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Volunteers: The Heart and Soul of the Community Volunteers are the heart and soul of a community. When they donate their skills to help individuals. organizations and causes they're expressing their values and concerns in their everyday life. Over the years volunteers have shaped and improved virtually every aspect of life in communities. Today more than ever one can find volunteers in every community setting imaginable Volunteers enable things to happen, help needs getmetand area tome to be reckoned with. Just look at the accomplishments and track record of the Associated Country Women of the World. Your dedication and support has significantly impacted women's lives and their families worldwide. The resolutions you will be tackling are destined to benefit many oommUnities worldwide. The fact that you have consultative status with several United Nations agenctes is undeniably impressive and vital to raising the standard of living everywhere, Volunteering is an integral part of our past, our present and our future. In the face of growing social needs and shrinking community resources we have to ensure the volunteer face across the world remains strong. it is especially relevantand important thatthe United Nations has proclaimed 2001 as the International Year of the Volunteer, recognition long Overdue to these very important people. This year‘s international spotlight on volunteers can only help to make volunteering stronger and more vibrant. As you have appropriately themed your Conference â€" "Volunteers Make Visions a Reality“ 7 you are truly visionaries and have faithfully contributed to many realities in communities worldWIde. Your love of community, civic pride and kinship spirits will live on in astounding legacies. And as a woman living in this world I thank you for what you have all done to make my generations standard of living amazing. Thank you. Marie Fortune to Tourism Development Officer, City of Hamilton ACCW 23rd Triennial Conference Tuesday June 12, 2001 l 3711M To say I volunteer for lack ofsornething better to do Is to say that my time has no value To say I volunteer therefore I work for nothing Is to say the work is worthless But to say! choose to give my time to your work Is to say we both have value Ry l'JII‘nIHIL’ ,l'l'uxyrl (imagine/very ' ' “best: - iii