Volunteering is as Canadian as maple syrup and the beaver. Before taking an oath of allegiance, new Canadians are encouraged to embrace volunteer opportunities in their communities as a way to integrate into our wonderful society.
If you share compassion for disabled kids and their families and would like to contribute to improving their lives, the inaugural Easter Seals Splash of Colour Family Fun Run offers an ideal opportunity to contribute.
The 2014 event will be held in Kelowna and Vernon on Easter Weekend, Saturday, April 19.
Whether you’re a natural Canadian, new citizen, long-time resident or just spending time in the Okanagan Valley, this is one of the most vibrant volunteering experiences you’re likely to encounter.
Presented by Century21 and with strong support from local Lions and Lioness Clubs, all proceeds from the Kelowna and Vernon events will stay in the Okanagan to help send local kids with disabilities to Easter Seals Camp Winfield.
The events in Kelowna and Vernon each require approximately 150 volunteers on the day.
In Kelowna and Vernon, there are Sponsorship Coordinator positions and Captains for: 1) Team Development, 2) Pledge and Donations, 3) Site and Start/Finish, 4) Needs, 5) Route and 6) Colour Zones.
Colour zones offer an excellent opportunity for corporate sponsorship which will allow the organization to place signage and populate the zone with their staff. Volunteering is an excellent opportunity for companies to improve employee engagement.
Sign up now as a volunteer, participant or sponsor at www.splashofcolour.ca for the 2014 Easter Seals Splash of Colour Family Fun Run.
More information about the Easter Seals Camps are available at: http://www.eastersealscamps.ca/home and on the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities at http://www.lionsbc.ca/.
—Jeanette Hoft, Redthirteen Communications.
Volunteer to lead other volunteers
People skills, interpersonal communication and leadership, these are some of the skills that I gained through volunteering. The experience was great on my resume and it helped me find paid employment.
You can expand your skills and experience too by selecting volunteer opportunities that place you in coordination and management positions.
Here is one such possibility.
As volunteer coordinator, you would be the team lead as you recruit, interview, screen, train and recognize others.
This position enables you to work collaboratively with board members, community partners and the national office to support the mission.
The organization is the local grassroots chapter of MADD Canada, whose mission is to stop impaired driving and to support victims of this violent crime.
Your commitment would be about 10 hours each month. An application form, resume and criminal record check are required. Formal training will be provided.
How would you benefit from taking on this position? You would meet people, gain new insights, expand your understanding of volunteer management, explore or confirm this as a career, and contribute to the well-being of our community.
In this role, you would be able to champion and lead volunteer management projects, campaigns and initiatives.
Your networking would expand to include police, fire and emergency medical services, media, schools, health department, local merchants, local volunteer administrator networks, Chamber of Commerce, and Crime Stoppers.
Do you enjoy being part of a team? Are you personable, mature and reliable? Do want to expand your leadership, communication and networking skills? Can you build on previous coordinating experience? If so, then this is the opportunity for you.
For more information, contact MADD Canada at 250-317‐9877 or infomaddokanagan@gmail.com. Check out their Facebook at facebook.com/maddokanagan or website at www.maddokanagan.ca.
For other volunteer opportunities, go to www.kcr.ca and click on Volunteer Opportunities Search Central Okanagan.
