Most community organizations operate with volunteer labour. To make the best use of volunteers’ time and to develop their commitment and leadership skills, organizations need to define their volunteers’ jobs.
Volunteers value their time and if they feel they are wasting it, they will stop volunteering.
Statistics Canada studies on volunteering patterns found that the number of volunteers declined by one million between 1997 and 2000.
Dawn Martin, executive director of Saskatchewan Culture, Youth and Recreation, conducted a study of volunteers for Sask Sport.
She identified two areas where there is a significant decline in volunteer participation: boards of directors and coaching and athlete development.
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These were the two areas where volunteers contributed the most number of hours. Time seemed to be the key factor in the decline. Volunteers are interested in contributing, but they are not able to give as much time, on an individual basis, as they have in the past. For this reason, the time they spend must be
focused.
Martin said the tasks must be significant to the organization’s mission and volunteers must receive feedback on how well the job was performed.
Organizations must also develop strong recruitment strategies. They need to identify the jobs they need filled and then identify who would do them well. Martin’s study found the key reason individuals volunteer is that someone they knew asked them.
Another strategy for increasing volunteers is to focus on youth. Studies have found that volunteer participation is higher in people who as youths:
- Were active in student government.
- Had a parent who volunteered.
- Were active in a religious organization.
- Did some volunteer work.
- Participated on a team sport.
Unfortunately, youth participation in these activities is declining by four to 10 percent a year. Culture, arts and recreation benefit most from volunteers, so it is to their benefit to encourage young people to volunteer.
Saskatchewan and Alberta have the highest volunteering rates in the country, at 42 and 39 percent, respectively. Statistics Canada found that in 2000, the national average was 26.7 percent, and that of these, the top 25 percent volunteered 73 percent of the hours provided.
Living in unity
During these uncertain times, perhaps we can learn a lesson from a fish and a plant.
The male Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, fights to the death in a mixed aquarium. For this reason, it is kept separate from other fish except when breeding. It is a beautiful fish with flowing fins, vivid colours and active personality.
A healthy Betta is indeed a thing of beauty. Try holding a mirror up to a male Betta and watch him strut his stuff.
Spathiphyllums, also known as the peace lily, are tropical evergreen perennials that endure low light interior conditions, enjoy but don’t require high humidity and love regular watering.
Cream-coloured to white spathes stand out against the deep green foliage up to a metre tall. A NASA study of sick building syndrome placed spathes among the top 10 air-cleaning plants for interiors. Plentiful, cheap and lovely when in bloom, no home should be without one – or several.
Combining the houseplant, whose exposed roots live in clear water in a clear vase, with a breathtakingly beautiful, lone fish provides a lesson for all of about living peacefully in a nontraditional environment.
At first glance, one might think that this creation would result in the perfect environment and require little or no intervention from humans: the fish nibbles the plant roots for food, the plant thrives from the fishy habitat, and the plant roots clean the fish environment.
In reality, this environment will become cloudy, stinky and rank if not kept clean. The Betta is carnivorous. While it will nibble the roots, it cannot live from them alone. The plant tolerates roots in water, but is not normally most prolific there.
Very simply: keep it clean, don’t add fertilizer, but do feed the fish. It will enjoy food with necessary elements for maintaining its healthy, vivid colour.
A pet store professional will be glad to give guidance on a regular diet of varied staple foods specially prepared for Bettas.
Here’s what’s needed to build this environment:
- A peace lily plant.
- Decorative rocks.
- A clear glass vase, about 1.5 litres.
- A clear plastic cup that fits snugly within the mouth of the vase, but doesn’t fall into it.
- A knife or scissors.
- Chlorine-free water at room temperature, higher than 21 C.
- A Siamese fighting fish. If the fish is in a plastic bag, place the sealed bag into the water to acclimate it.
Gently turn the contained plant onto a working surface, allowing the soil to fall away from the main root ball. Work the soil from the bottom, away from the tighter root structure near the top, and gently pull the plant clusters apart, keeping roots of each intact as much as possible.
Don’t fret too much if roots are broken near the ends, since they’ll be trimmed back anyway. Select a plant cluster that suits the size of your container.
Pinch off dead leaves and roots that are damaged or discoloured.
Trim roots that will be too long for the container. When cleaning the leaves and roots, don’t leave a speck of soil on the roots if it can be helped. If you have the time, allow the plant to soak in water overnight to soften soil on the roots for easy removal.
Make sure the root cluster is no larger than the bottom of the plastic cup.
Cut an opening in the bottom of the cup that will allow the roots to enter freely, but small enough to keep the top of the plant from falling through. The main support should fall in an area slightly below stem level.
When this opening is the correct size, it is possible to hold the cup upright with the root system protruding from the bottom hole and the root-stem area sitting inside the cup. Put the plant into the container.
Trim the roots if they touch the bottom. The roots should be trimmed at varying lengths for a natural and relaxed look.
When roots are trimmed satisfactorily, remove the plant-root-cup assembly from the vase.
Rinse pebbles thoroughly and place them in the bottom of the container by the handful. Don’t pour the bag of pebbles directly into the glass vase, because it could break.
Fill the container about three-quarters full with distilled or fresh dechlorinated water.
Place the plant assembly into the container. Correct the water level so that it falls just below where the stems and roots meet. Add more decorative rocks to the plastic cup, but don’t use too many. Make sure the plant-cup-rock assembly can be lifted with ease for regular water changes without the risk of pebbles falling out and hurting the fish. Other important tips:
- Provide regular fish food.
- Place the vase in a comfortable space that’s out of direct sunlight.
- Don’t let the temperature fall below 21 C.
- Don’t add another fish.
- Replace half the water at least once a week, although smaller vases will need it more often.
- Use only chlorine-free water, and always at room temperature. Distilled water is good, but tap water that has been allowed to sit for 24 hours should be suitable.
- Visit gardening.about.com website for information on the peace lily and fresh water aquariums.
Almond Lemon Berry Coffee Cake
This is a nice combination of lemon and berries. It is great served warm on a cold winter evening.
31/2 cups flour 875 mL
2 tablespoons 30 mL
baking powder
1 teaspoon salt 5 mL
1/2 cup butter, 125 mL
softened
1 1/2 cups sugar 375 mL
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk or 125 mL
evaporated milk
1/2 cup lemon juice 125 mL
3 cups cranberries, 750 mL
saskatoons or
blueberries
3 tablespoons sugar 45 mL
Combine flour, baking powder and salt.
Cream butter 11/2 cups (375 mL) sugar and eggs in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add milk and the lemon juice.
Add flour mixture all at once. Mix well.
Spread half of batter in greased
13 x 9 inch (33 x 23 cm) cake pan. Spoon berries on top. sprinkle 3 tablespoons (45 mL) sugar over berries.
Carefully spread remaining batter on top.
Topping:
1/3 cups all purpose 75 mL
flour
1/3 cup packed brown 75 mL
sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon 3 mL
1/3 cup butter 75 mL
1/2 cup sliced almonds 125 mL
Combine flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir in almonds, sprinkle evenly over batter. Bake at 375 F (190 C) for 40-50 minutes or until set. Enjoy warm or cool.
Betty Ann Deobald is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and one of four columnists comprising Team Resources. Send correspondence in care of this newspaper, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4 or contact them at team@producer.com.
