Image of Volunteering

David Brettell was the Manager of Venue Staffing and Volunteers for the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games ('SOCOG"). Susan Ellis interviewed David while she was in Australia and taped the interview for e-Volunteerism.

Questions Asked in Audio Interview:

• What - if anything - was done to let Games volunteers know about how they might continue volunteering somewhere, somehow once the Olympics were over?
• What connections - if any - were made with existing volunteer-involving organizations to offer ongoing opportunities?
• What advice David might have for other organizers of major events about harnessing and re-channeling such a large outpouring of volunteer interest.
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An international Youth Forum was held just prior to the IAVE World Volunteer Conference in January 2001 in Amsterdam. By all accounts this was an extraordinary experience for the participants. Representatives of the Youth Forum were invited to report back to the full conference at one of the plenary sessions. They charged onto the stage with enthusiasm, sharing the theme of their meetings: "Volunteering IS sexy!" These young people urged everyone to change the old-fashioned images of volunteering.

Conferees were given a handout with eight graphics designed by the young people during a team exercise at their Forum. Each gives a different interpretation of "SEXY" as an acronym. e-Volunteerism is pleased to reproduce these with permission from the Amsterdam conference committee, representing the International Association for Volunteer Effort.

No ancient holy book mentions "volunteering" by that name, but every religion in the world encourages charity, service to others, and personal risk for one's beliefs. This unique article compares the major religions of the world in terms of charity.