HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-12-057 - National Volunteer Week 2012REPORT TO:
Committee of the Whole
DATE OF MEETING:
March 26, 2012
SUBMITTED BY:
Mark Hildebrand, Director of Community Programs and
Services (519-741-2687)
PREPARED BY:
Janice Ouellette, Facilitator of Volunteer Resources and
Community Engagement (519-741-2227)
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
All
DATE OF REPORT:
March 20, 2012
REPORT NO.:
CSD-12-057
SUBJECT: National Volunteer Week 2012
RECOMMENDATION:
For information
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener has a long history of engaging volunteers in the delivery of services and
programs, and in supporting volunteer boards and City affiliated organizations in their service to
community residents. The need for ongoing staff support and management of this essential
resource was recognized over ten years ago, when Community Services Department staff
resourceswere dedicated to this important function. Since that time, Volunteer Resources has
adopted vision and mission statements, developed a Council-approved Code of Volunteer
Involvement for the City, and broadened its scope from one focused primarily on supporting
Adult 50+ programs and services to one that serves staff across the Corporation, as well as
affiliated groups such as minor sports organizations and neighbourhood associations. It has
also expanded its role to include coordination of a number of programs and events aimed at
recognizing and encouraging informal volunteering and other forms of civic engagement.
The community supports this direction and understands the role that a strong volunteer sector
plays in creating healthy communities and improving the quality of life in Kitchener. The
traditional view of volunteers as service providers no longer resonates with all Canadians.
Volunteering is not just for a select few but for everyone, as a means of engagement, social
inclusion and building social capital. During consultations in support of the Plan for a Healthy
Kitchener (2006), leadership and engagement were identified as a top priority.
Annually, approximately 7,000 volunteers contribute countless hours and energy to programs,
services, committees, boards and events across the City and with City-affiliated organizations.
The Volunteer Resources and Community Engagement Section currently offers a broad range
of services to volunteers, volunteer boards, and staff working with volunteers, including a
centralized point of entry into volunteering, orientation and training, policies and procedures for
staff managing volunteers and volunteer boards, and consultation and tools for volunteer
management, training, and recognition.
In recent years, the Volunteer Resources and Community Engagement Section has been
involved in research aimed at better understanding the needs and interests of volunteers,
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documenting broad societal trends affecting volunteers and volunteerism and identifying
emerging issues in the volunteer sector and trends in good volunteer management.
An integral part of good volunteer management is recognizing and appreciating the time and
effort volunteers bring to an organization, emphasizing the importance of their contributions and
ensuring volunteers know they are valued. Volunteers who feel they are making a significant
impact are the volunteers who stay with an organization. It is also important not only to
recognize volunteers within our organization but also to promote their accomplishments within
the community.
National Volunteer Week is the biggest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in our
country. Volunteer Canada, with the support of Investors Group, continues to lead the
promotion of the national campaign and encourages community celebrations of thanks under
this year’s theme "Volunteers. Compassion, Action, Impact”. This year, National Volunteer
Weekwill be celebrated April 15 – 21 and is honouring the 12.5 million Canadian volunteers
who gave 2.1 billion hours of their time, energy and skills in volunteer service.
REPORT:
On a local and corporate level, the City of Kitchener is implementing a number of initiatives in
celebration of National Volunteer Week and in recognition of the countless hours that
approximately 1700 direct volunteers and 5,500 indirect volunteers generously contribute to the
health of the City of Kitchener programs and affiliated community groups.
Lunch and Learn Sessions will be offered throughout National Volunteer Week to assist staff
in their efforts to support volunteers in their work and programs. Four sessions will include:
1.Good Volunteer Management - What does this mean and what is expected of staff;
2.Volunteer Resources at the City - Who are we and what can we do for you;
3.Volunteering and Diversity – Making your Volunteer Opportunities Accessible
4.From Recruiting to Recognition - Your questions answered.
Volunteer appreciation pins will be distributed along with bookmarks with a thank you note
from Mayor Zehr. Volunteer Resources at the City of Kitchener has chosen the theme
“Volunteer - Stars of our Community” for 2012. The 2012 volunteer pin design includes an
image of a star, and the bookmark with it indicates our belief that when we work together we
can set a shining example and make a brilliant difference in our community.
Salutes to the “stellar” behaviour of City of Kitchener volunteers (in keeping with the theme
that volunteers are stars of our community) will appear on the City website, Facebook and
twitter during National Volunteer week. A double block newspaper adhas also been booked
in The Record thanking all our volunteers, from the City of Kitchener.
City of Kitchener Volunteer Services will be placing "thank you for volunteering" signs on
stands at the centres with adults 50+ programs during national volunteer week. Volunteers
will see these signs at the welcome desks and snack bars at each centre, as well as at the
meal programs and the day program. Banners thanking volunteers will be hung on display
for the month of April at these sites.
Some of our community resource centres are able to put "thank you to our volunteers" on
their lawn signs outside their centres during April. Postersfrom Volunteer Canada have
been sent to
all our centres to display.
appreciationnote pads and thank you cards will be distributed for staff use.
Volunteer
Photos and information about the numerous ways that volunteers are the stars of our
community and contribute across the corporation will be displayed in the Rotunda display
cabinets.
With the assistance of Council, staff, volunteers and program participants, the video entitled
“The Value of Volunteers” has been produced to share how Council, the Corporation of the
City of Kitchener as well as participants, parents and volunteers themselves appreciate the
work of volunteers and/ or the opportunity to volunteer. The video will be shared with all of
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our facilities, through an all departments email as well as on the city Facebook page, Twitter
account and with local media. It will be used at various venues and events, through
National Volunteer Week and beyond, to thank, celebrate and motivate.
A volunteer appreciation reception for all of our direct volunteers and boards of
th
in the
Neighbourhood Associations and Minor Sports groups is being organized for May 24
Rotunda. Again in keeping with the star theme, the volunteers who attend will receive the
red-carpet treatment and be honoured like the stars of the show that they are.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
People Plan – A Culture of Community Stewardship“The value of engagement and
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community mindedness guide our actions and decisions as we move forward”.
Through National Volunteer Week celebrations we recognize the dedicated group of staff and
other volunteers who cultivate meaningful roles for community members and recruit, coordinate,
support, train and recognize them.
Community Priority – Leadership and Engagement
Through on-going training, support and recognition, we foster the essential and complex
resource of volunteerism that we’ve grown to depend on and value while providing opportunities
for citizens to volunteer, to be engaged, to be leaders, to develop skills and to enhance quality
of life for themselves and others.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Expenses related to National Volunteer Week are funded through an existing operating budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Through the Volunteer Services Strategy, community members and staff who work with
volunteers were consulted using on-line, pen and paper and telephone surveys and focus
groups. Their input has helped us understand what training needs exist, what recognition
strategies they appreciate and how they access information.
Communication efforts to promote National Volunteer Week include radio, television,
newspaper, posters, thank you cards and other print material, city website and social media,
signage and displays and a video.
CONCLUSION:
National Volunteer Week provides us with a wonderful opportunity to thank the many devoted
volunteers who contribute countless hours, energy, and enthusiasm to the community. It is also
an opportunity for us to thank the many staff across the corporation who support City of
Kitchener and affiliated volunteers. National Volunteer Week is also an opportunity to showcase
the value volunteerism has to program participants, to volunteers and to the creation of healthy
communities and to acknowledge that resources and energy must be allotted to foster this vital
resource.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Wilmer, Deputy CAO, Community Services
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