SaintJohnShawn.com

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on September 22, 2009.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

Got some extra time and energy? Looking to share expertise, or diversify your resume? Want to find a way to give back to the community, but not quite sure how to do it? You’re in luck. Next week, the Saint John Volunteer Centre will be hosting a Volunteer Recruitment Expo, aimed at matching community-minded Saint Johners with non-profit agencies looking for volunteer support.

“Non-profit organizations face a lot of challenges getting their recruitment message out, for a number of reasons, so this is a good want to connect potential volunteers with organizations in need,” says Eileen McLaughlin, Recruitment Expo chairwoman and executive director of the Saint John Volunteer Centre. To celebrate the occasion, FUSION has partnered with the volunteer centre to host the September Party with a Purpose, sponsored by the New Brunswick Non-Profit Secretariat.

This month’s purpose is not to promote the Volunteer Expo, but to encourage a sense of volunteerism within the community. “FUSION members have demonstrated a talent for getting the word out to their networks, and for achieving results,” McLaughlin said. “The Party with a Purpose will give us an opportunity to pump up the pre-expo excitement with participating agencies, FUSION volunteers and the volunteer community at large.”

There has been a significant decrease in volunteering across Canada. Non-profit agencies in the city have worked together organizing the volunteer expo as a way to address this issue, and as a means of one-stop shopping for prospective volunteers looking for the “right fit” to lend their time and talents.

The theme of this year’s expo is Unleash your energy: Be active €¦ Volunteer, focusing on the many ways active volunteering energizes the mind, body and spirit. Organizers will highlight the different types of high-energy volunteer work with a presentation that will run throughout the expo, Volunteering: A Gateway to Physical Activity. Approximately 40 non-profit agencies, FUSION included, will be on hand to share information on volunteer opportunities. There will be a Passport Program to encourage visitors to explore each booth and learn more about the non-profit agencies at work in the city; “passports” stamped by five agencies will be entered into a draw.

The reach of community organizations, FUSION included, extends only as far as its network of volunteers. Successes are only achieved when people share their ideas, and then commit to seeing through a project, event or initiative through. The Volunteer Recruitment Expo will give Saint Johners a chance to learn more about both the interesting opportunities available, as well as the number and diversity of agencies at work in the city and looking for volunteer support.

The Volunteer Recruitment Expo will take place Oct. 1-2 in Brunswick Square. September’s Party with a Purpose will take place this Friday, 5:30-7pm, at Boilerworks. For more information please visit www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan works with MT&L Public Relations Ltd. and is a member of the FUSION Saint John board. Her column appears on Tuesdays. She can be reached at cryan@mtlpr.ca.