Earlier this week, Volunteer Airdrie looked back on the past year and ahead to the future at their Annual General Meeting.

Board Chair Dave Maffitt says membership on the board has expanded to 10 people for the year ahead and he's excited with the newcomers who've joined.

"Michael De Bokx and Ash Dawodharry.  Absolutely thrilled to have them join our team, they bring so much to our skill set and network of contacts.  I can't wait to get started with the new team."

With the resignation of Melanie Taylor as Executive Director in May, Volunteer Airdrie has become a truly 100 percent volunteer-run organization, something that Maffitt says won't change soon.

"At this point, all the Executive Director duties have been redistributed to the Board of Directors so we're 100 percent volunteer-powered now.  Everybody on the board has specific, hands-on responsibilities.  At this point, because of lack of funding, we just can't afford to have staff.  We're hoping to at some point in the future but, realistically, we've had to park that position for just now."

Maffitt says over the last couple of years Volunteer Airdrie has become more program-based and he plans to expand that next year.  In particular, he hopes to expand their first program, the LEAD Youth Leadership Program which Maffit says has been a huge success.

"We've got a great team, we've got a great group of facilitators and we've got a partnership with (W.H.) Croxford to use their facilities.  Very excited about that.  We want to expand on that by applying for a franchise in 2019 for a Youth Volunteer Corps through YVC in Kansas City.  There are probably 40 YVC franchises in the U.S. but only two in Canada.  It provides youth with the opportunity to work in groups and be mentored by college-aged supervisors and design and execute community service projects that they see a need for."

Maffit says Volunteer Airdrie will apply to YVC in spring of 2019 but would likely start the program next September.

Maffitt thinks the organization is on the right track for encouraging volunteerism in the growing community of Airdrie and believes the biggest challenge faced is Airdrie's growth.

"Awareness of volunteer opportunities is an issue.  Getting connected to the community.  We field lots of phone calls and emails from people new to the community, wanting to get involved in the community and they're really struggling with where to start.  I know there are lots of people who want to be involved.  I think we're pretty average when it comes to volunteerism across Canada because I hear similar stories from other communities.  It comes down to awareness.  I still run into people who've never heard of Volunteer Airdrie so awareness is going to be a huge priority in 2019 for us."

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