When you stop and think about the calibre of special events we have in our communities, it’s amazing to realize that it’s all done by volunteers.
But maybe not. Entertaining ourselves has been what we’ve done for hundreds of years. I guess what drives us is a sense of community.
The only amazing part of it is that some people in big cities get paid for doing this.
Maybe we should all get paid for what we do, but the truth is, costs would skyrocket. You wouldn’t be attending a free Graffiti Days Show ‘n Shine or a $10 rodeo or a pass-the-hat musical concert in the park.
A bouquet of thank yous to each and every one of the volunteers in our communities.
And just as we finish up with the awesome rodeo and parade, we get news that the seniors club in Ashcroft is running out of steam.
It’s not that no one wants to volunteer. We know that isn’t true, because we have a lot of great community events to choose from, and they are all organized and run by volunteers. Each one of them requires dozens of willing hands, and some of those hands are part of several volunteer groups.
But the need for more volunteers is limitless. The question is, how awesome do you want your events? I’ve lived in towns where the extent of Canada Day was a barbecue hosted by the only service group in town. You know what? We all enjoyed ourselves.
Now we have bouncy castles and magic shows and parades and you name it. And we all enjoy ourselves at those, also.
Most people are willing to pitch in at a moment’s notice and help fix the immediate problem. Long term volunteers are sometimes a little harder to find.
Lot of groups, especially children’s sports, have a hard time keeping volunteers: when they child is no longer part of the group, neither is the parent. Not always, but usually.
Volunteering is hard work, but the pay off is seeing so many people thrilled with a day spent with family and friends at the event that you helped put on.
Wendy Coomber is editor of the Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal