volunteers Day is fast approaching. This is a perfect opportunity to start thinking about how you will thank your amazing and valuable volunteers for this past year of service. Whether their contribution has been stoic, heroic, short-term, long-term, "basic" or "complex" - it doesnt' matter, they have contributed freely of their time and talents to help and deserve recognition anyway!
We'll have some suggestions and ideas for you soon on this, but in the meantime, do thank your volunteers, often! :)
Michelle
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