Volunteer Profile - Helen Cooke

2008 Volunteer of the Year Finalist Helen Cooke is the Secretary of Isle of Wight Area Association. Helen offers her reasons why she enjoys being a CSSC volunteer.

What is your proudest moment/memory of being a CSSC Volunteer?

I have to say, the proudest moment was when I found out I was in the final 5 of the Volunteer of the Year - it wasn't just being in the final that made me proud, it was the fact that I was nominated by colleagues and other committee members who do just as good a job as me, or better. The effort they made in putting my name forward and writing nice things is very humbling and I only hope I can continue to put in as much effort and commitment as they all do.

How did you get involved in volunteering for CSSC?

I was secretary of our local Departmental Association club, Hassra when CSSC undertook a recruitment drive on the Island. I decided to join and, at the next Isle of Wight AA AGM, I went along and decided to offer my services on the committee. I felt it would enable Hassra and CSSC to work closer together on the Island and offer members more variety and opportunity, which it has.

What do you do as a CSSC Volunteer?

I am secretary of the Isle of Wight Area Association. I organise the committee meetings, alongside our Chairman, notify other committee members of the agenda, take and distribute the minutes, deal with any competition entries, publicise events on the notice board and via email, help distribute and sometimes write, the newsletter. I attend conferences, regional and national and liaise with other AAs local to us, such as Portsmouth, Southampton and Gosport.

What are the best bits about volunteering for CSSC (and the worst bits)?

The best bits are organising an event that is well attended and enjoyed by the members and their families - and it usually involves me taking part as well so the social side of being a volunteer and a member is brilliant!

Conversely, the worst bits are when an event has to be cancelled or postponed due to lack of take up.

What has kept you involved as a volunteer with CSSC?

When I first joined the committee, along with our current Chairman and a couple of other Hassra Committee members, the IOW AA was having trouble organising anything that involved more than a couple of members and the only event that ever really went ahead was green bowling. The old committee was stuck in their ways and needed some persuasion to get into the 21^st century!! Having the closer working with Hassra helped as we were able to involve CSSC in a few more events and offer an incentive of a double subsidy to members of both, which helped recruit more CSSC members. But ultimately, when the old secretary left, I committed myself to the role and slowly but surely and with the help of the other committee members, who are just as enthusiastic as me, the IOW AA is becoming a successful club. This is what keeps me volunteering as I would like our AA to become known as one of the most, if not THE most, successful small club in the country. Although this may take time, I am fully committed to making it happen.

What would you say to other people who might want to volunteer with CSSC?

Do it!!!

There are loads of ways to volunteer - some roles take more commitment than others, but there are various opportunities to become involved locally, regionally or nationally.

It's a great way to meet new people, in or outside of your own office and, because of the amount of variety offered by CSSC, there are so many things you could get involved with. The sense of achievement you get from seeing others enjoying an event you organised is wonderful and, although most volunteers don't do it for the thanks, when members and their families do make the effort to say thanks and that they really enjoyed it, you know you are doing something worth while.

For more information about Isle of Wight AA, please click here.