RESULTS

Question 5: Any final comments?

Calgary, AB

• Very heavy conversation and a tough topic.
• Would have liked a bit more information on the different components ahead of time; clarification by facilitators was helpful.
• The group developed some good strategies.

Charlottetown, PE

• We are in the process of building the sector. Everything that is done by the VSI should be with the goal of bringing the sector together. The sector must become the leader of this process, not the federal government. Our goal is that the voluntary sector becomes self-directed.

Halifax, NS

• One participant had serious concerns about the VSI and its future in terms of commitment of the federal government.

Montréal, QC (French)

• Workshops like this one should be done in the regions, in small cities. We could ask local organizations to do focus groups on these topics.
• We should be communicating with all the voluntary sector organizations. We have not been able to reach all of them yet. We do not have all the data, for example the co-ordinates of organizations that are not listed with United Way/Centraide. Many organizations are not getting the information, are not participating and are not being consulted. Many are not involved, even when they are invited. For example, close to 1000 invitations were sent for the Montreal consultation and approximately fifty participants came. We must address this issue and find solutions.

Montreal, QC (English)

• There were some misgivings about the government role and expectations in terms of the VSI consultations.
• It was noted that it is important for government to be aware of the sector's capacity, or else we will continue to be the dumping ground for what used to be government services.
• It was also suggested that the sector needs to show that it doesn't steal jobs.

Saint John, NB

Saskatoon, SK

• We need to be able to articulate the desired outcomes of the VSI and be able to describe how we will measure progress.
• No opportunity to debate "need" for the awareness campaign or other activities of the Awareness Table.

St. John's, NF

• The VSI should work with champion organizations in remote and rural areas who would promote the sector among their peers in those areas.
• We need to always include small grass roots organizations.
• Eventually, we need a TV campaign like Participaction to raise general public awareness.
• A national detailed database of voluntary sector organizations would help to unify and link up all of us.

Toronto, ON

• Didn't tell us that the VSI already has some sort of campaign in mind and that the structure of the workshop was to decide more details to feed the campaign.
• Frustrating process until design changed; perhaps change title to "focus group" instead of "workshop."
• We are focusing on the voluntary sector organizations and their role and impact in society. Why? Do we need to explain our place at the table, support funding opportunities, or what?

Winnipeg, MB

• Would have liked more information about Awareness Table workplan and timeline, testing of a few pre-selected ideas, and prioritization of ideas.
• The facilitator's introductory information could have been presented in advance to save time.
• Good differentiation between volunteer and voluntary sector.

Other Comments Raised During the Consultations

On the Awareness Campaign:

The campaign message must be developed from a local perspective, be grounded in people's reality and talk about how it affects local people. (Charlottetown)

We need to find ways to encourage groups of organizations to get together and to use their collective weight to promote the messages on the sector. We need to be seen as a group with one voice. (St John's)

The National Survey on Voluntary Organizations will only be completed in approximately two years. This is unfortunate since the survey's key results would be exactly the kind of background information we need about the sector for the Awareness Campaign. (Halifax)

For the campaign, use real people talking about real life experiences and the real contributions of the sector. Show the human impact of the sector's work. (Montreal, French group)

A good strategy for the Awareness Campaign would be to show a family and the wide range of Voluntary Sector related impacts on the family's daily life: the car seat for the infant, the grief support group when a family member dies, the support offered for disabled family members, etc. One could show how this, in turn, brings about positive attitudes among family members and a desire to become involved in the sector as volunteers or otherwise. (Halifax)

Part of the campaign should explain that what businesses give is not a "donation." They get something in return: increased visibility with their logo, tax breaks, etc. It is also a social investment, an investment in the health of the community. There is incredible gratification for those involved. Testimonies by business people involved in partnerships with the voluntary sector (including the story and its human impact) should be included in the campaign. (Montreal)

On language:

"Community involvement" may be a better term than "voluntary sector." (Winnipeg)

Look at more "corporate sector" language. For example, "The sector is worthy of investing your time/talent/money." (Winnipeg)

One participant was not comfortable with the terms "excellence" and "professionalism" associated with the Awards Program. These terms are linked to important means and resources that many organizations do not have. (Montreal, French group)

Beware of translating any type of materials from English into French. Adapting the language is very important. The French used must be rooted in the reality of people in Quebec (and other minority francophones) and reflect their life and culture. Be careful with slogans that are translated and that mean nothing in French. For example, the Year of Volunteer slogan "I volunteer" that was translated into "Je suis là" (I am there), which was felt to be ineffective. (Montreal, French group)

On inclusivity:

We need to recognize that volunteerism and the voluntary sector do not resonate well in immigrant and visible minority communities, or even in some parts of this country. (Saskatoon)

There is not even a word in Aboriginal languages for volunteer and we don't see ourselves as participating in the voluntary sector, though we do good work in communities. (Winnipeg)

All formats for Awareness Campaign tools must be accessible and consider the needs of individuals with disabilities. (Halifax)

On general Awareness Table activities:

The pilot project to develop and disseminate a video on the Aboriginal community and the voluntary sector should be a Capacity Table issue rather than an Awareness Table issue. (Calgary)

If the overall goal is to impact on governments, then some of these are the right messages. If it is to stimulate the sector with new volunteers, then we need to concentrate on other messages. The goal must come before the message. We are focusing on the voluntary sector organizations and their role and impact in society. Why? Do we need to explain our place at the table, support funding opportunities, or what? Do we want the message to target government only? (Toronto)