Three cheers for volunteers

This being National Volunteer Week, it was great to attend the Volunteer Appreciation Banquet in Birchy Bay last Saturday.
Each year the Town of Birchy Bay pays tributes to their many volunteers. In a community the size of Birchy Bay it is encouraging to see so many active volunteers working for the betterment of their community. With volunteers from the Town council, fire department, sports and recreation, library, museum and fall fair, it goes without saying that without these people giving their time, talents and energy there wouldn't be any Town council, fire department, sports and recreation, library, museum or fall fair.
What these volunteers offer their community is priceless. They are giving people reasons for wanting to live in a community that works together and enjoys being together. All you have to do is visit the annual fall fair to know that this is a much-anticipated event in the community. Just about everyone in the community comes out to enjoy the festivities in a time when most communities are not even hosting annual community days in the summer anymore. These types of things are what memories will be made of for young people growing up in Birchy Bay. As adults they will likely reflect on memories of their childhood and the great community celebrations they took part in.
What was also encouraging about seeing the volunteers gathered for the appreciation banquet was the faces of young people involved in volunteering in their community. As Birchy Bay Fire Department assistant Fire Chief Baxter Burt noted, young people are needed on these committees, and he hopes that this will continue and that even more young people in the community will see the value in becoming a part of a team of individuals who are making a difference for their community.
While the Town council members are volunteers themselves, their decision to recognize the volunteers in their community each year is a gesture that doesn't go unnoticed. While the people who volunteer don't go looking for credit or compensation for their work, knowing they are appreciated goes a long way towards encouraging their efforts and reinforcing that what they are doing is important to their community.