Guest post by James Linklater

Post author, James Linklater, and the Pemberton Rotary club at work on another volunteer project.

It was Volunteer Week recently & it got me thinking.

All groups are well-minded, motivated & committed to a cause they believe in. So why do we struggle to have enough volunteers? Why is it always the same few people who do?

Rather than scorn, criticize or guilt, I wanted to try a different approach, and explore the incentives. To make the case.

The old adage of “you get out what you put in” is true, but sounds cliché. We’re all busy. Why do some us have the time, but others don’t?

Volunteer groups are formed to fill a void, champion a cause, or provide opportunity to others that they didn’t have… the list goes on.

Being the son of two devoted volunteers, I guess I come by it honestly. At the same time, getting dragged all over the place while my folks volleyed, didn’t drive me away from it either.

It could be for your community, child’s sports team, eradicating a debilitating disease, child care, PAC, environmental stewardship – there are any number of charities & worthwhile causes locally or internationally. If it’s important to you, you’ll find the time &/or means to make it happen.

In my experience, when things don’t go to plan, we dig deeper, work harder, reach out to others & with a whole of effort, time, patience & maybe some good luck thrown in we realize success. After all, we are “CAN”adians.

Along the way, volunteering gives you the chance to strengthen friendships, make new ones & meet people you may not otherwise meet. The effort is usually accompanied by many laughs, a hot cup of coffee, freshly baked cookies, or maybe a cold beverage or popsicle. And at the end of it, you can all look back fondly with a great deal of pride & accomplishment in a job well done, sharing with others the knowledge that you’ve made the world a little bit better place to be or left something that has a lasting legacy.

When times are tough, whatever that means to you, volunteering provides a circle of support of like-minded individuals who care & respect each other & are there for you, whether words are spoken or tears shed.

I feel fortunate – privileged – to have volunteered for many things in this awesome community of ours & I’ve been “honoured” with nominations, awards, a seat on Village Council & even Winds of Change recognition last year for my work with youth in Pemberton.

These things have all been great & I appreciate all of them, but that’s not my motivation & shouldn’t be yours either. Little do some know, & maybe that’s my nugget to share, but I truly have gotten more than I’ve given. The friendships, accomplishments, the great community we all live in are part of it too, but for me, it’s the smiles of our children, our seniors, or those who’ve benefitted, including those who made it happen too, our fellow volunteers, that are the real reward.

So, here’s a shout out to you all.

We need more like us, so ask & invite others to help. They won’t know what hit them & I’m sure they’ll be thanking you someday.