June 2007 E-bulletin

FEATURE ARTICLE
New Volunteering Research Resources Have Arrived
RELATED RESOURCES
Sample of Titles From the New Resources
TIPS & TOOLS
CVI Research: Practical Implications for Leadership and Governance
SPECIAL EVENTS
Funders Forum: Register Now
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION
Recipients of the Lieutenant Governor’s Volunteer Awards (2007)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Summer Youth Leadership Seminar in Winnipeg
Nonprofits Across the Country Lose Access to Student Help
Canadian Charities can now complete annual returns online


FEATURE ARTICLE
New Volunteering Research Resources Have Arrived

A new collection has been added to the Volunteer Manitoba resource centre. It contains publications by the Knowledge Development Centre, an organization operated by Imagine Canada under the Canada Volunteerism Initiative (CVI).

The resources in our collection include research reports by the Knowledge Development Centre. Topics covered include
- aboriginal volunteerism,
- seniors, women and youth volunteerism,
- the value of volunteer contributions,
- training,
- volunteer management,
- corporate and school volunteer programs,
- a municipal toolkit,
- as well as an annotated reading list, a catalogue of resources, and a series on resources to increase and support volunteerism.

We also have the Knowledge Development Centre’s Bulletin, and a selection of Fact Sheets on many volunteerism topics, as well as CD-ROMs on research studies on volunteerism.

Please feel free to drop in and have a look at these resources, they are very informative and useful. Or you can contact our Resource Coordinator by calling (204) 477-5180 ext. 223, 1-888-922-4545, or email: vmresource@mts.net

During the International Year of Volunteers in 2001, the Federal Government established the CVI to raise awareness of the contributions of volunteers, to encourage Canadians to volunteer, to improve the ability of organizations to involve volunteers, and to enhance the experience of volunteering. It selected Volunteer Canada and Imagine Canada to deliver the CVI, which established 3 national centres and 13 local networks, one in each province and territory.

Through the participation of the local networks, CVI gained a regional understanding of volunteers and organizations that involve volunteers, and each network established a volunteerism action plan and community investment strategy for each region.

The national centres included the Knowledge Development Centre, which has provided support for both local and national research on volunteerism and has funded more than 50 community-based and national research projects, the Information, Capacity-building and Awareness Centre operated by Volunteer Canada, and which administered funding for local networks, as well as the Community Support Centre, also operated by Volunteer Canada, which provided support for organizations to develop and test innovative methods for maintaining volunteerism.

The Federal Government terminated the CVI in 2006, saying that it was a “non-core” program that does not meet the priorities of the Government or the Canadian people.

Fortunately, all the research and resources created by the CVI are still accessible and contain valuable information about key topics.

To view the Knowledge Development Centre's entire Volunteering Research Collection, click on this link...

back to the top

RELATED RESOURCES

Sample of Titles From the New Resources:

Here is a sampling of titles from the CVI collection:

The Role of Ethnic Congregations in Volunteering

How to Manage Insurance Costs in the Voluntary Sector: Tips and Checklist

Developing a Risk Management Strategy – Five Steps to Risk Management in Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations

Voluntary Boards and Executive Directors – A Relationship for Organizational Stability

Simple Solutions – How NGO’s Can Eliminate Barriers to Volunteering by People With Disabilities

Continuing Strong Traditions: Aboriginal Participation in the Northwest Territories’ Voluntary Sector

How to Assign a Monetary Value to Volunteer Contributions

Facilitating Experiences for Volunteers Aged 8 to 12

Business Support for Employee Volunteers in Canada

Best Practices in Volunteer Management – An Action Planning Guide for Small and Rural Non-profit Organizations

Engaging Retired Leaders as Volunteer Leaders


To view any of these resources: Ph: 477-5180, Toll-Free: 1-888-922-4545, or
E-mail: vmresource@mts.net


back to the top

TIPS & TOOLS
CVI Research: Practical Implications for Leadership and Governance

Here is a sample of the practical implications of CVI research into Leadership and Governance issues:

a. Organizations should try to ensure that their board composition reflects the community they serve in terms of diversity, skills, and experience.

b. Boards should be sensitive to the diversity of their community when recruiting new members and how they conduct themselves.

c. Boards should be honest with potential new members about the time commitment involved to ensure that all board members are willing to share the workload.

d. Organizations should explore the potential of using retired leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors as volunteer mentors and trainers for board members.

e. Training should be provided on the legal aspects of being a board member.

f. Training should be provided on the board’s role in working with funders, local government, provincial government and other stakeholders who are partners in the delivery of services to the community.

g. To maintain the effectiveness of both board meetings and board members, the board should agree on a process for monitoring and evaluating the impact of its decisions on the organization.

h. Boards should have a plan for replacing board members that will ensure continuity of board experience so that accumulated knowledge and learning about the organization and its activities is not lost when board members retire.

i. There should be processes in place that allow the board to review and change how it governs and set the values and mission for the organization.


back to the top

SPECIAL EVENTS

Funders Forum
Friday, September 14, 2007
Canad Inn Polo Park
8:30am - 1:00pm

Registration Forms now available. Click here to download the PDF file.

This year's Forum will have a special emphasis on funding for programs and services designed for older adults and seniors. We have six (6) different funding agencies speaking about their funding program with all three levels of government represented as well as a corporate funder.

Start the morning with Getty Stewart "The Proposal Writing Lady". Getty will share the fundamental principles you need to know to save time, reduce frustration and get more funding. Learn more about key decision makers and how they select winning proposals. This keynote will leave you eager to write your next proposal.

To download the registration form click here...

back to the top

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION

Recipients of the Lieutenant Governor’s Volunteer Awards (2007)

The following outstanding volunteers were this year’s recipients of the Lieutenant Governor’s Awards:

Crystal Kolt - Norman Region (Flin Flon)
Nominated by: Linda Allen, President, Flin Flon Arts Council Inc.
Since arriving in Flin Flon in 1995, Crystal Kolt has been a catalyst for change in the community and her passion for the arts and commitment as a volunteer has been responsible for the resurgence of various arts and cultural activities. Crystal reinstated the choir with 85 members. Crystal helped the Flin Flon Arts Council raise over $100,000 to finance updated sound and lighting equipment for the community and has produced musical theatre productions in the community including ‘Joesph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Titanic and Beauty and the Beast among many other cultural events. Crystal also volunteers with her church and local schools and the Community Adult Learning Centre.

Robb Hogg - Interlake Region (Clandeboye)
Nominated by: Craig Smith, Clandeboye Recreation Association

*His Honour John Harvard, P.C., O.M., is also pleased to present Robb Hogg
with the 2007 Lieutenant Governor's Vice–Regal Volunteer Award.

When the Clandeboye rink was sitting unused and decrepit, Robb Hogg sprung to action to revitalize the rink for the benefit of the community. A truly benevolent and enthusiastic community member, Robb rallied the community and other sports teams in the area together to form a committee and devise a plan to save the recreation centre from extinction. After a successful first season, the hockey rink is once again a beehive of activity with 40 children in the Can Skate program and two hockey teams with 28 children, bringing the Clandeboye residents together as a community.

Bruce Jorgenson - Parkland Region (Gilbert Plains)
Nominated by: José Randell
Bruce is acknowledged as a man who is truly dedicated to making the Gilbert Plains community a better place to live for over 30 years. For eight years he was a Scout and Cub leader, a minor ball coach and an active member of the parent council who helped prevent the closure of the local high school. In the 1980’s, concern over the closure of the local hospital forced residents to take action into their own hands and Bruce was one of the individuals who stepped up to the plate to form a volunteer ambulance service. Bruce has also worked to develop an emergency preparedness plan for Gilbert Plains and has created a local citizens on patrol program.

Muriel Gamey - Westman Region (Neepawa)
Nominated by: Heather Douglas, Chronic Disease Prevention Committee
Throughout her life, Muriel Gamey has been a true leader in the community and has channeled her passion for active living, health and fitness into the development of exceptional outdoor recreational activities for each Neepawa resident to enjoy. Without any assistance, Muriel transformed the Fulford Trail cross country ski route into a Winter Recreation Park for all ages to use and enjoy. Each winter, Muriel volunteers hundreds of hours trail clearing and grooming the various ski and snowshoeing routes. Muriel has also developed the Langford Recreational Trail – 15 miles of hiking and biking trails, clearing much of the trail of brush and overgrown grass single-handedly.

Jennifer & Zachary Antonio - Winnipeg Region (Winnipeg)
Nominated by: Sylvia Antonio
Performing on stage under the moniker of ‘The Magic of Jen & Zac’, the sister and brother duo are Canada’s youngest magical duo. Jen and Zachary started performing together in 2002 and have volunteered their time performing at countless charity events, raising thousands of dollars for many organizations. Performing at all these events at no cost, they also initiated their own fundraising event to raise funds and food donations for Winnipeg Harvest and won The Philip Hornan Scholarship of Magic in 2004, awarded to young magicians under 17 who have made a significant contribution to their community.

Kevin LeLievre - Central Region (Portage La Prarie)
Nominated by: Eltie Pearce, Coordinator Volunteer Services, Canadian Blood Services
An active member of the Knights of Columbus in Portage la Prairie for approximately 15 years, Kevin has remained very active in the club and has made a tremendous impact in nearly every one of the groups fundraising events. He has also been an active volunteer with his church for 20 years, a volunteer umpire for 15 years with the Portage Minor Baseball Association and has been a Rural Leader for seven years with Canadian Blood Services, coordinating up to 16 annual Knights of Columbus sponsored blood donor clinics, helping collect over 3,300 donations of blood for up to 10,000 patients. Kevin is an outstanding individual who freely gives his time and energy to make a difference in his community.

For more stories of the 2007 Volunteer Awards recipients...

back to the top