34 Volunteers Our update by Chairperson, Sandy Forrest
Amazing volunteers:
We would very much like to welcome some new members to our Group – many of us are Members as well as Volunteers – and perhaps some of you reading this report might consider joining our “ranks”. The Volunteers continue to amaze both me and others with their commitment, enthusiasm and involvement in activities at the Seabird Centre. There is no formula or programme for their support of the Centre, merely a readiness to do whatever is needed, and aiming for regular fund-raising events, to ensure that the bank balance remains constant (or even increases) to cover our frequent donations to Scottish Seabird Centre projects, particularly children’s activities.
This was my opening paragraph for the Chair Report at our AGM in May. I went on to highlight the multiple tasks in which we had been involved during the past year and was able to release a long-held secret of recognition for our efforts – the Volunteer Group had been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Vice Chair, Jenny Macdonald, and I were invited to the Queen’s Garden Party at Holyrood Palace in July (wonderful weather and a delicious afternoon tea, plus Her majesty the Queen just feet away as she walked past!), plus a presentation of the Award by Michael Williams, Lord Lieutenant, in September.
As I ordered our lapel pin badges for the Award, I realised how slim our numbers had become since the Centre opened in 2000. The Volunteer Group then amounted to 50+ people. Sadly almost 20 years have taken their toll and we have lost many of our group through illness and/or old age so that we now number only around 25. We would very much like to welcome some new members to our Group – many of us are Members as well as Volunteers – and perhaps some of you reading this report might consider joining our “ranks”. Volunteering is very flexible, ranging from greeting visitors to the DC, to helping at Coffee Mornings, to helping with admin tasks in the office (we do not help in the café or retail where specialist training is required). For the remainder of this year we will be holding our Coffee Morning on 8 December, with hopefully a social lunch at Puffin restaurant. It would be great to see some of you at these events – please come up and say hello to a “purple person”!
Scottish Seabird Centre magazine
