Volunteer Week 2003Newfoundland and Labrador Information Kit (Labrador)
April 27th – May 3rd
Provincial Theme: Volunteers Make Communities
“The contribution of those who volunteer their time and talent forms the basic ingredient of a healthy community. We should make it a policy to always give thanks to those helping today and making a better tomorrow.”
~Randy Simms, Honorary Chair, Volunteer Week Committee 2003
President of NL Federation of Municipalities
Executive Director of VOCM Cares
Volunteer Week celebrates the important contributions that volunteers make to communities throughout the province. It is a special time set aside to acknowledge their work and say thank you.
The Community Services Council Volunteer Centre helps to plan regional events across the province, and works in cooperation with groups and communities to plan their own unique activities to honour local volunteers.
Contents
Background on Volunteer Week/Voluntary Sector…………………………………………………………………………………..2
Volunteer Week Events…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………..3
Global Youth Service Day………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…4
Order Form for Volunteer Recognition Items….…………………………………………………………….…………………..…..5
Please contact Erika Stockley at the address indicated on page 3 for more information.
NOTE: Our funds to mail out these kits are very limited! Please share this information with other interested groups in your area. This Info Kit can be downloaded from !
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Patron for Volunteer Week: His Honour Lieutenant Governor Edward M. Roberts, Q.C., B.A., LL.B
Why
Celebrate
Volunteer Week?
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Volunteers Make Communities
Volunteer Week celebrates the important contributions that volunteers make to communities throughout the province. It is a special time set aside to acknowledge their work and say thank you.
The Community Services Council Volunteer Centre helps to plan events across the province, and provides ideas and resources for communities and organizations that wish to plan activities to honour local volunteers.
The 138,000 volunteers in this province are truly the heart of our communities. They serve as firefighters, town councillors and board directors. They are in churches, schools, hospitals and community centres. Volunteers work to protect the environment, plan community development, promote the arts and foster youth leadership. Volunteers really do make communities!
While volunteers make an enormous contribution to society, the overall number of volunteers is declining across the country. It is more important than ever that we nurture the spirit of volunteerism and ensure that our young people understand the value of volunteering.
The Voluntary Sector in Newfoundland and Labrador
The voluntary, community-based sector is the total collection of over 4,000 voluntary groups across the province and their resources, including volunteers, employees, infrastructure, assets and finances.
Without volunteers our society would lack its heart and soul. The voluntary sector makes an enormous contribution to the well-being of individuals, families and communities and plays an essential role in the social and economic development in this province.
The Role of the Community Services Council Newfoundland and Labrador
Voluntary organizations face many common challenges. These include difficulty recruiting and retaining volunteers, especially for positions of leadership, staff/volunteer burnout, funding insecurity, increased competition for funding dollars, risk management, lack of training opportunities for staff/volunteers and lack of awareness of their work.
CSC work with community partners around the province to address these needs and advance the voluntary, community-based sector with a variety of programs including:
A Volunteer Centre which is the provincial resource on volunteerism
An online database of voluntary, community-based organizations across the province. Make sure you are listed!
Promotion of volunteerism among young people through such programs as the Youth Volunteer Corps, and Youth Mobilizing Youth (currently in the Avalon and Labrador regions)
- A Virtual Resource Centre for voluntary, community-based organizations throughout the province
Promotion of Volunteer Week!
Volunteer Week 2003
Events and activities will be taking place throughout Labrador during Volunteer Week! Post your event and see what others are doing on Community Calendar! Here a few we know of already:
1. Regional Celebration Event: Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Saturday, May 3, 2003
This event offers groups and organizations a great chance to publicly recognize volunteers for their service and commitment! The evening will include refreshments, great entertainment, and recognition of volunteers and groups in the area! All are welcome to attend, but you must contact Erika Stockley if you wish to have your volunteers or group recognized at this event please do this ASAP.
- Evening Reception with Randy Simms, Honourary Chair of Volunteer Week
Wednesday, April 30, 2003, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
You are invited to celebrate Volunteer Week with the Provincial Honourary Chair! Randy will be joined by members of the Central Labrador Volunteer Resources Steering Committee, the local Chamber of Commerce, Zone Board and many others who wish to join!
…many other activities are being planned throughout Labrador. Look for local promotion of these events soon!
Contact Erika Stockley, CSC Field Worker in Happy Valley-Goose Bay for more information
Tel: (709) 896-6010 for more information
Fax: (709) 896-8431 or email
Information is also available from members of the Central Labrador Volunteer Resources Steering Committee
Be sure to post Volunteer Week events happening in your community
on Labrador Community Calendar!
Volunteer Week 2003
Global Youth Service Day
Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is an annual international event that celebrates the contributions that youth make to their communities, and encourages more young people to get involved as volunteers! This year GYSD will be celebrated April 11th – 13th and offers a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on the spirit and energy of youth in communities across Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.
Activities in Labrador…
Youth Mobilizing Youth, a program of the Community Services Council Volunteer Centre, is partnering with the Community Youth Network to organize GYSD events in both the Lake Melville area and along Coastal Labrador!
In the Lake Melville area, YMY is organizing a Service-a-Thon on Saturday April 12th for area youth. The entire day will be devoted to community service projects with various community organizations and projects will be followed by celebrations for all youth who devote the day to serving their communities!!
In the weeks to come, CYN Fieldworkers will be taking a lead role in organizing projects and events in their own communities along the coast.
If you have ideas or suggestions for service projects in your area, or would simply like more information of GYSD, please contact:
Shelley BroomfieldYouth Mobilizing Youth Assistant Mentor
(709) 896-7396
or email
Remember!…to promote and post your own GYSD 2003 community activities on the Virtual Resource Centre for voluntary, community-based groups in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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