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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-05-157 - International Volunteer Day - Dec 5 ) ~ Community Services ~ Report To: Date of Meeting: Submitted By: Prepared By: Ward(s) Involved: Date of Report: Report No.: Subject: Community Services Committee December 5, 2005 Christiane Sadeler, Interim Director, Community Programs and Services (ext 2687) Jo-Ann Hutchison, Facilitator of Volunteer Resources & Community Engagement (ext 2227) All Wards November 21, 2005 CSD-05-157 INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY - DEC 5TH RECOMMENDATION: For information only. BACKGROUND: December 5th of each year is International Volunteer Day (IVD). The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed this day in 1985. In 2001, International Year of Volunteers helped to make this day more widely known and recognised. Now, the United Nations Volunteers Program as well as governments, organisations, and volunteers around the world celebrate IVD. Celebrations range from heads of states presenting certificates of appreciation to individual volunteers, to modest gatherings in private residences, to panel discussions on how volunteerism can be expanded, and other special events such to raise funds and awareness for volunteer activities around the world. The United Nations website has an interesting listing of IVD celebrations around the world, significance of voluntary contributions to our global community. In some countries, such as Canada, IVD marks the launch of a week- or month-long campaign to promote volunteerism and recognise volunteers. In 2005, the Canadian campaign is once again, "Ordinary People. Extraordinary Dreams". This campaign profiles and celebrates the extraordinary achievements Canadian volunteers have made through their deep commitment to a cause, desire to serve others, and drive to make the world a better place. This campaign is featured on the Volunteer Canada Website The Ontario Network of the Canadian has also organized an IVD campaign which is aimed at increasing awareness of the voluntary sector in Ontario. Part of the material prepared for this campaign includes the attached Fact Sheet on Volunteerism. The statistics outlined in this fact sheet underscore the imminent need to enhance the capacity of the voluntary sector to recruit and involve volunteers in meaningful ways in order to keep the International Volunteer Day - December 5, 2005 Page 2 REPORT: The City of Kitchener is celebrating IVD in the following ways: '" Posting of colour IVD posters in City Hall elevators and City facilities. '" Distribution of complimentary notepads to volunteers, staff and public counters. '" Message on pay stubs of City staff and encouraging staff to put messages in their email autosignature and on voicemail messages. '" Using a postage dye on outgoing City mail that thanks volunteers '" Messages on street signs at City facilities. '" Supplying City staff that works with volunteers and community groups with information and resources so they can plan their own recognition or promotional activities. '" Information about IVD and the 2006 volunteer lapel pin and volunteer calendar will be sent to City Council and General Managers on December 1 s. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: None. IVD initiatives are relatively low cost and are financed through an already existing operating budget. COMMUNICATIONS: The Corporate Communications office has helped in this year's preparations by designing posters, notepads, volunteer pins, and volunteer calendars. Staff who work with volunteers and community groups were made also made aware of this day so they can organize their own celebrations and use the day to promote volunteerism and, most importantly, to say "thank you!". A memo will also be sent to City Council and General Managers on December 1 st. CONCLUSION: International Volunteer Day is a time to reflect upon and celebrate the significant contributions of our volunteers many of whom work tirelessly in all aspects of our community, often quietly and without publicity, year round. Christiane Sadeler Interim Director, Community Programs & Services AP Ontario Network - Canadian Volunteerism Initiative Fact Sheet on Volunteerism '" 1 in 4 Ontarians aged 15 and over volunteered between October 1, 1999 and September 30, 2000. '" Ontario has the second lowest volunteerism rate in the country (25%) and the largest decline in volunteering (7%) between 1997 and 2000. '" Ontario volunteers each donate an average of 165 hours per year Volunteering In Canada '" 6.5 million Canadian volunteers give approximately 1 billion hours a year, the equivalent of about 549,000 full-time jobs. '" 8 out of 1 0 Canadians volunteer to help other people on their own, not through an organization '" Fewer than 7% of Canadians account for 73% of all volunteer hours '" Canada lost 1 million volunteers in 3 years (31 % of the population volunteered in 1997 compared to 27% in 2000 '" Voluntary organizations, including volunteer contributions, account for 8.6% of Canada's GDP - as much as all branches of manufacturing. Challenges to Volunteerism in Ontario '" 63% of Ontario organizations find it harder to recruit volunteers than in 1997 '" Over half of Ontario organizations find it more difficult to retain volunteers than in 1997 '" 46% of Ontario organizations feel that they are not making the most effective use of volunteers '" Reliance on volunteers is increasing dramatically. For example, in Niagara region, there was a 36% increase of residents turning to nonprofit groups for assistance: in 2003, 17% of those groups were not able to meet demand for their services, at least partially because of the supply of volunteers '" Nearly an 18% reduction in the number of volunteers in 2000 vs. 1997 (512,000 fewer in absolute terms) '" The total hours of volunteers with university degrees and those from households grossing $80,000 or more volunteered 35% less in 2000 than in 1997. All demographic groups saw at least a 10% decrease in volunteering. Aussi disponible en frangais Statistics from "Caring Canadians, Involved Canadians: Highlights of the National Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating", available at nsgvp.org, from Strategic Information for Community Organizations on Volunteering and Donating in Ontario, based on NSGVP and available at www.volunteer.ca. from National Survey on Nonprofitand Voluntary Organizations, available at www.nonorofitscan.ca. from Volunteerism 2001: How Senior Representatives from Not-for-Profit organizations Assess the Issues commissioned by the Volunteerism Working Group from Ryerson University, Centre for Quality Research (2001); and from the Niagara Voluntary Sector Labour Market Study, available at www.communityleadership.net.