Volunteers, stand up and be counted.
This is the message Volunteer Alberta is sending with its latest campaign that coincides with National Volunteer Week, which runs from Sunday to April 24.
Volunteers Count! is a new initiative that will track the actual rate of volunteerism across the province during the week that pays tribute and thanks to all volunteers.
“Stand up, be counted, tell your story and share why the rest of Alberta benefits from your volunteerism,” said Karen Lynch, executive director of Volunteer Alberta.
“There is not one single Albertan who isn’t touched by a volunteer on any given day.”
The campaign encourages volunteers to go online and log the hours they commit to community services between April 18 and 24, as well as share any stories they experienced during this time frame.
Incentives for doing so include a draw for $500 and $250 to contribute to any Albertan non-profit as well as a draw for a chance to attend Vitalize 2010, an annual conference for the provincial voluntary sector being held in Edmonton from June 10 to 12.
Lynch anticipates the campaign will provide a “snapshot” of the different ways 1.2 million Albertans are contributing over 214 million volunteer hours every year.
Volunteer Alberta will then be able to provide this information to communities in an effort to aid local organizations that face a changing volunteer landscape.
“We need to understand how nonprofits can adapt their needs to engage 21st century volunteers,” Lynch said. “We need to know how to engage them in the ways they want to be engaged.”
An understanding as to why and how people are getting involved will help the 27 volunteer centres across the province guide local organizations on how to best attract volunteers, she said.
Lynch said volunteers — including youth, underemployed, unemployed, immigrants and retirees — have their own reasons for getting involved in the community through social services, environment, sports, culture, faith, community associations and various other sectors.
“Volunteers Count! will really help get that snapshot,” said Dawna Morey, chief executive officer of CiRS, of which Volunteer Red Deer is a division.”
Volunteer Red Deer is hosting a dessert gala at the Capri Centre on Monday to thank the anticipated 500 volunteers in attendance for their contributions. Morey said the organization will largely promote Volunteers Count! at this event in an effort to persuade local contributors to stand up and be counted.
Morey also hopes the provincewide initiative will help address the common misconception that volunteerism is a free service.
“There is no dollar sign large enough so that you can get a feel for volunteer contributions,” she said.
Volunteers Count! can be accessed from www.volunteeralberta.com
If the initiative is successful, Lynch said Volunteer Alberta will likely run the program again next year during National Volunteer Week.
ptrotter@www.reddeeradvocate.com