On Monday, December 5, 2011, people from all around the world will unite to celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD). There are many ways for you, your family and your friends to celebrate and support International Volunteer Day.

Ways to celebrate International Volunteer Day:

1. THANK A VOLUNTEER.

With over 12.5 million Canadians and 1.4 million Albertans who volunteer, chances are, you are directly impacted by the work of a volunteer or you know a person who volunteers. Write a “thank you” note, send an email, shake their hands, take them out to lunch, buy them coffee. Whatever you choose to do, it is important to let volunteers know that their work is highly valued. It’s the least you can do to support these local heroes.

At Volunteer Calgary, we have fabulous and dedicated volunteers who help us work toward our mission of promoting, connecting, leading and strengthening volunteerism.

We want to take this opportunity to say...

THANK YOU to all the VC Volunteers in 2011!

  THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!!! Alex White * Amy Woodward * Amy Baquir * Andrea Ross * Anita Hofer * Anita Hofer * Anna-Marie Ashton * April-Lynn Levitt * Avalon Short * Avnish Mehta * Beatrix Downton * Blythe Butler * Brenna Atnikov * Brett Bergerman * Brian Padlewski * Butler, Blythe * Carol Hauser * Chen Han * Cheri Bogh * Cheryl de Paoli * Chris Hsiung * Christine Krol * Christine McIver * Christopher Dougherty * Claire McLean * Colin Cochran * Cynthia Radford * Dallas Lafont * Daniel Fraser * Danny Nyugen * Dariel Bateman * Dean McRorie * Delana McKinsley * Dianne Liwanag * Elizabeth Dozois * Emily Zhang * Eric Turchet * Fabian Asin * Gemma Epp * Gerald Hart * Glen Hickerson * Han Chen * Harman Sandhu * Heather Kinghorn * Isabella Franco * Ivon Mbuyamba * Jack Guo * Jackie Stepper * Jaclyn Gray * James McCreath * Jamie Anderson-Schiwy * Janeen Scott * Janet Burstall * Janet Kerrigan * Jason Breti * Jason Low * Jim Merrin * JP Folz * Junaid Malik * Kali Readwin Skauge * Karen Bruce * Karen Gallagher-Burt * Karen Shilson * Kelly Ackerl * Kelly Mitchell * Kelly Yagelniski * Ken Low * Kerry Trach * Kevin Hayes * Kristi Baron * Leilani Griffiths * Lesa Bain * Lily Lin * Lindsay Keogh * Lindsay Mitchell * Lise Blanchette * Margaret Davis * Marie Tucker * Mariette Sluyter * Mark Kolke * Marlene Mulligan * Martha Parker * Martha Willson * Matthew Franco * Matthew Massinon * Megan Kjelgren * Meghan Charters * Mehwa Kim * Mike Shilson * Mike Unrau * Minh Le * Nancy Lopez-Ramos * Natalie Kerekes * Natalie Muyres * Nicole Champagne * Niesa Silzer * Nitin Manerikar * Ola Domorandz * Olivia Pavel * Pam Agarawal * Parker Franco * Paul (Jaro) Cooper * Paul Gary * Peggy Jubien * Peter Walker * Quentin Sinclair * Rahim Sajan * Ray Mulvihill * Renee Fleming * Rhonda Patton * Robert Burstall * Robert Kinghorn * Roopa Khanna * Roxann Amyotte * Ruth Murchison * Ryan Fleck * Sara Bateman * Scott Hartley * Scott MacDougall * Scott McRae * Shabana Ahmad * Sharlene Coulter * Sharon Meyers * Stacie Lundberg * Stephen Detrey * Teanna Hodgins * Terry Kozlyk * Tracy Merrin * Trina Marshall * Virginia Trawick * Yu-Li Lin *

2. RECOGNIZE A VOLUNTEER.

If you know a volunteer who has made a tremendous positive impact on the community or the lives of others, let everyone else know. Share their inspiring story with others by contacting media or by nominating them for an award.

Nominate a local volunteer for one of Volunteer Calgary’s Leadership Awards, the city’s premier volunteer recognition event. Nominations are year-round. To nominate a volunteer visit, www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca/leadershipawards.

 3. BECOME A VOLUNTEER.

The best form of appreciation is emulation! One of the best ways to participate in International Volunteer Day is by embarking in your own volunteer work. Most non-profit organizations that work to provide essential services to the community can benefit from your support. Grab your friends and family and start volunteering. To find volunteer opportunities, visit www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca

 4. INSPIRE OTHERS TO VOLUNTEER.

If you are a volunteer, share your story with your friends, family and co-workers. Talk about what you do, create awareness for the cause you are working toward, promote the non-profit organization you are helping, help recruit more volunteers. Be a shining example and advocate of volunteerism and inspire them to do the same!

An easy way to spread the word about volunteering is by telling your friends about Volunteer Calgary's Become a Volunteer Hero campaign. 

Volunteers work continuously to provide essential services to the community. Celebrating volunteers and volunteerism should be a continuous, year-round event that should start but not end on International Volunteer Day.

For more about International Volunteer Day,  visit the www.worldvolunteerweb.org.