One of the most important things we can do for volunteers is to say 'thank you'. Taking the time to celebrate the work that volunteers do for our community shows genuine appreciation of their contributions to our community, to our non-profit organizations, and to our quality of life.
We - individuals, organizations, and communities - must ensure that we continually affirm volunteers.
To support community volunteer recognition in the Yukon, Volunteer Yukon hosts celebration events during National Volunteer Week, International Volunteer Day, and Global Youth Service Days. (We encourage all non-profit groups in the Yukon to participate in these organized events as an opportunity to say thank you to their own volunteers.)
We can also nominate oustanding volunteers for formal service awards, such as:
Informally, there are as many ways to say thank you as there are individuals who volunteer. For some great ideas to get you started, check out Volunteer Canada's recognition ideas section: http://volunteer.ca/en/volcan/vol-management/hints.
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NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK
National Volunteer Week is a special time set aside in April each year to honour and recognize Canadians who donate their time and energy to their communities.
In 2010, National Volunteer Week will be celebrated from April 18-24.
(Please note we still have posters, paper gift bags, and seed packets available to be given away for groups that would like to use them as part of their volunteer celebration events.)
History of National Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week began in 1943 as a volunteer recruitment effort to enlist women for wartime voluntary service. The concept of a week devoted to volunteers was revived during the late 1960s. Now, each year more than 80,000 registered charities and 100,000 non-profit organizations across Canada pause to thank and recognize their volunteers.
For more information and ideas on National Volunteer Week, check out Volunteer Canada's website at http://www.volunteer.ca/
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INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK: Be a Northern Light!
The United Nations has designated December 5 as a day to acknowledge volunteers who contribute to a better world. Be a 'northern light' by thanking someone who brightens your life.
or. . .
Join volunteers across the world by making the choice to help your community. Because volunteering is about giving time, what better way to celebrate the holiday season than by bringing a little light into someone else's life?
Five simple things you can do to brighten someone's life:
- Surprise someone by bringing him or her a coffee.
- Offer to baby-sit for an evening, free of charge.
- Deliver hot cocoa to the mail carrier, by-law officer, or crossing guard.
- Create a basket full of mittens, socks, hats, scarves, etc., and deliver to a shelter.
- Visit with someone who can't be with family or friends this holiday season.
Don't just look at the northern lights. Celebrate International Volunteer Day on December 5 and be a northern light. Helping out is a strong northern tradition. So why not light up your community by sharing your time and energy. Or, thank someone who has brightened up your life and let them know their contribution matters.
For more information and ideas on International Volunteer Day, check out Volunteer Canada's website at http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/int-l-volunteer-day.html
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GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY
Global Youth Service Days (April 23-25, 2010) is an international celebration of youth volunteerism. It's a time when youth across the world link up to do good things for great causes.
There are many opportunities for Yukon youth to get involved - check out http://volunteer.ca/en/gysd to find out how.