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| Path: Main Street : NewsWeek : Op/Ed : Audience Opinions |
The new NSGVP 2000 survey shows that 1 million fewer Canadians are volunteering now than in 1997. Do you have fewer volunteers helping at your organization? Why do you think the numbers are dropping and what can we do to improve the situation?
I have the impressions it is not so much that there are less volunteers but it is that there are more charities and volunteer tasks that need to be undertaken. Also the youth of today ( and I have one of my own ) have a sense of entitlement that seems to be a part of their culture, leaving them without understanding the needs and the rewards for volunteering.E-mail us your thoughts today at help@charityvillage.com.-- Jennifer French , Program Co-ordinator, Central Okanagan Science Opportunities for Kids Society
Quite frankly, I have problems with StatsCan's Report on Volunteering. It appears to include details only from the incorporated sector -- that maintain and provide a record of volunteer hours.Based on my own 50+ years as a volunteer, I am well aware that many of the organizations with which I have been involved do not require volunteers to report hours. And, there are too many others that do not count Directors and/or committee members as volunteers. Nor does the StatsCan Report include the plethora of grassroots groups which in many instances are the mainstay in small communities.
In light of this, I cannot help but wonder if the ongoing year round average 25 hours/week that I -- and many others -- continue to give to my community has made even the smallest impression on the data banks in Ottawa.
-- Jean A.R. Burkholder, Peterborough ON
I recently went through the process of seeking a volunteer opportunity that would allow me to do proposal writing. Volunteer Ottawa matched we with four organisations seeking proposal writers. I called all four of the organisations. Three said they would have the right person get back to me. It's been four weeks and still no call backs or e-mails. As for the fourth organisation, what they said they were looking did not accurately reflect the reality. Capacity is an issue, but if organisations seek volunteers they need to ensure they have processes to follow-up.I did make the effort and contacted another organisation and all is well, but a very deflating experience.
-- Ottawa, ON
I am an active volunteer with the Halifax Metro Branch SPCA (Shelter) for the orphaned animals in our region. I believe that we have fewer volunteers due to the fact that there are so many things of interest in the City. We have movie theatres, outdoor events, bars and pool clubs, games rooms, restaurants, computer games and the internet!Our parents each work at a job and have little time for family aside from assisting a charity. A city's population seem to have more people to gather with and fun things to do, whereas a rural community has a better sense of "community". I sure hope volunteers don't become obsolete as the "typewriter" has. :)
-- Joyce Nifort, Production/Traffic Manager, McArthur Thompson & Law
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