Volunteer Opportunity of the Month:
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Volunteer Agency of the Month: The MS Society, Edmonton
The MS Society is a nation wide organization and the Alberta Division of the MS Society was founded in Edmonton in 1980. The Division is made up of 15 chapters across the province including one in Edmonton. Each chapter, which includes the Edmonton chapter is responsible for client services which, provides information, support and funding services to people with MS and their families. The Alberta Division of the MS Society is responsible for fundraising via several key fundraising events, which take place annually throughout the province. The purpose of these events is to generate funds for MS research and services. Alberta Division also provides client services support and awareness at a provincial level.
Yes! We are always looking for volunteers for our ongoing volunteer opportunities, as well as, for our fundraising events in the spring and summer. One example of a ongoing/year round volunteer opportunity is our Friendly Visiting program which matches volunteers with people who are affected by MS and reside in long-term care facilities. Our volunteers visit these residents and develop a friendly relationship with them by chatting, playing games, reading to them, etc. The time commitment is a minimum of 6 months. The volunteer hours are 1 to 2 hours every 1 or 2 weeks. There is extensive training for the volunteers associated with this program. The volunteers are matched with a resident under the supervision/guidance of the individual who runs this program, the Community Connections Coordinator. Volunteers are required to undergo a volunteer interview, as well as, criminal record and vulnerable sector search. Another volunteer opportunity that is available year round is our Ambassador program. The goal of this program is to provide a united voice and face for the MS Society. MS Society Ambassadors endeavor to bring awareness and education about what MS is, what the MS Society does and why we need to find a cure. The length of commitment is ongoing and the time commitment is extremely variable - anywhere from 8 to 50 hours per month since it is predominately an independent, self directed volunteer role. There is typically no police check. Volunteers play an integral role in our major fundraising events. Without them, we couldn’t run the events! Fundraising events start in the spring with the Enerfex-MS Walk in St. Albert. The second event is the Enerflex-MS Walk on May 16th in Edmonton and lastly the RONA MS Bike Tour, Leduc to Camrose on June 12th and 13th. There are many different and exciting volunteer positions for these events: checkpoint, finish line, pledge drop off/t-shirt pickup just to name a few. These events are lots of fun and require an average commitment of 5 hours per shift. Detailed position descriptions and application forms can be found at http://www.mssociety.ca/alberta/volunteer-fundraising.html.
If you’d like to fill out an application form or find out more information about any of the volunteer opportunities at the MS Society, go to our website, www.mssociety.ca/alberta/volutneer/htm. You can also contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Crystal Tracy, with questions at crystal.tracy@mssociety.ca or by phone at 780-463-1190. |
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The UPA is recruiting volunteers to help plan and orchestrate events! We are also recruiting a merchandise coordinator to put together some new, fresh merchandise for the current semester! If you would like to volunteer as an executive for the 2010-2011 academic year, this provides a great opportunity to get your feet in the UPA door!
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