Contribution by Nicola Wright, CAE, BCRSP Executive Director
National Volunteer Week, April 24-30, reminds us how much volunteers contribute to the life and work of our country. At BCRSP, volunteers are integral to the organisation and fulfill many roles from operational committee involvement to the Governing Board. And like many not-for-profit organisations and charities, engaged volunteers are critical to our long-term success.
BCRSP volunteers help fulfill the BCRSP’s mission by bringing unique skills, knowledge, and abilities to the table. Volunteers offer critical subject matter expertise that helps ensure our certification schemes and operations are relevant and keep up to date with changes that are happening in the profession.
Volunteering also provides a benefit to the individual. Benefits include sharing your expertise, building your network, having a direct impact on the organization, learning new skills, and earning continuous professional development points.
This year’s National Volunteer Week theme is “Volunteering is Empathy in Action” and this is another benefit of volunteering – “it helps us develop empathy to see the world through the eyes of others. It can connect people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, expanding our views. It can build our capacity to work collectively and contribute to a vibrant, inclusive society.” (https://volunteer.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=464)
We don’t always see BCRSP volunteers in action as most of them are working behind the scenes, reviewing applicant files, writing examination questions, setting the examination form and cut-score, conducting the internal audit, and working on committees and task forces to develop ideas and initiatives on behalf of the Board. To every BCRSP volunteer both current and past, thank you for your service and contributions.
BCRSP certificants are also involved as volunteers in many aspects of their community, including everything from other professional groups such as CSSE, or WOHSS, to supporting organisations like Threads of Life and the Steps for Life walk, and other community, sport, or faith-based groups. Because certificants can claim CPD credit for volunteer activity not only with BCRSP, but for any volunteer service, we see a wide range of contributions that CRSP and CRST certificants make through volunteer service.
BCRSP Governing Board Chair, Robin Angel shares the following:
The word that resonates the most with me in the theme ‘Volunteering is Empathy in Action’ is empathy. Empathy triggers thoughts of caring, thoughtfulness, insight, and compassion. Empathy becomes animated when partnered with action. I visualize individuals and groups selflessly stepping up, going above and beyond, who freely offer their time and experience to pay it forward. Being a volunteer is a personal choice that uniquely complements both the giver and the receiver. When I volunteer, I am building fundamental connections, exchanging ideas and passions and creating new friendships. Volunteering fuels our primordial altruism. Robin Angel, CRSP
CRSP Jeff Wight, who serves as a volunteer firefighter in his community, shared the following:
I have been a volunteer fire fighter (VFF) with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency for over 12 years. Being a VFF has been one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life. I feel a great sense of accomplishment through helping my community and surrounding area in some of their greatest times of need. Volunteering has been very personally rewarding to me. Along with helping the community, I have gained numerous skills, built strong relationships with my fellow VFF’s and feel continuously challenged due to the great variety of emergency calls we respond to. Jeff Wight, CRSP
CRSP Ebrahim Noroozi who was recently awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by the Governor General of Canada shared:
It is not important where, when or at what stage of life we are in, there is always room to provide a helping hand in whatever capacity we can. We are part of a larger community in which we need to share, learn, grow, and give back to help promote a more sustainable environment and society. Ebrahim Noroozi, CRSP
If you have never considered volunteering, I would encourage you to do so, whether for BCRSP or for another organisation. It is a rewarding to share your knowledge and experience for the betterment of all. For more information on volunteering for the BCRSP, email us.
#VolunteersBringHeart #EmpathyInAction #NVW2022