Prepare for National Volunteer Week 2010

Volunteering: Now, more than ever…

There is just over a week left before National Volunteer Week 2010 begins. May 10-16^th will give groups, organisations and the general public opportunity to acknowledge and recognise the enormous contributions of volunteers across all kinds of Australian communities – city and country. Groups can also utilise the week for recruiting volunteers.

The importance of volunteers to Australian society can never be underestimated. Without the contribution made by volunteers and volunteer involving groups, our nation would not be able to provide services and opportunities to individuals, the disadvantaged, migrant, indigenous, the aged, the socially isolated, the sick, children or families. The list is probably endless! The cost to the tax-payer could well be prohibitive and our standard of living would perhaps, be significantly reduced (although this last one is a value judgement that is almost impossible to prove) without the contribution of volunteers.

National Volunteer Week began in 1989 with the International Year of the Volunteer celebrated in 2001. For the past 20 + years, volunteerism has been a focus of many governments across the world. Many countries have their own definition of what constitutes formal volunteering, however the following definition is recognised by Australia - notably through Volunteering Australia our national body for Volunteers and Volunteerism – defining it as follows:

Definition of formal volunteering

· Formal volunteering is an activity which takes place through not for profit organisations or projects and is undertaken:

· to be of benefit to the community and the volunteer;

· of the volunteer’s own free will and without coercion;

· for no financial payment; and

· in designated volunteer positions only.

Groups that are defined as “community participation” groups such as interest and sporting clubs, progress associations and many other innumerable Aussie collectives run by volunteers or members don’t always fit with this definition though. Wimmera Volunteers however, does recognise that an enormous amount of community support and volunteer effort does get done by these small groups across the Wimmera and we attempt to support groups with information and assistance with volunteer information and issues. These groups are also encouraged to acknowledge and recognise their volunteers during National Volunteer Week.

So? How does your group acknowledge your volunteers during National Volunteer Week 2010? Some ideas might include:

Holding a free barbeque and inviting along volunteers and their families.

Producing simple Certificates of Appreciation on the computer and presenting them to volunteers.

Having a free film night with supper for volunteers and their families.

Placing a general thankyou into the local paper.

Encouraging your local council to hold an event with a personal thank you from the Mayor for Volunteers in the region.

Holding a colouring competition for children to “Thank a volunteer” and then deliver entries to individual volunteers as a “Certificate of Appreciation”

Write a personal thank you note to volunteers.

Organise a voucher for a free cuppa for volunteers. Volunteers hand the voucher to participating venue’s to receive their freebie thankyou cuppa. The venue returns the collected vouchers for reimbursement from your organisation.

Hold a tree-planting day in a designated area in honour of volunteers. Individual trees could be “dedicated” to particular volunteers as a long-term recognition for their contribution to the community.

The list is as endless as the human imagination.

Remember to include promotional materials about what your group does in the community and what volunteer opportunities you have available too, at your National Volunteer Week event. This way, the possibility of recruiting new volunteers becomes available. Volunteers are attracted to organisations that are organised and are very clear about their objectives. A suitably designed methodology for inducting, training and supporting volunteers will go a long way to ensuring the longevity of your services in the community.

Finally, I’d like to personally say a very BIG THANK YOU to all the volunteers from across the Wimmera who contribute so much to our community. Your efforts and willingness to go “above, and beyond” the call of duty are very much appreciated and applauded. Now, more than ever you are vital and fantastic! Well done!