| A nationwide program hopes to make community-building chic by tapping into the province’s artistic community.
Calgary’s mighty volunteer base may be in trouble in the coming years due to an aging population. That, coupled with an overall decline in youth volunteers, has prompted one agency to approach the problem from a different angle.
The Framework Foundation, a non-profit agency that helps volunteer organizations find new members, has launched a campaign to get 23- to 35-year-olds involved in volunteer activities. That is no easy task, considering that volunteerism typically conjures up an image of a group of elderly ladies selling muffins out of a church basement, so Framework, along with a United Way initiative called 2335, plan to sidestep that image by holding a silent art auction. The hook: bidders commit volunteer hours instead of money.
Called a Timeraiser, the auction is aiming to raise 10,000 volunteer hours. Similar events have been successful in other cities. By showcasing the work of emerging and mid-career Calgary artists, and providing connections to agencies that may interest youthful Calgarians, the organizers are confident they will attract the coveted, under 35 demographic.
"It’s just the natural switch for the university crowd, where a lot of university students who were once involved in their university activities graduate and start their careers, causing volunteer participation to drop off after university," says Kris Frederickson, 2335 co-chair.
"A lot of young people want to be engaged, they just don’t know where to do it. Also, volunteerism gets a bad rap as being un-sexy."
Frederickson says there is a need for management and organization volunteers, as well as ground troops.
"What we try to do is skill development. We ask what skills the potential volunteer would like to develop. We are trying to match Calgary agencies with a good volunteer pool.
"It’s not enough to get them in the door — you’ve got to keep them there as well."
Volunteer agencies present at the auction will cover a broad spectrum of categories, such as the environment, arts and culture, social services and international involvement. Carmen Coccimiglio, a spokesperson for the Framework Foundation, is confident these agencies will appeal to prospective volunteers and resonate with their values.
"It’s a matter of choosing the organizational position that interests them the most," says Coccimiglio. "We’re meeting with different volunteer agencies to represent the broad social spectrum."
The auction takes place this Saturday, June 3, at Art Gallery of Calgary. For more information, go to www.frameworkfoundation.ca. |
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