Volunteers grow communities

Joan Butler

 

I have been an official with Swim/Natation Canada since 1979 and a Level V (master) official for 10 years. I officiate at the community, provincial and national level, most recently at the Canada Games in Regina.

I currently sit as the president of the Conception Bay South Bluefins Competitive Swim Club and am in the second year of my mandate. I have held an executive position at the provincial level over the past number of years and have been on the technical committee for the past two provincial summer games.  

I am also the chairperson for Officials in Newfoundland and Labrador and am also the provincial representative on the National Official’s committee for SNC.

I have coached minor softball for years but put that on the back burner two years ago. I hold a Level I coaching certification in this sport.

Michael Hollahan

Biomedical Technologist III, Technical Services

I have been a volunteer at the St. John’s YM-YWCA for about five years now. I normally volunteer in the conditioning centre on Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. providing assistance to people on how to use the gym equipment.

As a volunteer, I provide orientations for new members and keep the conditioning centre clean and safe. I also have to regularly participate in Standard First Aid and CPR courses.

I also help out at the YM-YWCA on other evenings or weekends as needed. The YM-YWCA is an organization that has always been at the forefront in meeting the needs of the community and I am very proud to be a part of this.

Natasha Clark

Office Assistant, International Student Advising

I have been a volunteer with the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Health Centre (formerly Planned Parenthood) for the past four years. 

For three hours a week, I assist the centre in its day-to-day activities. This includes preparing for clinic, answering telephone and drop-in inquiries dealing with sexual health issues, and new patient intake.

I have also been a volunteer with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters in-school mentoring program.

And, recently I helped out with the Sharing our Cultures Multicultural Fair at Memorial in celebration of anti-racism day.

Marilyn Beaton

Associate Professor, School of Nursing

I have been a member of the board of the Seniors Resource Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador since 2003 and assumed the position of vice-chair in October 2005.

I am also a member of the centre’s executive committee on top of being a member of the finance committee and am chair of the friendly visiting committee.

I also act as faculty liaison for the School of Nursing Retired Faculty Group and am a member the executive of the Nursing Chapter of the Alumni Association.

Rosemary Healy, Debby Andrews and Linda White

Rosemary and Debby, library assistants at the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, and Linda, an archivist with the Archives and Manuscripts Division, represent a long list of employees and faculty at Memorial who are avid volunteers with the Newfoundland Historical Society.

Since 1997, when the society started to host two-day symposia, the group has organized 17 individual events focusing on topics such as John Cabot, this province’s confederation with Canada, Newfoundland’s role in the Second World War, the Amulree Commission and the Labrador Fishery.

As well, the society volunteers offer six lectures per year and oversee publishing projects for the society’s 80-page booklet series including the best-selling Confederation by Dr. Jim Hiller, from the Department of History, and The Beothuk by upcoming honorary degree candidate Ingeborg Marshall.

Since 1998, the group has lobbied for the return of Newfoundland and Labrador history courses to the school curriculum. The group was successful and in September of this year, the grade 8 course will return for its second year, while a high school history course is in development.

The group also includes very longtime workers who have remained on the society’s executive through thick and lean years: Drs. Jim Hiller, Terry Bishop-Stirling, Jeff Webb, and Fran Warren, Department of History; grad student Vicki Barbour and former history grad students Fred Winsor and Glenn Keough; Melanie Martin and Dave Bradley in the Maritime History Archive; Dr. Linda Cullum in Sociology; Joan Ritcey from the Centre for Newfoundland Studies; and Dr. Michael Wilkshire who is retired from French.

Bert Riggs, archivist with the Archives and Manuscripts Division, is another longtime member who is currently off the executive.

Doreen Whalen

Director, Division of Lifelong Learning

Since I began working at Memorial in 1970, I’ve volunteered in the community. I credit Memorial for giving me the opportunity to grow and develop the confidence needed to participate in and provide leadership to volunteer organizations.

Much of my time has been spent in various capacities with my church – from chairing the chaplaincy committee for the St. John’s area, to providing support and leadership to a support group, to chairing the church council, to donating more than 130 units of whole blood. 

For the past ten years or more, in addition to other activities, I’ve served on the executive of the Board of Directors for the VOWR radio station, a station which is operated by a volunteer group of 75–80 men and women. Funding comes solely from individual and corporate donations.

The Board is mandated to provide leadership for the work and ministry of the station. It reviews the operation of the station and presides over the current and future directions.

Founded in 1924 by Rev. J.G. Joyce, Minister of Wesley United Church, it was the first and only church-run radio station in North America and the fourth oldest radio station on any type on the eastern seaboard of North America.  Its motto is “we serve."  So, “I serve."  I serve because it is very gratifying to hear stories of how much the music from VOWR means to those who are alone in the middle of the night, or those in hospital and operating rooms in the health care system, or those around the world who listen to VOWR to maintain their contact with “home."

Willow Jackson

Career, Coop and Internship Co-ordinator, Co-operative Education Services Centre

I am a Big Sister in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and volunteer between three and four hours a week with them.

My little sister’s name is Adrienne and she’s 12.

In the past I have also volunteered with the Association for New Canadians and the Ship for World Youth Alumni Association.

As well, I raised $600 for Oxfam’s work in the Tsunami affected areas in January 2005.

Dr. Glyn George

Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science   

I have been a volunteer in the local K-12 school system since 1989. I was an elected member of the Avalon Consolidated School Board from 1990-96 and was one of the founding members of the Avalon East School Board from 1996-98. I was the elected secretary of both school boards.

I sat as the elected secretary of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils from 1999-2002 and was awarded a life membership by the federation at its annual general meeting in 2005.

I am currently a community representative and secretary of the school council of Booth Memorial High School. I have been a member on that council from 1998-2001 and 2003-06, vice-chair from 1998-99, chair from 1999-2001 and past chair and secretary 2003-06.

Lynn Cooze

Lecturer, School of Nursing

In May of 2005, I received my master of nursing degree from Memorial. The focus of my practicum project was the development of a proposal for a Dog Visitation Program for the Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre.

Since graduation, I have continued to work on a volunteer basis to meet with the Janeway and the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program to make this a reality, utilizing the developed program and research findings from my Master’s project.

Therapy dogs with St. John Ambulance are required to undergo further behavioral testing to visit with children so this is presently being arranged.

Within the next few months my goal is to see hospitalized children at the Janeway also enjoy the many benefits of dog visitation as the seniors in our community have for many years.

Dr. Rita E. Anderson

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

I have been president of the Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador for over five years. 

Several colleagues of mine here at Memorial are also current board members of the society including: Dr. John Jacobs, honorary research professor, Department of Geography; Dr. Don Steele, professor emeritus, Department of Biology; Dr. Allan Stein, retired professor, Department of Chemistry; Dr. Carolyn Walsh , assistant professor, Department of Psychology; Dr. Len Zedel, associate professor, Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography; and Andrea Proctor, PhD candidate, Department of Anthropology. Other active members of the society include Dr. Bill Montevecchi, University Research Professor with the Departments of Psychology and Biology and the Ocean Sciences; Dr. Gene Herzberg, Department of Biochemistry; Dr. Paul Snelgrove, Department of Biology; Dr. Michele DuRand, Ocean Sciences Centre; Dr. Keith Lewis, a post-doctoral fellow with the Departments of Biology and Geography; and Dave Fifield, a M.Sc. canadidate in the cognitive and behaviourial ecology program.

I am also vice-president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Association.

From left to right: Dr. John Jacobs, Dr. Len Zedel, Dr. Carolyn Walsh and Dr. Don Steele. Front row: Dr. Rita Anderson.

Bridget Ghaney

Core Content Co-ordinator, Discipline of Family Medicine

I was a council member with the town of Colliers from 1997-2005 and am a past member of the town’s recreation committee. I was a liaison officer for the town’s fire department while I was a councillor.

As well, I am the past secretary for the PC Association for Harbour Main/Whitbourne where I volunteered at many community functions and helped fundraise for various organizations.

I am the co-ordinator of the Darryl Gorman Memorial Walk for RealTime Cancer. I am doing this to remember my nephew who died from cancer.

In 2005, I put some of my volunteer activities on hold to focus on obtaining a business certificate from Memorial but am still a volunteer at heart.

Fronie Squibb

Intermediate Secretary, Family Practice, Miller Centre

I volunteer with the CLB as the company commander of Mount Pearl Company.

I have been involved with the CLB in different capacities since 1981, first as a section leader when women were first admitted to the CLB, then as an auxiliary member, and then on staff again with Mount Pearl Company for the past seven years.

The CLB is a Christian youth organization started in Newfoundland in 1892 under the auspices of the Anglican Church. The CLB is well known for its award-winning regimental band, and it also offers programs for boys and girls, as well as teenagers, between the ages of five and 19 at the company level.

Here's a glimpse into the busy lives of some other Memorial volunteers:

Shelley Bauer, School of Nursing

I am a sessional nursing instructor during the day and the president of Kids in Save Seats, Newfoundland ’s only car seat action group every other minute. We are a registered charity and we check car seats for parents, do community information and teaching sessions and advocate for up-to-date child passenger legislation in this province.

Lisa O’Brien, Student Health Service

I have been involved in a number of groups including the Conception Bay South Minor Soccer Association, the local Kidney Foundation, the CBS Walk for Literacy and the Hearth and Stroke Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador . I am currently on maternity leave.

Patti Thistle, Health Sciences Library

I am currently volunteering only with Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador and Infonet. I am on maternity leave right now. In the past year, I've volunteered with CUPE 1615, Paradise Youth Soccer Association, the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils and the Early Childhood Development Advisory Committee to the Strategic Social Plan for the Northeast Region.

Dr. K.N.I. Bell , former biology professor

I taught for several semesters in 2002-2003 in Biology at Memorial, and met some great students. I also set up the Biology Help Centre website, which I still write and maintain. It has resources mostly for first-year, with study advice, tutorial topics like osmosis, efficient habits, coping with Latin terms, etc. Since then I have returned to attend and give seminars, occasionally consulted with students/colleagues on areas of my special interests, etc. I gave a seminar on plagiarism to the "TOGA" program and have worked to get plagiarism (a special kind of lie) more effectively addressed on campus.

I volunteered with CUSO in in 1983 -- an exciting country with great people and humour.

In 1994 I was asked to volunteer to write a Report on the Status of Cod for COSEWIC, and since then a few of us have been in the middle of the ‘was it mismanagement’ issue; recently I was invited to give a presentation on that to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. These are foundational issues that go to the ethics of science and government, and also to how and what we teach.

I'm also on the executive of the Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.

 What about you? Where do you volunteer?

We want to know how you are making a difference and helping communities grow.

Send a short description of your volunteer activities, along with your name, job title and your department to Jeff Green.