Category Archives: About

News, updates and goings-on of Volunteer Banff.

Nov 23 2011

Measuring Your Value

Posted in About, Community Voice, News

A thought provoking Letter to the Editor, published in the Banff Crag & Canyon today, is written by one of our energetic volunteer Board Members, Annie Arseneault.

Annie asks the question: How do you think a community should measure the value of its volunteers?

Please take a few moment to give us your thoughts below – we love hearing from you!

For more recent Banff Volunteer Centre headlines – check this article out.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Measuring Your Value

How can the Bow Valley measure the value of its residents and visitors who volunteer their time and skills? It’s a question I ponder as I begin my new volunteer assignment as a Board member with the Banff Volunteer Centre (BVC).

This morning (Nov. 21) I attended a Town of Banff Council meeting and was pleased to see an overall favourable response to BVC’s new direction. Executive Director Katherine Topolniski had submitted a proposal to reinstate a previous budget of $20,000 annually for core funding.

I was delighted to hear the Council’s questions match one of BVC goals for 2012: to better measure and report on the value of volunteerism in our community. This means I will be putting my performance measurement expertise to good use. Establishing appropriate indicators of success early will be an important step as BVC begins rolling out it’s new business in 2012: delivering services to non-profit organizations, building awareness of volunteerism and encouraging residents (new, temporary and long-term locals alike) to be more actively involved in their community.

I’m excited about volunteering my skills in this capacity while supporting a cause for which I care about: inclusion. I even hope that my volunteering as a Board member serves as a model for other young and highly skilled people and inspires them to find a fulfilling volunteer opportunity.

So how do you think a community should measure the value of its volunteers?

Annie Arseneault
Banff Volunteer Centre, Board of Directors

Nov 01 2011

Volunteers | Join the conversation

Posted in News, VTalk

Join the discussions on the Get Volunteering Facebook Conversation series

The 12-week Get Volunteering Facebook Conversation series focused on volunteering continues Thursday, November 3 with a discussion on best practices for engaging youth within voluntary organizations.

To join in the live interactive talk, click here and “Like” Get Volunteering on Facebook.

The conversation series runs once a week until December 9, and all sessions begin at 9 a.m. Future conversations will be announced via Volunteer Canada’s Facebook and Twitter feeds, and on the Get Volunteering Facebook page.

Oct 25 2011

Volunteer News | Alberta Volunteers are Priceless!

Posted in News, Volunteers

Volunteers could use a little help

Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 06:00 am
Published on the Carstairs Courier

An unknown author once wrote, “Volunteers are not paid – not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.”

While that sentiment continues to ring true today, with over 50 per cent of Albertans regularly volunteering their time, many municipal volunteer organizations are struggling to recruit and retain new members given today’s more mobile society. Faced with dwindling numbers some groups have folded, while others plod along with the same group volunteering for every event.

One possible solution exists in offering tax breaks to those residents who participate in volunteer activities with registered charities. While many volunteer groups suggest the idea is the answer to declining numbers, critics charge that the idea just doesn’t make sense.

Read the rest of the article here…

Aug 31 2011

For Organizations: Building ONE Workforce Workshop

Posted in Enhancement, Events, Organizations

Rethink how you work with people.

The ONE(day) workshop you can’t miss!

Are you ready to lead your non-profit to the next level and shift the way you work with people?

If you answered yes, then you will want to be at this workshop!

I am thrilled to announce Building ONE Workforce – an exclusive learning opportunity by Vantage Point for the Banff non-profit/voluntary community. With generous support from the Banff Community Foundation, the Banff Volunteer Centre [BVC] is hosting this invaluable workshop for an incredibly affordable price!

For specific information about this event please email director@volunteerbanff.ab.ca

Register for Building ONE Workforce in Banff, Alberta on Eventbrite

Building ONE Workforce is an outstanding opportunity not only for our organizations, but also for the community as a whole. This workshop presents the opportunity to more effectively lead our own organizations as well as to rethink HOW we work with people (both staff and volunteer).

This workshop will look at how your organizations can engage and learn to work with specifically skilled people and lead your organization to the next level. Check out these video success stories about other groups who work in a People-First culture.

Remember: the potential for community impact is greater when more minds are involved in a collective knowledge base shift!

Building ONE Workforce is highly recommended for leaders of non-profit organizations, including Board Members and actively engaged volunteers. To have the greatest impact on your organization I recommend 3 people from your organization participate in the workshop.

Tickets are limited – only 10 organization tickets are available – register now to secure your spot!

Register for Building ONE Workforce in Banff, Alberta on Eventbrite

Please feel welcome to call or email if you have any questions – it is important to me that as many organizations attend this event, if there is anyway I can help you to be there, please let me know!

Apr 15 2011

Coffee House – volunteer event!

Posted in About, Events

Celebrating National Volunteer Week and the importance of volunteers in the world of Arts + Culture the Banff Volunteer Centre hosted a Coffee House at historical St. George’s in the Pines church.  The event was a tremendous success – with over 12 performers volunteering their talents to entertain an amazing audience of people from our community!

Some of the talented musicians involved were Ray Brooks, Jean Collins and Natasha Ellwood, a jazzy performance from Peter Cristou with guests, and Banff high school student Samatha Bell, just to name a few.

Colin Funk delivered a hilarious and engaging collection of his poems from a stint in Dawson City, complete with the hat that got him through his northern stay. Doug Hamel performed a few poems, and Banff Volunteer Centre Executive Director and host for the evening delivered a moving monologue that got people thinking about volunteering with a new perspective.

The event got started with local music guru Garry Gonis, who revved up the crowd and got everyone singing along and wrapped up with a moving performance from Lori Reid, who spoke of how thrilled she was to finally have the opportunity to sing and play her guitar in St George’s In the Pines.

One surprise guest, 3 1/2 year old Ethan, approached the stage, guitar in hand ready to perform his rendition of ‘Old MacDonald’ – it was fantastic!! Ethan is the adorable son of volunteer Mark, who did the sound for the night and made a lot of connections with local musicians – thanks Mark for all your hard work!

Here’s a collection of photographs, taken by Rafal Andronowski, a Canmore Photographer who volunteered his skills for the evening – thank you Raf for capturing the evening.

Stayed tuned for more photos, stories and videos from this great event!

Thanks again to all the volunteers and audience members involved in making the Coffee House a success!

Happy National Volunteer Week!

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