A Huge "Thank You" to our Dedicated Volunteers
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 21:30
|
A Huge "Thank You" to our Dedicated Volunteers
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” The Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education is pleased to introduce to you our new Volunteer Coordinator, Celia Lazzarin. Celia, a volunteer herself, was inspired to support the DLC after she attended last September’s Vancouver Peace Summit. According to Celia, the volunteers she works with are the “real underpinning to the Center” and below she shares a few words on volunteerism and its instrumental role at the DLC. Every aspect of the Dalai Lama Center depends on volunteers and is enhanced by them. We are most fortunate to have a vast array of talented people from all walks of life, who are there when we need them. Canada’s National Volunteer Week (April 18-24) offers us a wonderful opportunity to again thank our volunteers for all their contributions this past year. In 2009, by far the main focus for volunteers was the Vancouver Peace Summit. At least 50 people helped with administrative tasks, served as photographers and media liaisons, sold books, performed musical interludes (of which the Tibetan Children’s Ensemble was a highlight), provided security, greeted attendees and offered other on-site support. Volunteers were also on the front lines of the Connecting for Change Dialogues, which were held concurrently with the Summit. Again, volunteers were given huge responsibility for all aspects of the Dialogues by acting as facilitators’ aids, helping with the dinner dialogues, facilitating discussions, developing a communications platform through LinkedIn (enabling participants to engage in networking and community building), as well as decorating various venues, and creating a visual record of proceedings. Our volunteers helped in a myriad of other ways making the Summit an incredible organizational feat. Thanks to them, the event was a huge success. The two Speakers Series talks held earlier this year (featuring world-acclaimed psychologist Paul Ekman and Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams) also benefited from tremendous volunteer support. Volunteers assisted by greeting people, taking tickets, as well as by selling books & CDs. The operation of the Center and the development of our core programs also rely on dedicated volunteers, who make up our Board of Trustees, and our various advisory committees, such as Communications Committee, Planning Committee and the Centre for the Advancement of Heart-Mind Education Committee. The Dalai Lama says that “compassion is action.” By giving their time, knowledge and talents, our volunteers not only reflect this value but help to strengthen humanity. Thank you for your continuing support. Celia Lazzarin, DLC Volunteer Coordinator The DLC wishes to offer its continued support to the victims and families of those affected by the earthquake in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. In addition to the Tibetan Village Campaign, we would also encourage you to consider Machik.org when making donations to the relief efforts in China. Machik is a nonprofit organization working to develop new opportunities on the Tibetan plateau.
|
