Current Activites

Volunteer B.C. Vision
Volunteer B.C. Mission
Why Volunteering Needs a Support Structure
For Volunteers
For Volunteer Centres
For Managers of Volunteers
Who Volunteer B.C. Represents
Who is Volunteer B.C.?
History of Volunteer B.C.

Volunteer B.C. Vision
Leader in promoting the value and impact of volunteering.

Mission
To promote the development and role of volunteer centres in B.C. and to work cooperatively with volunteer centres, other voluntary organizations, and governments in the development of effective voluntary action.

Why does volunteering need a support structure?

• One million people volunteer in B.C..
• Many more support their communities in informal ways.
• Volunteers are essential to healthy community life.
• More and more is expected from voluntary organizations, and therefore volunteers.
• Increased scrutiny of the effectiveness and efficiency of voluntary organizations.
• Increased concern for the accountability of volunteers.
• In the 21st century volunteers are asked to take on roles that hold significant liability, and in turn volunteers are often contributing for widely diverse and highly sophisticated reasons.

Supporting Volunteerism in British Columbia
Together as Volunteer B.C., B.C. volunteer centres provide essential leadership to voluntary organizations and volunteers.

For the individual who wishes to be involved in their community:

• An accessible system to help find an appropriate opportunity quickly and efficiently.
• Support to make sure that the volunteer experience is a success for both the individual and the organization.
• Understanding of governance and liability issues.
• Appropriate recognition for the value of the individual's contribution.
  
• A positive image for volunteering, or community involvement.

For volunteer centres:
The resources to

• Connect people with opportunities to serve.
  
• Build the capacity of local organizations to support volunteering.
  
• Promote volunteering.
  
• Participate in strategic initiatives that mobilize volunteers to meet local community needs.

For managers or administrators of volunteers:

• Awareness of the skills involved in managing unpaid staff resources, where the motivations, expectations, rewards and liability issues are very different than those of paid staff.
  
• Training opportunities and resources available and utilized in order to do the best job possible.
  
• Adequate numbers of appropriate volunteers available to support the programs and services provided by voluntary organizations.

Who VolB.C. Represents Volunteer B.C.

• acts as a provincial association on behalf of British Columbia volunteer centres.
• is incorporated under the Provincial Societies Act.
• works together with volunteer centres, voluntary organizations, individuals, government, funders and all others committed to effective voluntary action.

Who Is Volunteer B.C.?

Volunteer B.C. BOARD MEMBERS 2002-2003

Volunteer B.C. STAFF MEMBERS 2002-2003

THE HISTORY OF VOLUNTEER B.C.
(The British Columbia Association of Volunteer Centres)
1979 - 2000

Looking back over the Society's activities and achievements between 1979 and the present, it is obvious Volunteer B.C.'s mission has remained the same.

Volunteer B.C.'s main function has been to encourage and promote volunteerism and the development of the voluntary sector in B.C. These goals have been met in a variety of different ways - the education of local and provincial governments, promoting quality volunteer programs and services in volunteer centres and non-profit organizations and advocating the value of volunteerism in Canadian society.

Throughout its history Volunteer B.C. has actively participated in or directly facilitated needs surveys, Volunteer Week celebrations, volunteer recognition item marketing, identification of relevant issues and data collection. Volunteer B.C. has published a quarterly newsletter and hosted annual conferences, both of which have been well received.

The health of Volunteer B.C. has benefited from periodic grants and other funding that has enabled the hiring of office coordination staff. Securing sustainable funding continues to this day to be an elusive challenge for Volunteer B.C. and indeed its members.

Volunteer B.C. has weathered its share of struggles - facing core questions around identity, membership, purpose and funding. Volunteer B.C. has battled against the temptations of being too centralized and in duplicating services. The Society's survival has depended on and is grateful for strong Board and membership direction, led by experts in the voluntary sector.

Volunteer B.C. (aka B.C.A.V.C.) has accomplished much in its 21 years - the following represents the highlights from years 1976 to present:

1976
Four lower mainland volunteer centres (Burnaby, North Shore, Richmond and Vancouver) start meeting to share information about trends in volunteerism. The next year Coquitlam, Delta and Sunshine Coast join them. By September 1978 the full purpose for the Council of Volunteer Centres of the Lower Mainland was defined.

1979
VARC (Voluntary Action Resource Centre) supports and partially finances the formation of the B.C. Association of Volunteer Centres (Bureaus) in response to a need identified by the B.C. / Yukon Regional Committee on Volunteerism.

B.C.AVC's raison d'ete is "to further the development of voluntarism and volunteer centres in B.C." because "Volunteer Centres/Bureaus and other centrally co-coordinated volunteer systems are established as part of the total community planning process for the purpose of strengthening citizen participation in health, welfare, recreation, education and cultural activities.

B.C.AVC is a member of the national Association of Volunteer Centres (CAVC).

The Honorable Grace McCarthy supports a request for a provincial Proclamation for National Volunteer Recognition Week.

B.C.AVC's constitution and first by-laws are drafted.

The B.C. Association of Volunteer Centres (B.C.AVC) is incorporated as a society on October 15, 1979.

1980 Funding is secured for Volunteer Week celebrations and production of recognition items.

B.C.AVC's first newsletter is published.

The first annual B.C.AVC AGM and Conference costs $1,159.86. A conference workshop generates a list of Volunteer Centres' expectations of B.C.AVC:
" 1. Future conferences and workshops
2. Standards and Criteria for Volunteer Centres
3. Acting as a resource with information and speakers
4. Lobbying with the two levels of government (Prov/Fed) "

1981
B.C.AVC hosts an AVB (Association of Volunteer Bureaus), the U.S.-based North American association, regional conference in Vancouver. Representatives from Calgary, the Lower Mainland, Washington and Oregon attend.

B.C.AVC' own AGM is scheduled to coincide with the AVB conference, held at UB.C..

1983
Standards and Criteria for Volunteer Centres are developed.
B.C.AVC's A.G.M/Conference is held at Laurel Point Inn, Victoria.

B.C.AVC participates on the national Task Force on Canada's Voluntary Sector.

Katimavik (National Volunteer Youth Service Program) is launched.

1984
B.C.AVC's A.G.M./Conference is held at the Sands Hotel, Vancouver.

B.C.AVC sends its President to the CAVC A.G.M. in Toronto.

1985
B.C.AVC's A.G.M./Conference is held at the New Westminster campus of Douglas College.

1986
Volunteer centres in B.C. are hard at work providing advocacy, agency support, standards expertise, skills banks, board development, community consultations, research, volunteer recognition, promotion, training & information resources and recruitment & referral services.

1987
B.C.AVC researches and advocates regarding the effects of service
1988 privatization on communities and volunteer centres.

The Canadian Centre for Philanthropy's "Imagine" campaign starts to take shape and B.C.AVC is there.

"Volunteerism is a basic right and responsibility of all Canadians. B.C.AVC must be able to play its role in ensuring that volunteers are involved and recognized appropriately in our society."

Carol Biely,
Chairperson - October 1988

1989
The annual promotion of National Volunteer Week reaches a new level of exposure. B.C.AVC receives sponsorship from government and corporate representatives for multimedia coverage of the "Red V" campaign. Sales of recognition items soar…

A task force on Volunteer Management Standards works to develop standards that benefit the voluntary sector as a whole.

A CEIC grant enables the hiring of public relations and clerical staff that are instrumental in connecting with volunteer centres and voluntary organizations in B.C. and across Canada.

Through an agreement with Knowledge Network, B.C.AVC markets the video series "Voluntary Sector Leadership - Board Development".

A National Consultation on Volunteerism, which is initiated by Volunteer Ontario, addresses issues facing the voluntary sector. This stronger national network works with the Centre for Philanthropy's "IMAGINE" campaign "to increase giving of time and money to the causes Canadians care about".

1990
Volunteer Week's slogan is "Volunteers - The Vital Link".

B.C.AVC prints a Directory of B.C. Volunteer Centres/Bureaus.

A B.C.AVC representative sits on the National Steering Committee for the Canadian Association of Volunteer Centres/Bureaux.

Presentations are made to provincial government elected officials stressing the importance of volunteer centres and voluntary action in our society.

Success of the Volunteer Week "Red V" campaign continues to grow.

Emerging volunteer centres include Powell River, Hazelton, Courtenay, Campbell River and Nelson.

The voluntary sector starts responding to the multicultural needs of our communities.

"I believe that "linking" or "connecting" is one of the most important and valuable things for individuals as well as for organizations to do. Through the process of "linking", each party benefits and becomes stronger while creating a new partnership. As a result, the community as a whole is strengthened. Is it any wonder, then, that I see volunteer centres and the B.C. Association of Volunteer Centres as vital to the health and strength of our community? Both are dedicated to making connections and to ensuring that these connections remain strong by creating a supportive climate."

Lucile Boyko,
Chairperson - October 1990

1991
B.C.AVC becomes known publicly as Volunteer B.C. in

1992
A Volunteer B.C. brochure is printed.

Standards and criteria for volunteer centres, programs and centres within multi-service agencies are developed.

A movement to work more closely with the Western Association of Directors of Volunteers is started.

The sale of recognition items remains a major function of Volunteer B.C..

1993
The first National Conference on Volunteerism is held in Toronto and 1994 Volunteer B.C. representatives attend.

Volunteer B.C. publishes "How To Start A Volunteer Centre", a resource manual.

Renewed support for the mandate of Volunteer B.C. is expressed at the 1993 Annual General Meeting.

Volunteer B.C. is given the B.C. Association of Broadcasters' Humanity Award. The award provides funding for media/promotional time and tools and raises awareness of the value of volunteerism and its positive impact on individuals and communities.

Despite the hard work of the Resource/Financial Development committee core funding continues to elude Volunteer B.C.. Lacking of funding continues to discourage achievement of long-term goals.

Strengthening ties with regional volunteer centres through frequent contact and feedback of membership starts to pay off.

Doris Noel (Retiring Executive Director, Burnaby Volunteer Centre) is the recipient of the first Volunteer B.C. Distinguished Service Award.

1995- Carol Biely awarded the 1995 Volunteer B.C. Distinguished Service
1996 Award.

Fundraising and Special Event Planning are the topic highlights at Volunteer B.C.'s annual conference.

1997
Respected author and consultant Linda Graff presents two workshops 1998 (Risk Management / Policies for Volunteer Programs) at the 1997
conference.

The National Education Campaign on Screening hosts workshops dealing with the effective screening of staff and volunteers specifically for the palliative care field. This serves as a pilot project and provides positive exposure for Volunteer B.C.. Volunteer B.C. is positioned for future involvement in screening awareness and training.

Volunteer B.C. consults with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology on a new program in which students can earn credit towards post secondary education by volunteering.

Volunteer B.C. participates in a discussion led by the National Panel on Accountability and Governance in the Non-Profit Sector.
"In Recognition of the growing contribution made by the non-profit volunteer sector to community and economic life in B.C." the province's first minister responsible for volunteers and the community services sector is appointed in April 1998.

1999
The 2000 edition of the B.C. Volunteer Centres' Directory is published.

2000
The federally funded Voluntary Sector Network Support Program (VOLNET) provides voluntary organizations with expanded technological capacity, offering computer hardware, Internet connections and technical training and support. The 604 Connect project supplies matching funds for a computer system and software upgrade. Volunteer B.C. goes online!

The provincial government in response to outcomes from the Voluntary Sector Roundtable Initiative introduces the InVOLve grants program.
Volunteer B.C. and many volunteer centres submit successful project proposals. This unprecedented funding begins to build a support structure for volunteer centres and volunteerism in the province.

The National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participation develops and distributes B.C. specific statistics useful to volunteer centres.

Volunteer B.C. unveils its new logo at the 2000 Annual General Meeting.

Volunteer B.C. is poised to create a sustainable legacy of strength in volunteerism.

We have a renewed opportunity to demonstrate effective service delivery, strong infrastructure and provincial presence.

"This is an exciting time, and a time to really decide what we want for (the future of) our field." "We need to … work hard and speak publicly and passionately about our vision."

Carol Biely,
Chairperson - June 2000