Sara Keddy,
Managing editor
Dozens of very important people were recognized at a celebratory dinner at 14 Wing Greenwood’s Annapolis Mess April 12.
Volunteers.
“Without our volunteers, we would not be able to have the programs and the clubs we do,” said emcee Eric MacKenzie, 14 Wing Greenwood community recreation coordinator.
The community centre fosters close to 30 interest and sports programs, involving as few as 10 members to as many as 400: 2,500 participants in all.
“And volunteers act in a variety of capacities – coaches, fundraisers, executive members, trainers – to make that happen. That makesGreenwooda great place to live.”
The community centre joined the Military Family Resource Centre for the second annual dinner marking April as volunteer month. MFRC volunteer manager Leona Conrick said the initiative is all about saying thank you.
“I often hear, ‘I’m just a volunteer,’” she said. “Do you know what ‘just a volunteer’ does?”
InCanada, she said, 6.5 million people volunteer one billion hours annually – equivalent to 500,000 full-time jobs.
“That’s absolutely amazing.
“In 2011, MFRC volunteers gave over 3,000 hours in a diversity of jobs, and we can never say thank you often enough.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Thauberger, commanding officer of 404 Squadron, expressed the wing commander and wing personnel’s thanks to base and community volunteers.
“Thank you for all the fine work you’ve done over the past year – and continue to do – making this a great spot for military and community families. You’re the foundation of all the fine clubs that make this a special place.”
The evening also extended appreciation to 13 businesses and 10 CFB Greenwood partner entities for their support of programs and services.
