Home »
Kootenay COSCO encourages, helps volunteerism
A Kootenay version of the Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of BC (COSCO) is planning to host another round of workshops to help organizations with volunteerism in younger retired seniors.
Central Kootenay residents Judy and Craig Gray are the founders of the Kootenay COSCO and they are trying to make inroads into the East Kootenay.
“Right now, we are trying to organize a ‘Passing the Torch’ workshop in Cranbrook for organizations, retired teachers, Legion, etc., which may be lacking volunteers. This workshop really helps to encourage volunteerism in our younger retired seniors,” Judy Gray said.
“Craig and I, as COSCO facilitators, had such a wonderful time last year presenting workshops in Creston, Kimberley, Invermere, Revelstoke and Cranbrook that we are offering to come over and meet you all again. On May 11, 12, 13, and 14 we are available once again if you can make some suggestions of what topics we should deliver this time,” she explained.
“Not only that, but on the 13th and 14th we would like to organize another ‘Passing the Torch’ workshop. The workshop is free and covers a full two days. Valuable information is given for organizations that may be struggling to find enough volunteers and individuals who wonder how they can help. We need a minimum of 20 people to be able to hold the workshop, but can accommodate more participants. Some topics covered are Theories/Leadership, Volunteering, Changing Demographics, Criteria for Effective Organizations, Advocacy, and others.”
This workshop is presented by COSCO Secretary Sheila Pither, who is the coordinator of the Health and Wellness workshops, as well as COSCO Directors Garnet Grosjean and Pat Brady.
“The purpose of the program is to encourage younger seniors to take on a bigger volunteer role since many existing volunteers are beginning to feel the strain after many years of leading our senior organizations. There is a large influx of Baby Boomers who are entering their 60s and 70s that may not realize how much senior rights and services are being eroded through legislation and community attitudes,” Gray said.
“COSCO had such great success with this in the West Kootenay that Craig and I, along with the West Kootenay/Boundary Seniors, Beaver Valley Seniors, and Kootenay Lake Retired Teachers Association have organized a Kootenay Branch of COSCO called Kootenay Council of Seniors Associations (KCOSA),” she said.
“We intend this to be for the benefit of seniors in both the East and West Kootenay. We are contacting Senior Organizations in your area to let them know why KCOSA is a great association to join to fight for senior rights and issues in the Kootenays. We all know that our concerns are far different from those on the Lower Mainland. We welcome all senior organizations and individuals concerned with elder rights to join us. So far we have 1,400 members and growing daily.”
The BC Seniors are holding their Annual General Meeting in Cranbrook as well on May 14 for a registration and meet and greet, and all day May 15 and 16.
Lorraine Logan, President of COSCO, will be on hand to speak along with Craig Gray to introduce KCOSA.
“We feel it is very important for the East Kootenay to be more included in what is happening in our province. Geographically, the East and Central (West) Kootenay are only hours away from each other, while it takes most of a day to reach the other areas of the province. It is only natural for us to band together to bring our issues more to the front so we can collaborate and find solutions,” Gray said.
Please contact Judy and Craig Gray at 250-352-6635 or by email at [email protected] or [email protected].
Submitted
