imagine if everyone you knew was a better version of themselves
better version of themselves
better version of themselves what would Branford be like if everyone
what would Branford be like if everyone
what would Branford be like if everyone was happier more understanding more
was happier more understanding more
was happier more understanding more caring everyone was more interested and
caring everyone was more interested and
caring everyone was more interested and active in helping each other how great
active in helping each other how great
active in helping each other how great would that be and what if that expanded
would that be and what if that expanded
would that be and what if that expanded to the rest of the country or even the
to the rest of the country or even the
to the rest of the country or even the rest of the world I believe it’s
rest of the world I believe it’s
rest of the world I believe it’s possible and I contend the way to get
possible and I contend the way to get
possible and I contend the way to get there is through volunteering I want to
there is through volunteering I want to
there is through volunteering I want to share with you a strategy that we can
share with you a strategy that we can
share with you a strategy that we can start today that will help expose the
start today that will help expose the
start today that will help expose the full power of volunteering and help get
full power of volunteering and help get
full power of volunteering and help get us to that better world
us to that better world
us to that better world but first let’s define volunteering the
but first let’s define volunteering the
but first let’s define volunteering the dictionary defines volunteering as doing
dictionary defines volunteering as doing
dictionary defines volunteering as doing work without being forced or paid and
work without being forced or paid and
work without being forced or paid and given that definition I do a lot of
given that definition I do a lot of
given that definition I do a lot of volunteering between boards and
volunteering between boards and
volunteering between boards and committees and hands on work I’m doing
committees and hands on work I’m doing
committees and hands on work I’m doing some kind of volunteering at least once
some kind of volunteering at least once
some kind of volunteering at least once a week I’ve been in a position to see
a week I’ve been in a position to see
a week I’ve been in a position to see the possibilities and the challenges
the possibilities and the challenges
the possibilities and the challenges that come with volunteering the
that come with volunteering the
that come with volunteering the possibilities really inspire me most of
possibilities really inspire me most of
possibilities really inspire me most of my volunteer work involves working with
my volunteer work involves working with
my volunteer work involves working with children and to see what they can
children and to see what they can
children and to see what they can accomplish when they’re given the
accomplish when they’re given the
accomplish when they’re given the opportunities and the help they need is
opportunities and the help they need is
opportunities and the help they need is amazing on the flip side the challenge
amazing on the flip side the challenge
amazing on the flip side the challenge has really frustrated me almost every
has really frustrated me almost every
has really frustrated me almost every organization I talked to has problems
organization I talked to has problems
organization I talked to has problems either recruiting volunteers keeping
either recruiting volunteers keeping
either recruiting volunteers keeping volunteers or both so I decided I would
volunteers or both so I decided I would
volunteers or both so I decided I would do something different I was gonna start
do something different I was gonna start
do something different I was gonna start volley to create better tools for
volley to create better tools for
volley to create better tools for volunteering but when I looked beyond
volunteering but when I looked beyond
volunteering but when I looked beyond the problems I realized what I had to do
the problems I realized what I had to do
the problems I realized what I had to do was evolve for that solution
was evolve for that solution
was evolve for that solution I had to design a new ecosystem for
I had to design a new ecosystem for
I had to design a new ecosystem for volunteering to make it simpler more
volunteering to make it simpler more
volunteering to make it simpler more meaningful and more fun the idea being
meaningful and more fun the idea being
meaningful and more fun the idea being that if I can make volunteering more
that if I can make volunteering more
that if I can make volunteering more attractive the more people will do it
attractive the more people will do it
attractive the more people will do it and if more people do it then that can
and if more people do it then that can
and if more people do it then that can help change the world
help change the world
help change the world I see volunteers help at the community
I see volunteers help at the community
I see volunteers help at the community organize
organize
organize nations that help people in need to
nations that help people in need to
nations that help people in need to provide opportunities in education and
provide opportunities in education and
provide opportunities in education and sports and the arts they generally try
sports and the arts they generally try
sports and the arts they generally try to make a stronger community and many of
to make a stronger community and many of
to make a stronger community and many of these organizations rely very heavily on
these organizations rely very heavily on
these organizations rely very heavily on their volunteers now in Canada what I
their volunteers now in Canada what I
their volunteers now in Canada what I doing too badly staffs Canada does a
doing too badly staffs Canada does a
doing too badly staffs Canada does a survey on volunteering that was last
survey on volunteering that was last
survey on volunteering that was last published in 2013
published in 2013
published in 2013 at that time 44% of Canadians
at that time 44% of Canadians
at that time 44% of Canadians volunteered well that’s pretty good
volunteered well that’s pretty good
volunteered well that’s pretty good until you look at the historical numbers
until you look at the historical numbers
until you look at the historical numbers that’s actually three percent lower than
that’s actually three percent lower than
that’s actually three percent lower than 2010 and the lowest it’s been in ten
2010 and the lowest it’s been in ten
2010 and the lowest it’s been in ten years
years
years but that’s a percentage that can be
but that’s a percentage that can be
but that’s a percentage that can be misleading the population of Canada is
misleading the population of Canada is
misleading the population of Canada is always growing so what’s really
always growing so what’s really
always growing so what’s really important is the number of volunteers so
important is the number of volunteers so
important is the number of volunteers so we look at the total number of
we look at the total number of
we look at the total number of volunteers and that’s also gone down but
volunteers and that’s also gone down but
volunteers and that’s also gone down but it’s not really the number of people
it’s not really the number of people
it’s not really the number of people it’s the time they put in how much time
it’s the time they put in how much time
it’s the time they put in how much time are they volunteering so we looked at
are they volunteering so we looked at
are they volunteering so we looked at total number of hours of volunteers
total number of hours of volunteers
total number of hours of volunteers that’s also at its lowest level in 10
that’s also at its lowest level in 10
that’s also at its lowest level in 10 years and the average number of hours
years and the average number of hours
years and the average number of hours per volunteer has actually been
per volunteer has actually been
per volunteer has actually been declining for a decade further the way
declining for a decade further the way
declining for a decade further the way people volunteer has changed
people volunteer has changed
people volunteer has changed traditionally people would choose one or
traditionally people would choose one or
traditionally people would choose one or two organizations that they’re
two organizations that they’re
two organizations that they’re passionate about and volunteer for 3 or
passionate about and volunteer for 3 or
passionate about and volunteer for 3 or 5 or 10 years that makes it really easy
5 or 10 years that makes it really easy
5 or 10 years that makes it really easy for the volunteer managers to plan
for the volunteer managers to plan
for the volunteer managers to plan activities and events knowing they have
activities and events knowing they have
activities and events knowing they have a dedicated pool of trained volunteers
a dedicated pool of trained volunteers
a dedicated pool of trained volunteers today more people are volunteering at
today more people are volunteering at
today more people are volunteering at several organizations and a third of
several organizations and a third of
several organizations and a third of volunteers only volunteer less than five
volunteers only volunteer less than five
volunteers only volunteer less than five times per year not only is that more
times per year not only is that more
times per year not only is that more difficult for the volunteer manager to
difficult for the volunteer manager to
difficult for the volunteer manager to plan activities but it also makes it
plan activities but it also makes it
plan activities but it also makes it more difficult for the volunteer to find
more difficult for the volunteer to find
more difficult for the volunteer to find something they’re passionate about if
something they’re passionate about if
something they’re passionate about if they only get out there two or three
they only get out there two or three
they only get out there two or three times a year so now we have a situation
times a year so now we have a situation
times a year so now we have a situation where we have fewer volunteers
where we have fewer volunteers
where we have fewer volunteers volunteering for fewer hours and less
volunteering for fewer hours and less
volunteering for fewer hours and less frequently than they used to
frequently than they used to
frequently than they used to well that sucks I mean that’s the
well that sucks I mean that’s the
well that sucks I mean that’s the opposite of what we want to do if we
opposite of what we want to do if we
opposite of what we want to do if we want to build a stronger community let
want to build a stronger community let
want to build a stronger community let alone change the world so what can we do
alone change the world so what can we do
alone change the world so what can we do to change that if we want to reverse
to change that if we want to reverse
to change that if we want to reverse that trend we have to look at why people
that trend we have to look at why people
that trend we have to look at why people volunteer in the first place
volunteer in the first place
volunteer in the first place 93% of volunteers volunteer because they
93% of volunteers volunteer because they
93% of volunteers volunteer because they want to make a contribution to the
want to make a contribution to the
want to make a contribution to the community that’s exactly what I’m saying
community that’s exactly what I’m saying
community that’s exactly what I’m saying we want to do build a stronger community
we want to do build a stronger community
we want to do build a stronger community and the other 7% they just want the free
and the other 7% they just want the free
and the other 7% they just want the free t-shirt some people volunteer because
t-shirt some people volunteer because
t-shirt some people volunteer because they’re personally affected by an
they’re personally affected by an
they’re personally affected by an organization say they’ve got a family
organization say they’ve got a family
organization say they’ve got a family member with special needs or they know
member with special needs or they know
member with special needs or they know someone who’s living with the disease
someone who’s living with the disease
someone who’s living with the disease it could be someone coaching their son
it could be someone coaching their son
it could be someone coaching their son or daughter’s hockey team or helping out
or daughter’s hockey team or helping out
or daughter’s hockey team or helping out of their child’s school every parent can
of their child’s school every parent can
of their child’s school every parent can identify with that and that’s actually
identify with that and that’s actually
identify with that and that’s actually how I became more active in volunteering
how I became more active in volunteering
how I became more active in volunteering when my kids started school I joined the
when my kids started school I joined the
when my kids started school I joined the board I joined some committees and
board I joined some committees and
board I joined some committees and because I’m a tech guy they asked me to
because I’m a tech guy they asked me to
because I’m a tech guy they asked me to help develop their IT curriculum they
help develop their IT curriculum they
help develop their IT curriculum they asked me to mentor their LEGO League
asked me to mentor their LEGO League
asked me to mentor their LEGO League team and I helped develop tools and
team and I helped develop tools and
team and I helped develop tools and their intranet for the staff which
their intranet for the staff which
their intranet for the staff which brings us to the next reason people
brings us to the next reason people
brings us to the next reason people volunteer people want to use their
volunteer people want to use their
volunteer people want to use their skills outside of work they want to
skills outside of work they want to
skills outside of work they want to develop new skills they want to explore
develop new skills they want to explore
develop new skills they want to explore their strengths and challenge themselves
their strengths and challenge themselves
their strengths and challenge themselves they’re working on their personal and
they’re working on their personal and
they’re working on their personal and professional development outside of work
professional development outside of work
professional development outside of work while also giving back and a lot of
while also giving back and a lot of
while also giving back and a lot of people volunteer because their friends
people volunteer because their friends
people volunteer because their friends and their family volunteer or to meet
and their family volunteer or to meet
and their family volunteer or to meet new people right they’re going out with
new people right they’re going out with
new people right they’re going out with friends family meeting new people and
friends family meeting new people and
friends family meeting new people and having fun it’s part of the social
having fun it’s part of the social
having fun it’s part of the social aspect of volunteering
aspect of volunteering
aspect of volunteering I myself have several close friends that
I myself have several close friends that
I myself have several close friends that I wouldn’t have met if not for
I wouldn’t have met if not for
I wouldn’t have met if not for volunteering so remember that definition
volunteering so remember that definition
volunteering so remember that definition of volunteering doing work without being
of volunteering doing work without being
of volunteering doing work without being forced or paid it says nothing in there
forced or paid it says nothing in there
forced or paid it says nothing in there about no rewards if you’re volunteering
about no rewards if you’re volunteering
about no rewards if you’re volunteering for an organization that supports you
for an organization that supports you
for an organization that supports you and your family you’re actually helping
and your family you’re actually helping
and your family you’re actually helping them help you and in some cases those
them help you and in some cases those
them help you and in some cases those opportunities wouldn’t even exist if you
opportunities wouldn’t even exist if you
opportunities wouldn’t even exist if you didn’t volunteer one of my kids started
didn’t volunteer one of my kids started
didn’t volunteer one of my kids started playing soccer my wife and a friend of
playing soccer my wife and a friend of
playing soccer my wife and a friend of ours were the coaches not because of any
ours were the coaches not because of any
ours were the coaches not because of any great knowledge of soccer but because no
great knowledge of soccer but because no
great knowledge of soccer but because no one else would do it and if we didn’t
one else would do it and if we didn’t
one else would do it and if we didn’t have a coach there couldn’t have been a
have a coach there couldn’t have been a
have a coach there couldn’t have been a team
team
team it’s not only our children were affected
it’s not only our children were affected
it’s not only our children were affected but the entire team would have been done
but the entire team would have been done
but the entire team would have been done now granted we’re coaching
now granted we’re coaching
now granted we’re coaching four-year-olds in soccer which is more
four-year-olds in soccer which is more
four-year-olds in soccer which is more like herding cats than coaching soccer
like herding cats than coaching soccer
like herding cats than coaching soccer and our friend is a Montessori teacher
and our friend is a Montessori teacher
and our friend is a Montessori teacher so she has some experience with herding
so she has some experience with herding
so she has some experience with herding cats
cats
cats okay and when you’re using your skills
okay and when you’re using your skills
okay and when you’re using your skills they’re becoming more confident in your
they’re becoming more confident in your
they’re becoming more confident in your skills you were expanding your knowledge
skills you were expanding your knowledge
skills you were expanding your knowledge and if you want to learn something new a
and if you want to learn something new a
and if you want to learn something new a volunteer organization is a very good
volunteer organization is a very good
volunteer organization is a very good place to start because they’re very
place to start because they’re very
place to start because they’re very welcoming and accepting they want your
welcoming and accepting they want your
welcoming and accepting they want your help so they will help you help them
help so they will help you help them
help so they will help you help them when I started on the board I didn’t
when I started on the board I didn’t
when I started on the board I didn’t know what I can add as a tech guy and
know what I can add as a tech guy and
know what I can add as a tech guy and specifically as a software developer
specifically as a software developer
specifically as a software developer there isn’t a lot of software being
there isn’t a lot of software being
there isn’t a lot of software being written in these meetings actually there
written in these meetings actually there
written in these meetings actually there is no software being written in these
is no software being written in these
is no software being written in these meetings but I can apply my analytical
meetings but I can apply my analytical
meetings but I can apply my analytical and problem-solving skills in a new
and problem-solving skills in a new
and problem-solving skills in a new context outside of my usual domain I can
context outside of my usual domain I can
context outside of my usual domain I can also learn more about financials and
also learn more about financials and
also learn more about financials and budgets I learned more about strategic
budgets I learned more about strategic
budgets I learned more about strategic planning and risk management I now use
planning and risk management I now use
planning and risk management I now use that all the time as I run cosmic
that all the time as I run cosmic
that all the time as I run cosmic communications and as I build volley
communications and as I build volley
communications and as I build volley even my son is 11 years old right now
even my son is 11 years old right now
even my son is 11 years old right now four years ago he decided he wanted to
four years ago he decided he wanted to
four years ago he decided he wanted to start helping build the set in the stage
start helping build the set in the stage
start helping build the set in the stage for the school play
for the school play
for the school play it gives him an opportunity to use buy
it gives him an opportunity to use buy
it gives him an opportunity to use buy tools because I don’t have any
tools because I don’t have any
tools because I don’t have any construction projects at home plus it’s
construction projects at home plus it’s
construction projects at home plus it’s an opportunity for us to spend some time
an opportunity for us to spend some time
an opportunity for us to spend some time together and that’s the next part the
together and that’s the next part the
together and that’s the next part the social aspect of volunteering you’re
social aspect of volunteering you’re
social aspect of volunteering you’re going out and working on your
going out and working on your
going out and working on your relationships you’re working on your
relationships you’re working on your
relationships you’re working on your real life social network but not only
real life social network but not only
real life social network but not only that you’re actually improving your
that you’re actually improving your
that you’re actually improving your physical and mental well-being studies
physical and mental well-being studies
physical and mental well-being studies have shown that socializing can help
have shown that socializing can help
have shown that socializing can help relieve loneliness ward off depression
relieve loneliness ward off depression
relieve loneliness ward off depression strengthen your immune system it can
strengthen your immune system it can
strengthen your immune system it can help you live longer reduce the risk of
help you live longer reduce the risk of
help you live longer reduce the risk of dementia and those Ivor’s in one study
dementia and those Ivor’s in one study
dementia and those Ivor’s in one study in the u.s. found that people who
in the u.s. found that people who
in the u.s. found that people who volunteered 100 hours of more were
volunteered 100 hours of more were
volunteered 100 hours of more were healthier overall versus people that did
healthier overall versus people that did
healthier overall versus people that did no volunteering and when you go out with
no volunteering and when you go out with
no volunteering and when you go out with new people you’re meeting new people you
new people you’re meeting new people you
new people you’re meeting new people you can become more understanding and caring
can become more understanding and caring
can become more understanding and caring because when you go out together to
because when you go out together to
because when you go out together to volunteer
volunteer
volunteer you’ve all got the same purpose you want
you’ve all got the same purpose you want
you’ve all got the same purpose you want to help people and nothing else matters
to help people and nothing else matters
to help people and nothing else matters not religion not politics but gender by
not religion not politics but gender by
not religion not politics but gender by gender identity not ethnicity and not
gender identity not ethnicity and not
gender identity not ethnicity and not sexual orientation anything that can be
sexual orientation anything that can be
sexual orientation anything that can be used to divide us it doesn’t matter
used to divide us it doesn’t matter
used to divide us it doesn’t matter because we’re all there to help people
because we’re all there to help people
because we’re all there to help people and as you work together you get to know
and as you work together you get to know
and as you work together you get to know them and that’s the first step to
them and that’s the first step to
them and that’s the first step to getting to understand and accept them
getting to understand and accept them
getting to understand and accept them and if you can understand accept them
and if you can understand accept them
and if you can understand accept them that makes you more understanding and
that makes you more understanding and
that makes you more understanding and accepting of others as well and that 93
accepting of others as well and that 93
accepting of others as well and that 93 percent that want to make a contribution
percent that want to make a contribution
percent that want to make a contribution to the community but by the way will
to the community but by the way will
to the community but by the way will happily accept that t-shirt they’re not
happily accept that t-shirt they’re not
happily accept that t-shirt they’re not only making contribution to the
only making contribution to the
only making contribution to the community but they’re trying to bring
community but they’re trying to bring
community but they’re trying to bring out a better version of themselves by
out a better version of themselves by
out a better version of themselves by helping others even just trying to help
helping others even just trying to help
helping others even just trying to help others is itself a noble activity and
others is itself a noble activity and
others is itself a noble activity and when you go out and you do it you feel a
when you go out and you do it you feel a
when you go out and you do it you feel a sense of accomplishment you can feel
sense of accomplishment you can feel
sense of accomplishment you can feel proud of the work you’ve done and you
proud of the work you’ve done and you
proud of the work you’ve done and you should that helps boost your self-esteem
should that helps boost your self-esteem
should that helps boost your self-esteem you’re bringing out a better version of
you’re bringing out a better version of
you’re bringing out a better version of yourself
yourself
yourself or more accurately you’re bringing out
or more accurately you’re bringing out
or more accurately you’re bringing out the best part of yourself better version
the best part of yourself better version
the best part of yourself better version implies that you’re changing but you’re
implies that you’re changing but you’re
implies that you’re changing but you’re not you already have it in you you’re
not you already have it in you you’re
not you already have it in you you’re just bringing out that best part of
just bringing out that best part of
just bringing out that best part of yourself I’ll call that your best self
yourself I’ll call that your best self
yourself I’ll call that your best self so those are some very personal and
so those are some very personal and
so those are some very personal and life-changing awards that aren’t
life-changing awards that aren’t
life-changing awards that aren’t mentioned in that definition of
mentioned in that definition of
mentioned in that definition of volunteering
volunteering
volunteering doing work without being forced or paid
doing work without being forced or paid
doing work without being forced or paid so let’s change it for our purposes
so let’s change it for our purposes
so let’s change it for our purposes let’s say that volunteering is
volunteering is working to build a
volunteering is working to build a stronger community while having fun
stronger community while having fun
stronger community while having fun staying healthy and bringing out your
staying healthy and bringing out your
staying healthy and bringing out your best self while not being forced to be
best self while not being forced to be
best self while not being forced to be paid that’s a much more attractive
paid that’s a much more attractive
paid that’s a much more attractive definition that also shows that the full
definition that also shows that the full
definition that also shows that the full power of volunteering isn’t just in
power of volunteering isn’t just in
power of volunteering isn’t just in helping others isn’t just in building a
helping others isn’t just in building a
helping others isn’t just in building a stronger community but it actually helps
stronger community but it actually helps
stronger community but it actually helps you bring out your best self
you bring out your best self
you bring out your best self that helps make you a better person so
that helps make you a better person so
that helps make you a better person so redefining a word isn’t enough it’s not
redefining a word isn’t enough it’s not
redefining a word isn’t enough it’s not enough to convince someone to volunteer
enough to convince someone to volunteer
enough to convince someone to volunteer let alone change the world so what’s the
let alone change the world so what’s the
let alone change the world so what’s the big innovative strategy that we can do
big innovative strategy that we can do
big innovative strategy that we can do to help expose the full power of
to help expose the full power of
to help expose the full power of volunteering and change the world
talk about volunteering
talk about volunteering simple right except it isn’t
simple right except it isn’t
simple right except it isn’t for some reason were brought up with
for some reason were brought up with
for some reason were brought up with this notion that you don’t talk about
this notion that you don’t talk about
this notion that you don’t talk about volunteering it’s just not something you
volunteering it’s just not something you
volunteering it’s just not something you do it’s pervasive enough that I’ve heard
do it’s pervasive enough that I’ve heard
do it’s pervasive enough that I’ve heard it from other people you don’t talk
it from other people you don’t talk
it from other people you don’t talk about volunteering no one needs to know
about volunteering no one needs to know
about volunteering no one needs to know about it so I went looking for that rule
about it so I went looking for that rule
about it so I went looking for that rule I took board manuals I checked policies
I took board manuals I checked policies
I took board manuals I checked policies and procedures I looked online I
and procedures I looked online I
and procedures I looked online I couldn’t find any evidence and then it
couldn’t find any evidence and then it
couldn’t find any evidence and then it occurred to me that there’s a simple
occurred to me that there’s a simple
occurred to me that there’s a simple reason for that it’s a stupid rule I
reason for that it’s a stupid rule I
reason for that it’s a stupid rule I mean generally you’re volunteering for
mean generally you’re volunteering for
mean generally you’re volunteering for something that you’re passionate about
something that you’re passionate about
something that you’re passionate about so why not add it to the conversation
so why not add it to the conversation
so why not add it to the conversation add it to your introduction add it to
add it to your introduction add it to
add it to your introduction add it to the questions when you’re talking to new
the questions when you’re talking to new
the questions when you’re talking to new people what’s your major where do you
people what’s your major where do you
people what’s your major where do you work
work
work are you married they have any kids do
are you married they have any kids do
are you married they have any kids do you have any pets and before you get to
you have any pets and before you get to
you have any pets and before you get to their medical history
their medical history
their medical history why not ask do you do any volunteering
why not ask do you do any volunteering
why not ask do you do any volunteering and if they get to you first and say
and if they get to you first and say
and if they get to you first and say what do you do have volunteering to your
what do you do have volunteering to your
what do you do have volunteering to your introduction oh I run a small phone
introduction oh I run a small phone
introduction oh I run a small phone company and I volunteer at Lansdowne
company and I volunteer at Lansdowne
company and I volunteer at Lansdowne Children’s Center easy make volunteering
Children’s Center easy make volunteering
Children’s Center easy make volunteering a part of your identity
a part of your identity
a part of your identity make volunteering not just something you
make volunteering not just something you
make volunteering not just something you do but a part of who you are
do but a part of who you are
do but a part of who you are talk about volunteering until it becomes
talk about volunteering until it becomes
talk about volunteering until it becomes a habit when it becomes a habit then you
a habit when it becomes a habit then you
a habit when it becomes a habit then you normalize being your best self and when
normalize being your best self and when
normalize being your best self and when you normalize being your best self then
you normalize being your best self then
you normalize being your best self then you’re always your best self
you’re always your best self
you’re always your best self it’s like talking about volunteering
it’s like talking about volunteering
it’s like talking about volunteering inspires you yourself to be your best
inspires you yourself to be your best
inspires you yourself to be your best self and if you’re always your best self
self and if you’re always your best self
self and if you’re always your best self then it becomes infectious and you can
then it becomes infectious and you can
then it becomes infectious and you can inspire other people to be their best
inspire other people to be their best
inspire other people to be their best selves even just a little bit and from
selves even just a little bit and from
selves even just a little bit and from the next person a little bit more and
the next person a little bit more and
the next person a little bit more and the next person a little bit more until
the next person a little bit more until
the next person a little bit more until it’s like we’re all inspiring each other
it’s like we’re all inspiring each other
it’s like we’re all inspiring each other to be our best selves so when you talk
to be our best selves so when you talk
to be our best selves so when you talk to someone who already volunteers ask
to someone who already volunteers ask
to someone who already volunteers ask them about their volunteer experience
them about their volunteer experience
them about their volunteer experience share your stories help them tap into
share your stories help them tap into
share your stories help them tap into their best self and when you talk to
their best self and when you talk to
their best self and when you talk to someone who doesn’t volunteer they may
someone who doesn’t volunteer they may
someone who doesn’t volunteer they may be inspired to start in fact or the
be inspired to start in fact or the
be inspired to start in fact or the people who are the people who don’t
people who are the people who don’t
people who are the people who don’t volunteer a quarter of them oops
volunteer a quarter of them oops
volunteer a quarter of them oops a quarter of them just don’t know what
a quarter of them just don’t know what
a quarter of them just don’t know what to do and half of them haven’t
to do and half of them haven’t
to do and half of them haven’t volunteered because no one asks them so
volunteered because no one asks them so
volunteered because no one asks them so let’s help are you interested in
let’s help are you interested in
let’s help are you interested in volunteering you are great you know
volunteering you are great you know
volunteering you are great you know we’ve got some events coming up at
we’ve got some events coming up at
we’ve got some events coming up at Lansdowne that we could use some help
Lansdowne that we could use some help
Lansdowne that we could use some help with if that’s not your thing what are
with if that’s not your thing what are
with if that’s not your thing what are you interested in you’re not sure oh
you interested in you’re not sure oh
you interested in you’re not sure oh I’ve got some friends that can help as
I’ve got some friends that can help as
I’ve got some friends that can help as well my friend Trevor he works with the
well my friend Trevor he works with the
well my friend Trevor he works with the homeless Terry volunteers with the soup
homeless Terry volunteers with the soup
homeless Terry volunteers with the soup kitchen Kenneth Kiwanis Kristen and Reed
kitchen Kenneth Kiwanis Kristen and Reed
kitchen Kenneth Kiwanis Kristen and Reed Murray with rotary Avery with the United
Murray with rotary Avery with the United
Murray with rotary Avery with the United Way Tania with the SPCA Priscilla and
Way Tania with the SPCA Priscilla and
Way Tania with the SPCA Priscilla and Chris with the five-o first and Dave
Chris with the five-o first and Dave
Chris with the five-o first and Dave over there he’s promoting kindness in
over there he’s promoting kindness in
over there he’s promoting kindness in the city I know this because we all talk
the city I know this because we all talk
the city I know this because we all talk about volunteering and so if everybody
about volunteering and so if everybody
about volunteering and so if everybody talked about volunteering and we put
talked about volunteering and we put
talked about volunteering and we put these opportunities out there and we get
these opportunities out there and we get
these opportunities out there and we get these people who just don’t know what to
these people who just don’t know what to
these people who just don’t know what to do or haven’t been asked now we can move
do or haven’t been asked now we can move
do or haven’t been asked now we can move the popular volunteer rate up from forty
the popular volunteer rate up from forty
the popular volunteer rate up from forty four percent to 70 percent and now we’ve
four percent to 70 percent and now we’ve
four percent to 70 percent and now we’ve got a majority of the population working
got a majority of the population working
got a majority of the population working to build a
to build a
to build a stronger community working on becoming
stronger community working on becoming
stronger community working on becoming happier more understanding more caring
happier more understanding more caring
happier more understanding more caring becoming their best selves and we’re
becoming their best selves and we’re
becoming their best selves and we’re going to tell these new people to talk
going to tell these new people to talk
going to tell these new people to talk about volunteering and they’re going to
about volunteering and they’re going to
about volunteering and they’re going to maintain their best selves State and
maintain their best selves State and
maintain their best selves State and they’re going to inspire other people to
they’re going to inspire other people to
they’re going to inspire other people to do the same and so on and so on until we
do the same and so on and so on until we
do the same and so on and so on until we reach critical mass of community
reach critical mass of community
reach critical mass of community happiness community understanding
happiness community understanding
happiness community understanding community caring community strength and
community caring community strength and
community caring community strength and if we can do that here our neighbors
if we can do that here our neighbors
if we can do that here our neighbors will see that and they’ll be inspired
will see that and they’ll be inspired
will see that and they’ll be inspired and then their neighbors will be
and then their neighbors will be
and then their neighbors will be inspired and we’re going to start this
inspired and we’re going to start this
inspired and we’re going to start this chain reaction of community after
chain reaction of community after
chain reaction of community after community normalizing being their best
community normalizing being their best
community normalizing being their best self and if everyone normalizes being
self and if everyone normalizes being
self and if everyone normalizes being their best self and they’re always their
their best self and they’re always their
their best self and they’re always their best self then we can reach that better
best self then we can reach that better
best self then we can reach that better world but back to today our theme is one
world but back to today our theme is one
world but back to today our theme is one drop thousands of ripples I’m gonna ask
drop thousands of ripples I’m gonna ask
drop thousands of ripples I’m gonna ask each of you to add your drop talk about
each of you to add your drop talk about
each of you to add your drop talk about volunteering next time you meet someone
volunteering next time you meet someone
volunteering next time you meet someone add it to their introduc how did to your
add it to their introduc how did to your
add it to their introduc how did to your introduction if you’re talking with
introduction if you’re talking with
introduction if you’re talking with friends and family discuss each other’s
friends and family discuss each other’s
friends and family discuss each other’s experiences swap stories tell the
experiences swap stories tell the
experiences swap stories tell the stories of the people you’ve met tell
stories of the people you’ve met tell
stories of the people you’ve met tell the stories of the people you’ve helped
the stories of the people you’ve helped
the stories of the people you’ve helped keep tapping into that passion show what
keep tapping into that passion show what
keep tapping into that passion show what it felt like to volunteer keep bringing
it felt like to volunteer keep bringing
it felt like to volunteer keep bringing out your best self and then let’s see
out your best self and then let’s see
out your best self and then let’s see how much better things can get thank you
how much better things can get thank you
how much better things can get thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
Be First to Comment