Volunteer burnout warning

Volunteerism is described as the soul of Barrhead.

The Blue Heron Fair, the Soap Box Derby, The Wildrose Rodeo Finals, the Northern Lights Snowmobile Club, hockey tournaments – would these exist without volunteers?

Yet now comes a warning that community group volunteers are becoming burned out from excessive workloads.

Gary Belanger, vice-president of the Northern Lights Snowmobile Club (NLSC), said it was time for young, new volunteers to step forward and share the burden.

Barrhead is blessed with so many amazing resources, he said, but people are required to manage them.

“Volunteerism is the soul of small town Alberta,” he said.

“This holds especially true in Barrhead. Without volunteers, this town would have nothing to offer.

“But every volunteer group in Barrhead is suffering from low numbers and volunteer burnout.

“Many of us committed to the community already serve on two to three boards, with more knocking on our door.”

Belanger said people should consider what groups like the Ag Society, the Agrena Society, the hockey leagues, Canadian Parents for French and Northern Lights Snowmobile Club brought to Barrhead.

They should consider the events and activities organized by such groups – the Wildrose Rodeo, for instance, or the Blue Heron Fair.

“Would local businesses survive without all of the spin-off business generated by these events?” Belanger asked.

“Without the soul of volunteerism, would Barrhead survive?”

Belanger appealed for fresh faces to show themselves.

“We need to stimulate some young, new volunteers to step forward and help us to manage the wonderful resources we have available to us.”

Northern Lights Snowmobile Club president Alan Breitkreitz echoed Belanger’s comments, citing his own group as an example. Without the commitment of a core group of volunteers who did the bulk of the work the club would probably have folded this year.

“Volunteers are few and far apart and the few we have are nearing the burnout stage,” he said.

Breitkreitz said club funds were at an all-time low.

Urging people to join his club, he said: “We need your support. Remember the saying ‘use it or lose it.”

Last week Breitkreitz said NLSC had some exciting events planned, but these depended on volunteers.

“Once the trail is open we plan on some ladies night rides , a monthly moonlight ride and hopefully some weekend trail rides. This all depends on volunteers to organize and run the events.

“We have 500 sledders in the area and 7 - 8 volunteers. We have an average of 700 visitors a year at the Shoal Lake cabin, 250 a year at the Goodridge lake cabin and 200 a year at the Flatbush cabin of which 15 per cent are actually paying pass holders.”

Breitkreitz said the club had spent more than $5,000 in the past year to keep the cabins and land leases, maintain and improve trails and keep the club running.

“It is time the freeloaders chip in to help,” he said.

“Our executive fundraised $3,700 to keep the club running this fall and if not for their commitment the club would have probably folded. Last year, due to no snow, we only sold 39 passes to our faithful few who support us every year. However, the club cannot maintain 160 kilometres of trail and three cabins on $1,050 a year.”

Trail coordinator Dale Bentz said the club also participated in the Christmas Light Up, organizing a firepit and warmup benches.

Barrhead County Councillor Bill Lane has joined calls for young people to get more involved in running community organizations and put forward fresh ideas. He said young volunteers needed to fill the shoes of the old guard who were becoming worn out.