Re: Volunteers sought for HOPE activities

Frank Ondrus, Convenor (Manager) of Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) Toowoomba, is asking for some of your time and talents to contribute to HOPE’s many activities.

HOPE’s principal aim is to raise awareness of, and encourage active participation in, waste minimization and the conservation of energy and resources. In a nut-shell, our efforts are directed at:

• AWARENESS - letting people know;
• EDUCATION - suggesting actions or attitudes which promote change; and
• SHOWING - how it can be done.

The development of a good, strong team of willing workers is important in achieving HOPE’s principal aim; and is also a precursor to our group’s proposed State-wide expansion.

HOPE requires assistance with office/admin tasks and projects, events and campaigns. Specific office/admin tasks include media; newsletter; fund-raising; and the maintenance of several information displays. Current projects include the development of Information Sheets; updating our Ecology Audit booklet and the HOPE Generator manual; organising Information Evenings and Expos: and having a display at events such as World Environment Day. Campaigns being undertaken this year include petitioning against the introduction of GE foods into Queensland; lobbying for the introduction of Container Deposit Legislation; and Collecting 5¢ for Special Needs Children in East Timor.

HOPE offers you an opportunity to contribute to the improvement of the whole environment!

Contact Frank Ondrus by phone on (07) 4639 2135 (after 7pm) or by email: to get started.

Re: Gain work experience through volunteering

The calendar marks the 5th December as International Volunteers Day - a day to acknowledge the immeasurable contribution made by individuals, who volunteer time and talents, in so many aspects of our society.

But, don’t go thinking that volunteering is what you do “when you retire”!

Imagine the plight of those entering the workforce for the first time – “you can’t get a job without experience and you don’t get experience without a job”.

A viable option then is to consider voluntary work. Apart from benefiting others by offering your skills and time, you’ll gain valuable work experience and give your resume a boost.

Volunteer work is a stimulating and rewarding activity, and a great entry portal into an organization. Apart from allowing you to develop your ability, it shows prospective employers that you’re determined to succeed, even if you have to start at the bottom.

It is a well accepted fact that volunteers don’t always work for purely philanthropic reasons, so don’t feel guilty about undertaking voluntary work to improve your chances of paid employment.

Volunteer work will provide you with:

• The chance to think laterally about your skills;
• The opportunity to network;
• The opportunity to use and develop your communication and inter-personal skills;
• Motivation, enthusiasm and confidence;
• Actual work experience in a work environment; and
• The opportunity to explore career options before making a commitment.

Success as a volunteer depends on you, so remember to honour your commitment and understand your responsibility as a volunteer. Finally, ask for a reference – it will be a welcome contribution to your resume!

(Thanks to Karen Penrose of WPA Career Media, for permission to use her article ‘Volunteering’ as the primary resource here.)