Tag Archives: volunteer column

Did you know that volunteering can be good for your heart in more ways than one? We typically think about how ‘good’ it makes us feel about ourselves and about the impact we are making in the lives of others. It can also improve physical functioning that affects your heart as a muscle. In a more »

World-class performers, hands-on creative experiences, exposure to the arts and children focused – that in a nutshell describes the Interior Savings Fat Cat Children’s Festival. Scheduled for June 7-8, 2013 at Waterfront Park in Kelowna, the success of this Festival is due in large part to a vibrant team of volunteers who help create the more »

CARP – A New Vision of Aging for Canada is a national organization devoted to seniors’ advocacy, benefits and community. CARP has chapters scattered across Canada, including seven chapters in British Columbia. The Okanagan chapter, with 1800 members from Osoyoos to Sicamous, hosts a number of public events for its members each year. This year, more »

Are you taking time this week to thank the volunteers active in your life? Now is the perfect time because it is National Volunteer Week, April 21 – 27, 2013. Volunteers surround us. In the Central Okanagan we volunteer at a higher rate (53%) than the BC (49%) or Canadian (47%) average, according to the more »

People who work full-time volunteer more than we realize. Statistics Canada just released a study called “Social Participation of Full-time Workers, 2010”. Look around your office. For every five co-workers between the ages of 25 to 54, one volunteered five or more hours each month on a regular basis. Employees who have flexible start and more »

With the warm weather come special events that offer lots of ways to involve volunteers of all ages, skills, backgrounds and time commitment. I recently found a tip sheet from Volunteer Alberta that outlines 10 steps for successful volunteer engagement in community events (http://volunteeralberta.ab.ca). First, make it fun. People who enjoy what they do, do more »

Connecting online seems to be the way to go. You can receive volunteer e-matches by customizing your own volunteer profile. The process is simple. Go to www.kcr.ca and click on ‘volunteer opportunities search Central Okanagan’ and then select the volunteer profile tab. Enter your name, email address and select your preferred level of confidentiality. Make more »

What is new for you? If you have not been online recently to look at the most recent volunteer opportunities, here is a sampling. Looking for love? If you’re looking for a position you love, maybe visiting one of our elderly clients could be just what the doctor ordered. We here at the Westside Health more »

‘Volunteers cast a beautiful shadow.’ That is the theme for this year’s National Volunteer Week. Are you planning an event during the week of April 21 -27, 2013 to celebrate with volunteers involved in your not-for-profit? People motivated volunteers love to party, so give them one to remember. Take some great photos of your event more »

“We need volunteers!” How many times have you heard this plea? And you know what happens . . . people ignore the message. Unusual wording that appeals to what people want to do instead of what we need them to do, makes all the difference. Here are some fresh ideas. “Are you a social butterfly?” more »