Dear Supporter

Volunteers

Volunteers are vital to the arts.

Volunteers serve on boards of directors, organize events, help with fundraising, teach and mentor, and perform various administrative tasks. Without the input from volunteers many arts organizations would not be able to function.

During the lingering recession, the competition among not for profit groups for volunteers has intensified with arts groups getting only a small percentage of the available volunteers (see the statistics below).

So now, more than ever, we need to appreciate the role of volunteers. It is so easy to take volunteers for granted. But now is exactly the time to not only appreciate but to show that appreciation in tangible terms. Give your volunteers whatever perks you can manage, recognize them at every possible opportunity - an appreciation luncheon or a pizza evening will go a long way to show that your appreciation is real.

A Caveat

The willingness of people to volunteer can lead to an unreasonable expectation to get everything for free. When you plan an arts event or venture you need to be prepared to pay for some aspects rather than expect volunteers to donate what is essentially their living. There is nothing a plumber dreads more than being invited for supper: "Hi Joe, we have not seen you in years, why don't you and your wife come over for supper? Oh, and bring your toolbox, we have this slight problem in the basement"!
So rather than from the outset planning to get your new stage wired for free, or your new clubhouse painted for free, plan to do fundraising and then pay for those services.

In Summary

Volunteers are at the core of the arts in our community. We need to recognize and cherish their contribution. We need to make it easy, pleasant and rewarding for them to volunteer.

Sincerely

Susan Wandell
President

Volunteers in Arts and Culture Organizations in Canada in 2007

Latest report by Hill Strategies

698,000 Canadians age 15 or older volunteered 73.5 million hours in arts and culture organizations in 2007.

The 73.5 million hours volunteered in arts and culture organizations is equivalent to about 38,000 full-time, full-year jobs, valued at about $1.1 billion.

The 73.5 million hours contributed to arts and culture organizations represent an average of 105 hours per volunteer.

The most common reason for volunteering in arts and culture organizations is a desire to make a contribution to one’s community (chosen by 92% of volunteers).

The report highlights the strong competition for volunteers from other non-profit sectors. The 698,000 volunteers in arts and culture organizations comprise 5.6% of all Canadian volunteers. Sports and recreation, social service, education and research, and religious organizations attract the most volunteers (close to 3 million each), followed by health organizations (1.6 million) and development and housing organizations (1.2 million).

Upcoming Events

1) Last Mondays at the Movies

Coca Cola Case
April 26 @ 7:30
Director: Carmen Garcia and German Gutierrez

The film tells the story of the fight against one of America's stellar icons: the Coca-Cola company.