Volunteers meet to Build Better Communities

About 200 volunteers from across western Newfoundland will meet in Corner Brook next weekend to network, learn new skills and celebrate the good work they do for their communities in the region's first ever conference for volunteers.

Building Better Communities, a regional volunteer conference set for August 25-26 at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, is organized by the Cormack-Grenfell Regional Steering Committee of the Strategic Social Plan. The event brings together people from community organizations throughout the western region, from St. Anthony to Port aux Basques to Francois.

They come from diverse volunteer experiences and represent zone boards, school boards, youth groups, health boards, community canvassers, development associations, municipal councils, family resource centres and more.

"The Strategic Social Plan is all about building better communities, and our volunteers play such an important role in this," said Gerald Smith, Minister of Human Resources and Employment, and lead minister on the Strategic Social Plan. "Bringing them together like this gives us a chance to recognize their hard work and dedication. We need to support our volunteers so they can more actively participate in the development of their communities."

Volunteers in Newfoundland and Labrador contribute nearly 80 million hours a year in formal and informal volunteer work that is valued at $1.1 billion a year. 

The two-day conference is funded through the Strategic Social Plan, the Canada-Newfoundland Labour Market Development Agreement, the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, the College of the North Atlantic and the Humber Economic Development Corporation. It is a fully subsidized event and offers assistance with travel and childcare, so that people from across the region can attend.

"We want to celebrate the contribution that our volunteers make to the well-being of our communities during the International Year of Volunteers," said June Alteen, chair of the Cormack-Grenfell Steering Committee. "We're also hoping that this conference will help us create a network among volunteer organizations in the region, learn new skills and work together with the common goal of making our region stronger."

Workshop sessions are designed to build practical skills and include everything from strategic planning and fund raising to building computer skills, to recruiting and retaining volunteers.

"Our volunteers give their time and energy, but they don't always receive professional development opportunities," said Ms. Alteen. "We want people to leave the conference not only feeling re-energized, but also that they have acquired skills relevant to their community work."

To register for the conference call (709) 639-3344 for more information.

Media contact: Marcia Porter, SSP Communications, (709) 729-0175.

2001 08 17                                                  11:30 a.m.