Congratulations Dianne!!! After you’ve watched the video, check out this awesome web site to find out more about volunteering in Halton: http://volunteerhalton.ca

I am somewhat fascinated by volunteering, for a number of reasons. I first began my volunteer work in earnest when I was a student at Milton District High School. I was a driver for the Canadian Cancer Society, and I used to pick someone up at their home in Mill Street, drive them to the hospital in Toronto, and then bring them home after their treatment. I had to leave that work after the patient succumbed to the cancer and I was not emotionally prepared to deal with it.

Since that time, I’ve been involved in a number of different organizations, including serving on numerous committees at the local real estate board, serving on the Communications and Marketing Committee at the Milton Chamber of Commerce, and assisting various groups over various busy spells as needed.

It is my most recent, and longest-term, volunteering that gives me the most satisfaction however; I am Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Halton Children’s Aid Society, as well as a member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Governance Committee. I mention this only as a backdrop to the number of amazing people who are on the Board of the HCAS, all busy people from vaired career areas and family backgrounds, and all who give much of their spare time to numerous organizations that need help.

As a part of the CAS’s work, there is a Volunteer Recognition Evening, and it is always a fascinating event to attend. Recognition is given to the people who give freely of their time and efforts to help the organization, and it is heart warming to see so much love and compassion at play. I always get a chuckle out of the volunteer drivers; there is a real camaraderie amongst them, not to mention the fun they have trying to win the award for most hours driven in a year. I don’t remember the exact number, but the person who wins that award is volunteering for more hours a week than many people work at their careers!

Each year at Christmas, my family sets out to help a needy organization, any organization, and we have been pleasantly disappointed the last few years as we’ve been told that there are more than enough volunteers already. WOW! That is excellent, that so many people are giving back to their community.

What a fantastic trend that is to see!!

If you have not partaken of the opportunities to volunteer that exist in our community, please give it a shot. You’ll be amazed at the great people you meet, the lives you’ll touch, and the growth you’ll experience as a result of it.