Celebrate!
The United Nations has formally declared the year 2001 to be the  International Year of Volunteers (IYV).  The United Nations has developed the following objectives for the IYV: Promotion of volunteerism; Increased volunteer recognition; Increased facilitation of volunteering; Networking between the voluntary, corporate and government sectors.

This exciting year is the perfect opportunity to build support for volunteering and to celebrate the amazing achievements of volunteers in our sector. The legacies of past years (for example International Women's Year, International Literacy Year, and the International Year of the Child) have been substantial and have resulted in vastly increased public and government attention to each cause.

Community Literacy of Ontario and Laubach Literacy Ontario are very grateful to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and the National Literacy Secretariat for their support of several International Year of Volunteers projects sponsored by our organizations.

Tips for celebrating the International Year of Volunteers:

• Contact your local volunteer centre to learn about local events
• Ask students to write a thank you letter to their tutors.
• Send out a special certificate to all volunteers.
• Encourage the Mayor of your municipality to officially declare the International Year of Volunteers.
• Send press releases and/or announcements to all local media.
• Give a letter of appreciation to each volunteer
• Hold a social event, such as a volunteer luncheon.
• Send out a special newsletter that honours all agency volunteers.
• Create a volunteer scroll for your office that lists the names of all agency volunteers.
• Create a wall collage and / or window display to celebrate volunteers.
• Give volunteers a book bag with a copy of a classic book for specific years of service
• Collect local volunteer stories (perhaps with some photos) in a book
• Create a package of seeds with a volunteer appreciation label
• Circulate a commemorative book for as many volunteers as possible to sign

*Joanne Kaattari is the Executive Director of Community Literacy of Ontario. She has worked in literacy for seven years, and volunteered in literacy for 10 years.

The NALD Newsletter
Vol.6, No. 1 / Winter 2001
ISSN 1485-2713

Networks, the newsletter of the National Adult Literacy Database Inc., provides the Canadian literacy community with current information on educational activities in adult literacy and basic adult education.

NALD keeps literacy practitioners, learners, administrators, policy makers and researchers informed on trends, recent publications, available resources, upcoming events and ongoing activities both nationally and in the regions.

For more information or to give your comments, please contact:

The Editor - Networks
c/o National Adult Literacy Database Inc.
Scovil House
703 Brunswick Street
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Canada E3B 1H8

Toll-Free: 1-800-720-NALD (6253)
Tel: 506-457-6900
Fax: 506-45 7-6910
E-mail: info@nald.ca
WWW: http://www.nald.ca

NALD Networks Production Team:
Editor : Lorette Chiasson
Production Manager and Assistant Editor: Lorraine Nolan
Graphics Manager: Lorraine Nolan

NALD would like to thank the Canadian Labour Congress, Team IYV 2001, Helen Woodrow - NF, Regina Council of the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan, Noranda Inc. Brunswick Smelter, Prospects Literacy - AB and the Correctional Services of Canada for the opportunity to use their photographs within this newsletter.