Volunteer Profile - Emma Mogur-Smith
Find out how Volunteer of the Year finalist Emma Moger-Smith got into CSSC volunteering.
When I moved to the York area due to work commitments for myself and my husband, I really wanted to get back into Sport. I had previously set up and managed a netball team whilst at university and I really wanted to play netball again. As an existing CSSC member, I contacted the Regional POC for the CSSC and asked about netball in the York area, which is when I found out that there was no netball run through the CSSC in the York area. It was with this news that I decided I would set one up.
Where do you volunteer?
I run the netball club for the CSSC York Area Association and previously was a committee member on the York AA Committee/
What do you do as a CSSC volunteer?
I set up the York AA Netball Club and am Chairman on the York AA Netball Committee. I am looking to volunteer to be secretary on the York AA Committee.
What is your proudest moment/ memory of being a CSSC Volunteer
The proudest moment was my first ever netball training session where over 20 CSSC members attended. Holding that session with CSSC members who I had recruited to join the netball section in a sports venue which I had arranged just brought home what I had achieved against all sorts of problems (such as finding a venue at a time in which most people were available, getting the kit and equipment and securing the funding through the York AA in order to establish the club). The next proudest moment was then being nominated for the CSSC Volunteer of the Year award and getting down to the final 5 nominees, what an honour. This made me realise exactly what I had achieved and also that CSSC had recognised all the hard work that I had put in to making it happen. I can now look back at the club, which is well established having a national level coach and regular members, and take pride in my achievement.
What are the best bits about volunteering for CSSC (and the worst bits)?
The best bits about volunteering are that you get to meet a variety of people and make new friends that you would not normally get the chance to meet. I have made a whole new social network since setting up the netball section. You also have the opportunity to attend lots of regional events and also attend the annual conference, through membership of the York AA committee which was a fabulous event this year. There are really no bad bits to being a volunteer. You are not pressured to do anything, it is all down to you what effort and commitment you put in. Therefore if you want to see an event or club succeed, then it is your will that will see you through doing all the hard work and giving up your own time to make it a success.
What has kept you involved as a volunteer with CSSC?
Again it is the sense of achievement you get by being a volunteer which is the main reason why I have kept being a volunteer and knowing you're your efforts to set up an event or the club are benefiting other members.
What does it mean to be a CSSC Volunteer of the Year finalist?
Just being nominated for volunteer of the year was fantastic in itself. I could not believe I had got down to the final 5 just for setting up a netball club, which I really did not see as a big deal in itself. York AA didn't have a netball section and I wanted to play netball so I made it happen. When I heard of the other fantastic achievements the other nominees had made, I honestly did not think I deserved to be standing alongside them, but it was a tremendous honour to stand along side them and know that I had been considered to be worthy of a place in the final 5. It was just wonderful to know that my efforts had been recognised.
What would you say to other people who might want to volunteer with CSSC?
My message to them would be this? If you are looking to meet new people, get into sport or you have an interest that is not currently represented in your area, then I would really encourage you to look into setting it up. Your membership money will help you to do what you want to do and your area will support you in making this happen. Once you have set something up, not only will you be fulfilling your interest, but you will be helping others to fulfil theirs and you will feel an enormous sense of achievement which is priceless!
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