Employer-Supported Volunteering at Central Veterinary Services
Northern vaccination clinic in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation
“Be the change you seek.”
Mahatma Ghandi
I came across this quote not too long ago. Though the message resonated with me immediately, the practical meaning of the message would find me later.
If you are familiar with the movie Field of Dreams, then you will remember the manner in which Kevin Costner receives his ethereal message in the cornfields. And in true cinematic form, I like to imagine that, “Be the change you seek” came to me in the iconic voice and cadence of actor James Earl Jones. And not too unlike the sentiment behind the movie’s most famous line, “If you build it, he will come”, the wish for an Employer Supported Volunteer Program, was born.
The idea for an Employer Supported Volunteer program came to me as I was once again pondering the barriers to veterinary volunteerism. One of the biggest barriers being that many potential volunteers find it difficult to make time in their work schedule, or to book time off to commit to a volunteer activity. Given that these events typically require advance commitment from participants, even planning a date for an event can prove challenging.
I started to imagine my ideal scene as it pertains to veterinary volunteerism. It would include an employer supported volunteer program for not only my clinic, but for the entire province, and perhaps eventually on a national level. Employees would receive an additional benefit in the form of a paid or partially paid day off, if it was to be used for a pre-approved volunteer activity. Participation amongst the professionals in our field would increase, and more subjective markers such as morale, community connection and interpersonal relationships would thrive.
As I began to seriously explore the possibility of developing this program at Central Veterinary Services, I quickly became immersed in supportive literature and resources that would help me plan and deliver this type of program successfully. In fact I was so excited by some of the information that I discovered, that the majority of our program’s description and protocols were written at 5am one morning because I was too excited to wait until a reasonable hour to write it all down. Who knew that there was a Canadian Code for Employer-Supported Volunteering? And though most of us can infer the personal and professional benefits gained from volunteering in our community, it was powerful to see them cited in literature as it pertains to volunteer programs.
The Canadian Code for Employer-Supported Volunteering cites the following benefits regarding employee involvement in formal programs:
“Team members that volunteer are amongst the most engaged, and gain benefits such as improved communication, leadership, adaptability and empathy.”
“Volunteer involvement is personal. It provides opportunities to engage according to their values and motivations. It builds and strengthens relationships between coworkers, clients and community members. It builds pride in the workplace.”
“Employer-supported volunteering contributes to strong, inclusive and resilient communities. Such programs allow employees to strengthen professional citizenship from the inside out with compassion, promising ideas and unparalleled energy.”
These were the words that got me out of bed at 5am to design a program for Central Veterinary Services. These are the words that inspire me to share our program with my peers. Our profession is like none other, in that it affords us endless opportunities to give back to our community in ways that others cannot. However it is up to us to help reduce the barriers to volunteerism that may inhibit our peers from contributing their time and enthusiasm.
And to that point, I should note that we are all different in terms of our schedules, commitments, interests and passions. And not every one of my peers is longing to travel to remote locations to participate in a spay and neuter clinic. But I simply ask that you creatively assess your skillset when you ask yourself, “how can I give back to my community?” Perhaps volunteering on a board related to animal welfare, wildlife conservation or educational visits to high school career days might be more up your alley. Another facet of the Employer Supported Volunteer Program is to also break the mould of what we traditionally consider to be “veterinary volunteerism.”
I would like to take this moment to challenge my peers, and to simultaneously offer my guidance. I would like to challenge other practices in Manitoba, and throughout Canada, to develop and launch their own Employer Supported Volunteer Program. And I would like to offer my advice and guidance for anyone that is interested in making a positive change within their practice. Whether it be designing your own program, or writing a protocol for your team to follow, I am here to help. Together, we can make history and change history, in our personal and professional lives.
Looking for ideas on how to get started?
· Winnipeg Humane Society Remote Clinic program performs spay and neuter clinics both in remote communities and locally
· Cat Advocacy Resource and Education (C.A.R.E) is a program that delivers subsidized spay/neuter to cat owners in Winnipeg. This program is in cooperation with the Winnipeg Humane Society
· Community Veterinary Outreach (CVO) provides veterinary care (vaccinations, deworming, physical examinations) to vulnerably housed pet owners within the setting of a One Health clinic and pet fair.
· Many high schools within the city actively look for guest speakers for career days, including veterinarians to help lead day-long science and dissection labs.
· Connect with a local pet rescue that sets high standards for rescue care and ethical practices for adoption. These rescues often need help with educational events, on-site clinics, etc.
For additional resources, check out the following links:
Canadian Code for Employer-Supported Volunteering
Volunteer Manitoba
https://www.volunteermanitoba.ca/volunteer_opportunities.php
