SOS Outreach’s Post

Two out of three weekends across the summer season you will likely find me volunteering in the red and yellow. Becoming a surf lifesaver was one of my bucket list goals. Ever since I was a kid that holidayed in a caravan by the beach I wanted to one day don the red and yellow uniform. When we moved to Bundaberg, enrolling the kids in nippers was a non-negotiable. We didn't want them to become a statistic because we hadn't taught them to be beach safe. Through nippers, I became more involved and last season, I got my red and yellow uniform. Sitting at the beach today with very few people around, it gave me a lot of time to think. I often get asked, why are you involved in so many things? I volunteer through nippers as well as patrol, I commissaire at cycling, a parent rep at the school and on the P&F. For the most part, I volunteer because my kids are involved and I'm not really one to sit on the sidelines if help is needed. But... wearing the red and yellow uniform and patrolling the beach is the one thing I do for me. Not only is it fulfilling a lifelong dream, it's also a great excuse to fill my cup while at the beach. I have always been drawn to the beach and after an hour or so in the fresh salty air, I feel my balance restored. Chatting with others on patrol this morning, we got to the subject of finding more volunteers to help share the load. There is a big gap for lifesaving volunteers. When you reach Under 13s, you can start patrolling as an SRC, which quite a few of the younger ones do. After a year or so, this cohort can also get a job, which means we lose volunteers because you can't expect people to choose volunteering over their first job... For a while now we've been having conversations about how to attract and retain volunteers - and not just for red and yellow. This is a holistic issue. So over to you, my colleagues, friends and community. What can volunteer organisations do to try and get more people??? #hackitout #hackathon #innovation #volunteering #volunteer #ideas #ideation #problemsolving #ittakesacommunity

🚨 Did You Miss Out on Yesterday’s Life-Changing Event? 🚨 I know so many of you had prior family or work commitments and couldn’t join us for the Take A Hike Build A School event here in Phoenix, Arizona, through the LYNK Foundation. Your messages, emails, texts, and calls over the last 24 hours have been overwhelming—and truly heartwarming. Here’s the good news: my team and I are already meeting virtually for our Debriefing Team Collaboration Meeting, and one of our top priorities is locking in the date for our next Take A Hike Build A School Hiking Fundraiser in 2025 right here in Phoenix! 🔥 This is your chance to be part of something extraordinary. Imagine hiking alongside heart-centered, like-minded people, creating memories, building connections, and leaving the mountain knowing you’ve made a difference in the world. ⏳ Space is limited. We can only take a set number of hikers, and trust me, this event will SELL OUT EARLY. The energy, the purpose, and the impact are truly unmatched, and I don’t want you to miss out again. 📸 Stay tuned for photos and videos from yesterday’s event—they’ll show you just how powerful and transformative this day was. 🎯 Don’t wait for the last minute to commit to the next one. Watch for the date announcement, and get ready to secure your spot the moment it goes live. Visit HikingFundraiser.com for updates and to make sure you’re on the list to be the first to know. 👉 This is your chance to make a difference, join a global community, and experience something unforgettable. Don’t let another opportunity pass you by! #TakeAHikeBuildASchool #LYNKFoundation #HikingFundraiser #MakeAnImpact

💪🏈 Volunteering: The Backbone of Our Communities Today, I want to step out of the professional world and share something personal. As a coach for the Balingen Bucks, an American Football team, I’m proud to see our squad preparing for its first-ever league season next year. It’s an exciting journey made possible by the tireless efforts of volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to making local sports thrive. But here’s the reality: finding people willing to take on volunteer roles—whether as coaches, mentors, or helpers—is getting harder. And this challenge isn’t just limited to sports. Schools, cultural organizations, emergency services, and many other institutions are all feeling the pressure of too few hands to help. 🛠️ Have you noticed this trend in your own community? 🙋♂️ What motivates you to volunteer, or what might inspire you to start? Volunteering is about more than filling a gap—it’s about creating connections, building stronger communities, and shaping the future. Let’s open the conversation and share how we can all contribute, in big or small ways, to keep these vital organizations alive. #Volunteering #Community #AmericanFootball #BalingenBucks #MakingADifference

"After 40 years of volunteering, I enjoy connecting the dots for others on how to align your skills with your passions for success. I believe that you CAN both do well and do good." Click Below To Read The Latest Personal Power Blog! . . . #volunteer #volunteering #perspective #leadership

With many organisations struggling to get volunteers I wanted to share the importants of the little things when seeking and retaining volunteers. I volunteer in a few spaces and one is Parkrun. Generally I run but occasionally I do the pre race track check, bar code scanning and today I was a traffic marshall to keep runners safe at a point in the track where cars need to be patient as runners and walkers complete their trail. If every runner or walker volunteered twice a year we can cover the year at our local Parkrun. Parkrun is a great example of easy volunteering, it has a system used around the world and you can do it as little or as often as you like. There are many things I like about it but today I will share four things top of mind after volunteering this morning. ENCOURAGES ACTIVE BODY AND MIND It is a simple and accessible formula that encourages you to exercise your body and your mind, being part of a crew where many a great conversation is shared. SET FORMULA Today I saw a volunteer Trailwalker who I have seen do the same role at other sites over this year, what a great reason to get out of bed and explore different parts of your city. Each location has the same formula so once you know what you're doing you can confidently participate at any other parkrun across the world. IT CONNECTS PEOPLE It connects people, whether you live on your own or with others and whether you want to run, walk or volunteer there is always a place for you. GIVES YOU A GREAT START TO YOUR DAY Each week, there are runners and walkers actively thanking the volunteers for making it happen. It's got a certain buzz that not all volunteering brings. The leaders are bright, chirpy, welcoming and encouraging. And as the runners and walkers receive their times, the volunteers receive a thank you via email for volunteering each time. With all this in mind, there are things organisations can learn and switch around in their own management of volunteers based on this model. At QSI we also can assist, we can visit your organisation with fresh eyes and an improvement focus. We can identify some simple tweaks and systems that can shift gears on your volunteer experience. Check out your local parkrun sometime - it's another great reason to get out of bed in the morning and start your day off with a spring in your step. #volunteeringmakestheworldgoround #volunteers #volunteerexperience #parkrun

As we enter Week 2 of our Youth Sports Team Support contest, we have already seen incredible participation! Thank you to everyone who has shared their team spirit. Keep the momentum going by entering your team for a chance to win a $250 donation. At North Shore Environmental Consultants Inc., safety is the core of our game plan — it keeps us healthy, sharp, and on track every day. Our goal is to ensure that everyone returns home safe to their loved ones every day, because health and well-being come first.   In youth sports, kids learn this lesson early: safety matters. Prioritizing safety contributes to an inclusive and welcoming environment where kids of all abilities feel encouraged to participate without fear of harm. It’s about knowing the boundaries, following the rules, and making choices that keep everyone in the game. These values set a foundation for lifelong habits that transcend the field and echo into their future roles as leaders and community members.   Whether at work or in sports, safety builds a culture where people are stronger together.   Don’t forget to participate in our "Youth Sports Team Support" initiative! Here’s how: 📸 Step 1: Share your child's team logo in the comments or simply comment with the team's name. Bonus: Get an additional entry into the contest by sharing what safety in sport means to you! 👍 Step 2: Make sure to follow our page if you haven't already. 🎉 Step 3: On December 12th, we will randomly select one lucky winner who follows our page and commented with a team name or photo.   The selected team will receive a $250 donation from North Shore Environmental Consultants.   #NorthShoreFamily #YouthSports #CoreValues

The calm before the storm! I had the great pleasure last week of volunteering at one of The Brownlee Foundation kids entry level, non competitive triathlons. There’s up to 1500 kids registered for each event and they’ll have over 20,000 kids registered for all events this year. No pics of the kids for obvious safeguarding and data protection reasons. It’s great as it’s designed to introduce KS2 kids (primarily but not exclusively from disadvantaged areas), free of charge to anyone, to the great sports/activities of running, cycling, swimming and triathlon and then signpost them to free/low-cost local clubs and programs, using the excitement generated on the day to get them into something long lasting that will help them physically, socially, emotionally and mentally. It was really heartwarming to see how much the kids love it and how most schools attend every year. Endeavours like these are really required though because kids, especially from lower demographics are getting less access to physical activity, are more sedentary in their daily lives and if something isn’t done now and soon for more of them, it’s a ticking time bomb for the NHS and society in 30+ years. The Brownlee foundation hopefully makes a small dent in this due to the kind help of their sponsors and staff/trustees/volunteers who put in such hard work to varying degrees but the issues are huge and more needs to be done nationally, because especially post covid kids are exercising less and less, which isn’t good for their long term physical and mental wellbeing.

🌟 Celebrating seven wonderful years as a member of Rotary International! Grateful for the incredible experiences and our commitment to service and volunteering. 🌱 Did you know that embracing a service mindset and volunteering can be transformative for your personal and professional life? Here's how: 1. Skill Boost: Hone valuable skills like project management, communication, and teamwork through hands-on experiences in service organizations. 2. Networking: Connect with like-minded professionals and unlock opportunities in service projects – it's not just about giving back but also building meaningful connections. 3. Leadership Muscle: Strengthen leadership skills by taking on responsibilities in service projects, whether leading a team or coordinating efforts, fostering invaluable personal and professional growth. 4. Enhance Emotional Well-being: Experience feel-good vibes as volunteering reduces stress and boosts emotional well-being. 5. Community Impact: Contribute to positive change and community building, making a lasting impact. BONUS: Professional Exposure: Volunteer to explore diverse environments and industries, gaining exposure beyond your usual professional circles. Let's champion service organizations, embrace a generosity mindset, and volunteer for personal and professional development. Together, we can weave the spirit of giving back into the fabric of our communities. 🌐💙 #Rotary #GenerosityMindset #Volunteering #Service #ProfessionalDevelopment #CommunityImpact This is a picture of my friend & Rotarian Crystal Jensen and I volunteering for Idaho Public Television Festival fundraiser last weekend.

Been thinking about the term “vision” this week as it relates to the strategic planning work I do with nonprofit clients. And what comes to mind for me (at least this week) is a rowing crew. Sharing a common purpose is inspiring and uplifting, but equally crucial is having a shared direction. Consider our nonprofit communities - all driven by the same mission to create positive change. However, achieving goals requires more than shared passion. We must also align on a shared destination, (or vision) for the not-so-distant future that can align our efforts and strategies, ensuring everyone is moving in the same direction. Just like a rowing crew that moves swiftly when every member is in sync, an organization thrives when every team member, volunteer, and supporter work together toward a common point on the horizon. Getting your community to row together, not just with a shared purpose but with a shared destination will help you actualize the future you want to create.

Certificate in public volunteering course in the concept and skills