Dorothy Macnaughton, president of the Friends of the Sault Ste Marie Public Library organized an April workshop for regional Friends groups. Marjatta Asu of OLS-North and Branda Lailey, former Executive Director of Alzheimer’s Association of Sault Ste. Marie were guest speakers. Delegates exchanged ideas and networked on topics relating to challenges, membership growth, and volunteer recruitment and involvement.
This meeting following a regional meeting held in Sudbury, organized by Macnaughton and Jami van Haaften, Chair of the Friends of the Greater Sudbury Public Library, and FOCAL President. Attendees supported the need for this type of regional communication and networking, and agreed to meet May 2003 as part of the OLS-North Conference in Sudbury.
Answers were offered in a brainstorming session at the Northern Ontario/Northern Michigan Friends of the Library Workshop, held in Sault Ste. Marie April 20th.
ª I care.
ª I use libraries.
ª I want to give back.
ª I felt coerced (but then stayed of my own free will!).
ª I have time/more time.
ª I love books.
ª I want to make a difference.
ª There is job to be done.
ª Decreased funding for something valuable.
ª I was raised with the library. It is part of my life.
ª I am committed.
ª I was asked to join because of a need.
ª I like being a team player.
ª I have a skill to contribute.
ª I believe in the cause.
Guest speaker at the Northern Ontario/Northern Michigan Friends Workshop, Branda Lailey, provided this poem, author unknown:
Why be a Volunteer
It’s not
for the money
It’s not
for the fame
It’s not
for any personal gain.
It’s just for love
of fellow man.
It’s just to lend
a helping hand.
It’s just to give
a tithe of self.
That’s something
you can’t buy with wealth.
It’s not models won
with pride.
It’s for that feeling
deep inside.
It’s that reward
down in your heart.
It’s feeling that
you’ve been a part.
Of helping others
far and near.
That makes you
be a volunteer.