When April approaches, I’m always reminded that there is an important campaign we all should recognize—National Volunteer Week (April 14-20) run by Volunteer Canada. This year’s theme is “Every Moment Matters.” The organization’s messaging rings true for CPRS Edmonton: “It highlights the importance of every volunteer and each contribution they make at a moment when we need support more than ever.”
CPRS Edmonton is run solely by volunteers. Our board members dedicate their time to monthly meetings, governance, organizing events, and communicating to our members and the Edmonton public relations community. I know this may be cliché but without our volunteers, there would be no CPRS Edmonton. Please join me and extend your thanks to our board members for their time as well as the students who have been contributing to the success of this year’s events.
Our annual general meeting is just over two months away on June 26. We are losing a few board members and there is an opportunity for new faces to volunteer. Recruitment has started and you may see social media posts and emails asking you to consider volunteering. We have created a form for those who want to express their interest in a board position. Applications are due May 6. If you have any questions, please reach out to me at president@cprsedmonton.ca or Peter Haight at pastpresident@cprsedmonton.ca.
We have an event coming up on April 23 that can only happen because of volunteers. Leaders from the communications and marketing industry in Edmonton are volunteering to be mentors for our speed mentoring program at Felice Cafe. But we still could use a few more mentors. If you want to volunteer or attend the event as a mentee, please register now. You do not need to be a CPRS member to participate.
I also have to applaud all the volunteers at the national level. With the CPRS conference coming up in June in Mont Tremblant, there are countless volunteers who judge the awards, help organize this event, and define the program and the speakers. We have our CPRS National board who dedicates their time to ensuring that this conference and the organization itself runs flawlessly.
Volunteer Week’s theme does resonate because each moment that a volunteer dedicates themselves to CPRS, it makes a difference in someone else’s professional life. Thank you for this impact.