Volunteer
to offer (oneself or one’s services) for an undertaking by choice and without request or obligation
When I get the call from Black Press to cover an event, I always make sure that I arrive early to introduce myself to the organizers of the event and to meet some of the volunteers. Volunteers are the backbone of so many worthwhile charities and fundraisers, and I always marvel at how much they give of themselves and how hard they work for their cause.
If there’s time before an event, I always take a minute or two to talk with the volunteers to ask why they volunteer for their cause, how long have they volunteered, and if they could pass on a message to everyone about volunteering, what would it be.
So it was a joy to meet Stella Lum at the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada in British Columbia’s annual RONA MS Bike Tour over the weekend in Mill Bay, BC. I talked with Stella for a while and then explained that I was beginning a project to produce a volunteer video series and would she be interested in being my first volunteer to be interviewed and videoed.
Stella told me that she wasn’t a fan of being photographed, and that she probably wouldn’t know what to say. I told Stella that this was my first ever video, and that I’d only post it if it showed her in the best light. And WOW, does she ever look and sound great in the video. I think [no, I know] that it’s because Stella believes in the contribution of the RONA MS Bike Tour to the MS Society; her passion truly comes through.
Stella, thank you so very much for letting me interview and video you!! You are a Volunteer Extraordinaire, and a fabulous person.