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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 21, 2007 - 17 National Volunteer Week April 15 - 21, 2007 VOLUNTEERSGROWCOMMUNITY Through the eyes of a volunteer... "I never had the time. I wanted to volunteer- I made phone calls, I picked up applications, and they sat on my desk for months unsigned and unsent. I even had my TB test done because I "intended" to volunteer at the hospital, but I just didn't have time. Until, a year ago when I started going to school part-time, and then I had plenty of time. Time enough to finally do some volunteering. Especially since I would be applying to nursing programs soon. When I first started with the S.E.N.A.C.A seniors day program I volunteered four hours, two days a week. Now I volunteer Tuesdays for three hours. That is all my schedule can afford these days. I work full time, and the occasional weekend too. Those three free hours are precious, however, there is no better way then I can imagine spending it. When I arrive at S.E.N.A.C.A. on Tuesday morning the group is usually reviewing the news in the days paper, everyone stops for a moment to greet me with happy smiles. That kind of warm welcome is what volunteering is about for me, because it emphasizes just how much I get from volunteering. There is no question that S.E.N.A.C.A benefits from volunteers. There are many of them moving through the S.E.N.A.C.A community, who bring with them fresh ideas, new talents, and insights to share with the group. I have seen Caribbean dancers, marshal artists, singers, artists, wood-workers, gardeners, firemen, and even pets volunteer their valuable time to S.E.N.A.C.A. Not to mention all the people on the business side of things who organize fund-raising, and getting another site open for this wonderful program. The amazing thing is though, that no one feels like they are working, no one feels like they are sacrificing time, because the rewards of volunteering are so inherent. Volunteering at S.E.N.A.C.A is valuable experience for my future goals to be certain, but it is worth so much more then that. For someone like myself who has always struggled with being shy it has been grounds for building confidence. The friendships give me something to look forward to every week. The laughter and fun make me feel good, and when I walk out of S.E.N.A.C.A every Tuesday I feel happy. I have made time for S.E.N.A.C.A through a variety of circumstances from school, to working at a golf course, then a bar, and now a pharmacy. My circumstances are likely to change again, and though at times it may seem impossible, I always want volunteering part of my life. There is no better way to be connected to your community, and in turn, to be a part of something bigger then yourself." Kathleen MacFarlane has volunteered at S.E.N.A.C.A. Seniors Day Program for over a year. She is hoping to get into a Nursing Program in the near future. The role of Volunteer Halton Throughout our history our role has been to develop community capacity. Volunteer Centres were established by the Social Planning Councils in Burlington and Oakville by the mid 1970's. Their primary focus was promotion of volunteerism and the recruitment and referral of individuals wanting to volunteer. The Volunteer Centre in North Halton, established in the late 70's focused on promoting volunteer opportunities and providing training and management support to local service providers. During the 1980's the Volunteer Centre expanded its services to provide management consultation and training to agencies. The 1990's were a time of change. The Volunteer Centre became a training centre for the National Educational Campaign on Screening. Other initiatives were developed such as Youth Volunteering, Corporate Volunteering and Intergenerational Programs. A volunteer matching program has been built to be placed on the Internet. Volunteers and Agencies will have easier access to opportunities. Volunteer Halton's aim is to encourage and facilitate corporate community service as a viable force for solving serious social problems and strengthening the local economy. from www.volunteerhalton.ca To all our volunteers, Thank You. PRESENTS Your commitment & dedication is appreciated. With your help, we have given back over $1,600,000 to the community in the past 15 years. If you would like to volunteer with us please contact 905-847-7975 www.oakvillefestival.com Creating brighter futures for children, youth and their families since 1981. h THANK YOU to our volunteers who dedicate their time U and efforts to help make a difference. You are truly appreciated for all that you do! For information on volunteer opportunities, contact Heather Thompson 905-632-6531 ext 64 or toll free at 1-888-389-5535 or email heathert@tfyhalton.ca y visit our website at www.tfyhalton.ca y Oakville Skating Club River Oaks Recreation Centre 2400 Sixth Line, Oakville ON L6H 3N8 905-257-7771 www.oakvilleskatingclub.org Whether it is a child's first steps on the ice when the passion to skate begins, earning a gold medal, or standing on the podium at Canadians, these achievements would not be possible without the many volunteers that give their time, support and energy to make the Oakville Skating Club a place where dreams begin. The skaters would like to thank and acknowledge all the volunteers that, by their commitment, have provided the opportunity for great things to happen. A Special Thanks to our Volunteers! Volunteers are a critical part of our organization and are the "best" at taking on "all other duties as assigned". Parents, past and present, students and community members have all committed their time to the ongoing operations, maintenance, fundraising, special events planning and much more! Volunteers have contributed over 2000 hours to us this year. We thank all of you for your commitment and involvement at the Centre. You help to provide a positive impact on families, children and their caregivers. Thank you for lending us a helping hand! If you would like more information about becoming a volunteer at our Centre, please call 905 849-6366. Now accepting applications for our Board of Directors. For further information and an application form, please contact the Chair of our Nominating Committee at guyhubert@cogeco.ca gy g 905-849-6366 www.op-cc.ca or visit our website at