HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-10-018 - National Volunteer Week!-
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REPORT
REPORT TO: Mayor and Members of Council
DATE OF MEETING: March 22nd, 2010
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Hildebrand, Director of Community Programs and
Services, Community Services Department (x 2687)
PREPARED BY: Janice Ouellette, Facilitator, Volunteer Resources &
Community Engagement (x 2227)
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: March 8, 2010
REPORT NO.: CSD-10-018
SUBJECT: NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK 2010
RECOMMENDATION:
For information only.
BACKGROUND:
In Canada, the first National Volunteer Week took place from September 12th to 30th, 1943. In
1990, Volunteer Canada proclaimed the third week in April to be National Volunteer Week in all
communities across Canada. In 2010, National Volunteer Week will be celebrated April 18 - 24.
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 encourage community celebrations of thanks under the theme
"Volunteers. From Compassion to Action". This year, National Volunteer Week is honouring the
12.5 million Canadian volunteers who gave 2.1 billion hours of their time, energy and skills in
volunteer service.
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 8,000 volunteers generously contribute to the health of the City of Kitchener
programs and affiliated community groups.
REPORT:
The City of Kitchener is implementing the following National Volunteer Week recognition
initiatives in celebration of the volunteers who generously contribute to City of Kitchener
programs and affiliated community groups, the staff who work with those volunteers and the City
of Kitchener staff who exemplify the volunteer spirit by volunteering in their communities:
Adults 50+ Program Volunteers Social on Apr 21St, 1:30-3:30 pm at Victoria Park Pavilion
Distribution of volunteer week notepads to Community Services Department offices, pools,
and centres as well as the Mayor's office and Clerk's Department
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• Balloon bouquets to thank volunteers placed in 3 centres for Adults 50+ and notices of
thanks from the City of Kitchener Coordinator of Volunteers displayed during volunteer week
• Three large "Thank-You Volunteers" banners go up at Rockway, BRC and DCC
• Distribution of volunteer recognition pins in April and throughout the year
• Participation in the community-wide "Volunteer Spirit" Ribbon Campaign
• Placement of a display ad in a special advertising section that appears in The Record
• Notices in Spring Leisure Guide, Best of Times Newsletter for Adults 50+
• Display in Rotunda Display cabinets
• Thank you messages on street/facility signs, voice mail and email messages
• Salute to City of Kitchener volunteers on VAC Website during Volunteer week
• Access from VAC National Volunteer Week Committee to a variety of donated volunteer
recognition items. (The City of Kitchener's Coordinator of Volunteers was co-chair of the
National Volunteer Week Committee of the Volunteer Action Centre for Kitchener-Waterloo
and Area (VAC). This committee consists of staff from community agencies and
municipalities in the area who plan a variety of recognition opportunities for volunteers of
member agencies of VAC).
• Internal "I Volunteer" Button campaign honouring City staff who volunteers with City or other
community programs, clubs or agencies. Staff who volunteer will be asked to register their
volunteer activities with City of Kitchener Volunteer Resources. They will receive a button
that says "I Volunteer, Ask me Where" to wear during National Volunteer Week and will be
encouraged to share their volunteer experience with other staff.
New This Year
• Production of our Volunteer Appreciation slideshow that focuses on staff who work with
volunteers in the corporation and staff who are role-models and demonstrate the volunteer
spirit through volunteering in their communities. The slideshow will be used at various
venues and events through National Volunteer Week to thank, celebrate and motivate.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Expenses related to National Volunteer Week are funded through an existing operating budget
COMMUNICATIONS:
Communication efforts to promote National Volunteer Week include:
• Creation of display advertisement for special advertising supplement in the Record
• Creation of resources such as volunteer pins, thank you cards, and other materials
• Notices in "Leisure Guide" and "Best of Times" Newsletter for Adults 50+
• Posters in City facilities; display in Rotunda display cabinets; messages on facility signs
• Information on City of Kitchener web-site and other community Internet sites
• "I Volunteer, Ask me Where" button campaign
• slideshow focusing on staff who support our volunteers and staff who are volunteers.
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 and to recognize those staff who embody the value of
volunteerism and generously share themselves with their communities.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services
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