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A message from
CAMRT President,
Shirley Bague,
RTR, ACR, RTMR

International Volunteer Day is December 5. This is an occasion to celebrate the volunteers who generously contribute time, creativity and expertise to ensure that the programs, publications and governance activities of the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) are of the highest quality and integrity.  Our CAMRT volunteers ensure that our certification examinations reflect our high standards for entry to practice, contribute their professional expertise to the development of professional practice guidelines, help to create member publications that are informative and rich in content, host conferences that are inspirational and enjoyable, and act as the able stewards of association finances and policy development.

Consider that studies indicate that 12 million Canadians volunteer their time to charitable and not-for-profit organizations, and that their contributions total the equivalent of 1 million full-time jobs in a year. The work of the scores of our CAMRT Volunteers is invaluable, and now quantifiable – our volunteers’ work is the equivalent of at least fifteen full time positions.   You are truly irreplaceable – the wind beneath our wings.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the 2001 International Year of Volunteers (IYV+10), coinciding with the European Year of Volunteering. IYV+10 is promoted as a year for people all around the world to join a global effort to reinvigorate the spirit of volunteerism.   It is fitting that this is also the year in which CAMRT members have generously voted to make a contribution internationally, by approving an associate membership in the ISRRT for all CAMRT members.   Our dues will make a difference to the work that ISRRT does to fulfill its mission to improve the standards of delivery and practice of medical imaging and radiation therapy throughout the world. As we look ahead to welcoming the world to Canada for the 2012 CAMRT AGC and ISRRT World Congress, I hope we can celebrate our Canadian volunteer accomplishments and inspire colleagues from around the world.

There are many ways you can contribute as a CAMRT volunteer, whether for a short assignment or a long term appointment.   Visit the list of opportunities on our website, or contact the CAMRT office to let staff know of your interest.   To those of you who think you have something to contribute, I share this quote from volunteer advocate Harriet Naylor:

“Volunteering can be an exciting, growing, enjoyable experience. It is truly gratifying to serve a cause, practice one's ideals, work with people, solve problems, see benefits, and know one had a hand in them.”

To all of you who have served our association so well in a volunteer capacity, thank you for all you do.