Session Title: 4. Volunteerism: How to best share and manage limited resources of people, power and resources
Convenor: Richard and Dawn
Note taker: Sandra
Participants: Sandy, Kathy, Jamie, Tony, Shirley, Donna, Teresa, Athena, Joan, Susanne, Corinne
Summary of discussions:
Richard: looking at volunteerism on this island NOW… integral to the sense of community on this island. Currently have an increase in part-timers, a change in the population (less young people, increase part-time homes…e.g.…75 new homes built last year and only 30 new people. All want and need increased services but there are less people. Those active volunteers are burning out.
Look at the demands…. i.e. labour pool…efficacy? Fun?
Look at the resources…i.e. resources and volunteers
Limited number of people, lots of organizations. Is this really efficient? Do we need to combine organizations, therefore decreasing the number? 3 groups of people here… full-timers, summer people and those living both on and off island.
Went through the entire list of organizations in the local phone book…about 28 total!!! Group by group…how many actual volunteers with each one…what umbrellas are there…e.g. Health, Exercise, Arts, Community Club and it’s spin-offs, Rec Centre, Lion’s Club, Women’s Service Club, etc.
The SEES (Saturna Ecological Education Society) shared its success in getting funds to support its development and growth. They have a vision of creating some part-time jobs in the future. Kids also re-activating the Theatre on the Rock with a new play… demonstrating passion children help!!!
Emergency Support Services…no meetings, 2 times per year practice sessions and 1 orientation meeting. Have 45 volunteers!!! Plus 25 who do the Neighbour program to check on people.
? Less time involvement?
Ambulance…VERY committed and active and requires much time and energy from the volunteers.
NOW…What can we do???
Two different kinds of volunteers
- Governance activities…Lions, Com. Club, etc. These are non-paid
- Activity – providing the service… could these be supported with tax dollars
How do we draw more volunteer effort from part-timers… lots of potential energy and expertise there? Problem is that they are here to cocoon and get away from it all! The thinking would be “That weekend is blown” if it is time away from their property!
Recycling and Library DO get summer volunteers…a distinct, short commitment. Drop- in volunteering??
Jamie- has tried to join but many meetings are mid-week and not when he is here.
Some retired people here are now overworked with volunteering and THEY want to cocoon and grow into their own interests… are now busier than before retirement!
SIPOA – focussed on using tax moneys for support
Increased bone-weariness of some retired people who DO NOT want to volunteer…how do we inspire them??
Remember…people are drawn to where they have an interest. Trust that they will self-organize to come and go as they need or desire.
We have groups, societies, services…AND …Events!!!!…. the dog show, regatta, BBQ, etc., a never-ending series of events…becomes a chore and NOT fun!
A need to generate revenue, therefore need events. However, the community gets saturated with the need…can only go to so many things. Also pulls away resources from local businesses.
If we bring more tax dollars in it means more government running us… need to get more people on this island.
Some groups can or should be under government money therefore freeing up the roles and groups that run by volunteers.
Some solutions???
1. How about a MIND-MAP, a picture of all the groups and organizations to visually get the connections between everyone and the overlap???
2. Could we craft a full-time position to be an “office manager”…paid position? Could get small amounts of money from various sources that add up to one position. Needs to be clearly defined by each group…i.e.…what responsibilities would be handled. Therefore the volunteers are now freed up.
Tony knows of a company…Support Services Unlimited that does just that!
3. How about a Volunteer Bill of Rights?
Honour, respect yourself, what you can give in a small way, should not cost you money to volunteer
4. How about a Job Board?
In the paper and/ or a bulletin board. Post, estimate the time needed, register and be accountable. Helps people find out what is actually needed…many don’t know and would happily volunteer for an afternoon
5. Enthusiasm of leadership? Encourage volunteers to stretch into the new…skills, etc…
The reward is the community connection, (inner satisfaction). Do we need to find more money for the volunteers???
Enthusiasm of the issue?
6. Need to take a good look at the Lamb BBQ because IT WORKS!… brings all groups together for a common aim. How can we replicate this bonding and working together? It is remarkable in its united action
7. Suggestion to use technology to gain support…i.e. conference calls, emails, etc. She could be at computer for an hour rather than find a ride in to a meeting and commit an afternoon
8. Could the neighbourhood program (going door-to-door) be a way of “discovering” new people…inform and ask them…encourage them to help??
9. REMEMBER – We need to celebrate ourselves…honour and acknowledge the energy that IS generated on this island with volunteers. Can we formalize this? There are a lot of volunteers that have given much time and effort and are maybe missed somehow??
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