Chris Raible made a heartfelt presentation to Clearview council this week, asking that volunteers be included in the process of restructuring the community’s various volunteer committees.
Speaking as chair of the Creemore Log Cabin Service Board, Raible said the cabin was established and managed by a group of volunteers who never asked for one penny from the township’s coffers. The cabin now functions as a tourist attraction and event space. It was established on township land, in partnership with the township, but it was a community endeavour.
In essence he was saying, as volunteers, they have not asked for much from the township but the township erred in embarking on a restructuring that shut-out the very volunteers who would be affected.
Raible expressed in a public forum what many have been saying privately.
“We, as your service board, thus welcome this opportunity to interact with you regarding our future hopes and responsibilities,” said Raible. “We think we currently operate well as a service board and have neither need nor desire to change our status by our becoming a committee of council, or our being incorporated within some larger board or committee.”
The statement was made in response to an ongoing exercise to bring the township’s volunteers into compliance with provincial requirements on accessibility and transparency. Earlier this year, council set about trying to reduce the number of committees but since then there has been a shift. Recently councillors were tasked with going to each committee and asking members how they wanted to be affiliated with the municipality, as different types of groups will have different levels of responsibilities relating to finances and reporting.
Raible told council as volunteer managers of a township facility, the Creemore Log Cabin Service Board is eager to work directly with council and staff to update its terms of reference, even expanding to assume the management, maintenance and promotion of the Jail (which is currently wallowing in no man’s land). His point, as we understand, is that the volunteers on the committees in question are happy to give of their time and energy when they are connected to the outcome. They will take the necessary training if advised and learn the new rules in all regards but their dedication is bolstered by being a part of the conversation, rather than being given an edict from above. The issue of the casual volunteer – the one who gives three hours of their time once or twice a year – is most likely not willing to jump through the same hoops. We have to find a way to be compliant while giving some slack. There is much work to be done in this area. Clearview Township cannot afford to alienate its volunteers. The amount of work they do translates to big savings to the taxpayer.
“…They, like the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of others who voluntarily assist with dozens of township-related celebrations and activities, need to be lauded for the time and energy they readily give to us all,” said Raible.