Volunteers and Social Capital

It's at this time of year that I reflect on the year that was, the year that is coming and my friends and family.  I also reflect on what I did to make my community a better place and how, in the new year, I can continue to support my community through my personal efforts, outside of my paid community role. 

 

I feel it is timely to remember the Volunteers in our community, whom I believe are part of the glue that holds our community together, part of the Social Capital, that enhances where we live and work. Their contributions in their own time to others that are in need of assistance.  Though not identifying any group or individual, I recognise that there are many thousands of Volunteers within our own community whom deserve both individual and group recognition for their efforts.

 

The overall contribution that each and every Volunteer makes to our community is immeasurable, though some have placed a conservative dollar value of $23Billion per year, the amount that it would cost to pay for the tasks that Volunteers offer to our community.

 

I have been supporting Volunteers and Volunteering myself within the community for many years, of which one special time was in my role as Coordinator Kyabram Learning Town program.  Within this role I developed a whole range of community Volunteer recognition programs of which the Volunteers Awards Dinner was a much supported event. (See the cartoon below from the Kyabram Fee Press. That's supposed to be me chairing the Volunteer Dinner :-).

 

I understand that a similar cause to recognise our valuable Volunteers is being contemplated within our own Bundaberg community through the efforts of Nathan Williams (Pagent of Lights Coordinator).   To subscribe to his “The Volunteer Monthly” email the following to nathanwilliams23@hotmail.com

  

This is my personal view.

 

Mal