National Volunteer Week - Thank You!!!

Without volunteers Multiple Births Canada would simply not exist! Every day across Canada there are hundreds of volunteers working tirelessly in their communities to improve the lives of families with multiples. Whether as a family support volunteer, a Clothing Sale Coordinator, a link to MBC, or a Chapter Executive member, these volunteers are making a difference in the lives of others.

At the national level there is also a need for volunteers to assist in the fulfillment of MBC’s mission and to assist the National Board of Directors in completing work that benefits all families in Canada. 

How can you help?

Are you looking to make a difference? Do you have an interest in multiple-birth issues or the passion to improve the lives of multiples and their families? If you have answered yes to either of these questions, then we need you!

Multiple Births Canada is looking for:  

• Dedicated volunteers to assist and support MBC, its Chapters and its membership.
• Volunteers who can commit to a task and see it through; who are also comfortable to working on their own (seeking assistance when needed) and taking initiative where necessary.
• Volunteers with a passion for multiple-birth issues who want to make a difference.
• Individuals who are a member of Multiple Births Canada (either as a Chapter Member or a Direct Member)
• Individuals with Internet access, email and willingness to meet (via electronic methods) on a fairly regular basis.
• Individuals interested in taking on a leadership role: positions such as those of the National Board of Directors require (where possible) experience working with a Chapter Executive. 

Benefits of Volunteering

The benefits are endless for you, for your chapter, for multiple-birth families and for your community. Some of these benefits include:

• Spending time with others who have or who are having similar life experiences
• Meeting new people, developing networks and making lasting friendships
• Learning new skills with the potential to transfer them to the workplace
• Enhancing your self-confidence, self-worth and sense of accomplishment
• Teaching your family about the importance of sharing with others and giving of one’s time to a worthy cause
• Helping both your family and others in your community by contributing to a better quality of life
• Helping a cause that you believe in…making a difference for future generations
• Having fun!

Open Volunteer Board of Directors Positions for 2007-2008

The following are Board of Directors positions currently available. However, please note if you are interested in holding a Board position and these are not areas of interest to you, a Director at Large position is an option to consider. The MBC Board is currently seeking 2-3 new Board Members to become part of the MBC Board in May/June of 2007.  Ideal candidates are past MBC Chapter Executives, who have held the position of President/Vice President and who are now ready to make the move from their local Chapter Executives/Board to the National Board. However, if you have not held these positions in the past and are interested in learning more, please do not let this requirement stop you from contacting MBC.

Director of Fund Development - MBC is in need of a person to oversee the fundraising and fund development areas for MBC.  Ideally a background in writing funding proposals and work in the area of fundraising is needed for this position.

Director of Information Management - MBC is looking for a Director to oversee the areas of publications, Multiple Moments and website content.

Director of Support Services - MBC is looking for a Director to oversee its Support Networks and other support services.

Director of Research - MBC is looking for a Director to assist with multiple-birth research related projects and the dissemination of multiple-birth research studies to MBC members and partners.

Director at Large Positions - MBC is looking for Directors to serve on the Board who may not hold specific portfolios but who are willing to work with a team of fellow Board members. 

If you have any questions about the work carried out by the Board of Directors, the portfolios of any Board positions, the Board’s composition, the nature of the time commitment involved, or Board operations, please do not hesitate to contact the Chair/Director of Volunteer Management at any time.

Additional Volunteer Positions Available

If you are interested in volunteering at the national level but don’t feel that membership on the Board is for you, there is a wide variety of positions and responsibilities that require dedicated volunteers with a passion for multiple births and Multiple Births Canada. All areas of MBC need volunteers to work on committees or on specific projects—either as a leader or as a member. Please note that the average time commitment allotted is an estimate and that these hours could change based on opportunities that present themselves for that position, time available by the volunteer, and timing of specific events or activities directly related to that position.

Volunteer Coordinator: MBC Volunteers are an integral part of our organization; without them, we would not be able to provide support and services to our Chapters, members and to the multiple-birth community as a whole. As such, the role of Volunteer Coordinator is an essential one for our national organization to support volunteers across the country who work independently and remotely from each other. MBC is looking for someone who has experience working with volunteers in a coordination role to oversee the recruitment, ongoing orientation and training, creation of appropriate position descriptions and tracking national volunteers’ progress, as well as providing ongoing and annual recognition. The responsibilities of this position could be shared by more than one person. Average time commitment is 6-10 hours a month.

Committee Members: These positions are project-driven, which means they have a life of one to two years.

• 2008 30th Anniversary Celebration Committee: This committee will develop an action plan that will allow MBC members across Canada to collectively celebrate this major milestone in the fall of 2008. Average monthly commitment is 5 hours, with it increasing as the celebration approaches. MBC needs your help to make our 2008 30th Anniversary a success!
• French Translation Committee: This committee will translate MBC resources for our francophone community. Average monthly commitment is 5 hours.

Advertising Coordinator for Multiple Moments: Secures advertisers. Average monthly commitment is a few hours per month.

Independent Accountant: Performs the independent annual financial review of the MBC financial statements, on the basis of information provided by the Director of Finance. This person is a CA or CGA. Contact Melanie Dugard at financial@multiplebirthscanada.org for further information. This review is estimated to take about 20-25 hours of volunteer time per year.

Lone Parenting Support Network Chair: The Chair is responsible for answering questions, connecting with the single parents through email, contributing to MBC's Annual Report and quarterly to our magazine, Multiple Moments. Average monthly commitment is 4-8 hours.

Adult Multiples Support Network Chair: Oversees the Adult Multiples Support Network. An adult multiple as Chair would be ideal to work with other adult multiples to initiate and conduct discussions and sharing of common interests. Average monthly commitment is 4-8 hours.

Publications Coordinator: Oversees the area of publications by assisting with updating current publications and creating new publications as the need arises. It is essential that this volunteer be proficient in word-processing software, including Microsoft Word, Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop or similar graphics software. Average monthly commitment is 10 hours.

Fundraising Coordinator: Assists in the area of revenue generation and fundraising initiatives at the national level, and assists chapters where possible to identify appropriate local fundraising and funding opportunities. This person could develop a fundraising committee to assist in this work. It is an ideal role for someone who wants to volunteer but would like to do so from home, has access to email, and has a few hours a month to spare. Average monthly commitment is 5-8 hours.

Marketing Volunteer: Promotes Multiple Moments and MBC through the use of print and electronic media. This person will be self-driven and has marketing skills or would like to further develop them through a volunteer position. Average monthly commitment is 8 hours.

National Discount/Affiliate Programs Coordinator: Maintains current relationships with national discount partners. This person will be comfortable talking to business leaders about discounts and affiliate programs for MBC members. This position is best suited to a volunteer with daytime availability to speak to company representatives during the day. Average monthly commitment is 5-10 hours.

Volunteer Newsletter Editor: Keeps MBC national volunteers connected and informed by producing a digital newsletter for distribution on a bi-monthly or quarterly basis. Average monthly commitment is 4-8 hours.

Research Coordinator: Monitors recent research, updates statistical information and monitors requests from outside sources interested in making research-related contact with multiple-birth individuals. Average monthly commitment is 5-8 hours.

Advocacy Committee Chair/Coordinator: Develops partnerships and re-establishes partnerships with other like-minded organizations doing similar advocacy work. In addition, there is a need for advocacy committee members—preferably volunteers from each province—to track and respond to provincial/territorial issues. Average monthly commitment is 5-8 hours.

All MBC volunteers are a true asset to the organization and carry out work that would not be possible without their generosity and support. Thank you!

Are you ready to Volunteer?

Please contact Kim Weatherall, Director of Volunteer Management at volunteers@multiplebirthscanada.org to discuss where your experience, interests and passion are best suited in volunteering with MBC.

Volunteer Application Form - Word file