1 t i d i . i ‘ \ i Senior, volunteer Operation getting down to The Terrace Community Vol- unteer Bureau and Seniors’ - Information Access Centre now -” has a place and a paid director to call its own. Cherie Kamenz moved to Ter- race two years ago and used the seniors’ housing situation here as a subject for her master’s thesis in obtaining an M.A. from the University of B.C. It made her a natural choice for director of the bureau. She is now run- ning the operation out of an office on the second floor of the building on Lakelse owned by St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, the building that housed the government agent’s office until two years ago. It’s a good location, she says, halfway between the Twin River Estates housing complex and the Happy Gang seniors’ centre. Kamenz says she hopes to open the centre to the public sometime in January, and she is expecting to move to the ground floor of the building when the St. Matthew’s parish office moves into their new church. The move will make the office easier to get to for people who have trouble negotiating stairs. Kamenz said in a recent inter- view that most of her time is taken up constructing the seniors’ "talent bank", along with a list of available volun- | teers and their specific abilities and volunteer inclinations. She is also working on Information Access, a 30-page catalogue of housing, health and other types of resources available in the community for seniors. The Talent Bank, Kamenz says, is a service for seniors that will focus on providing short- term, creative volunteer oppor- tunities for seniors. “This will allow flexibility in the time commitments seniors make to volunteer work and will also ensure a variety of jobs, in order to make the best use of the wealth of experience and talent seniors have to offer." As the bureau develops, volun- teers and the skills required by the agencies will be entered into a computer as part of a data base, allowing the bureau to match volunteers of specific abilities with the agencies who need them. Volunteers will be registered with the bureau, then interviewed and given orienta- tion and training. Cross-match- ing for agencies will be done with a computer, and the volun- teer is given a choice of suitable agencies and positions. It’s an idea being welcomed by the numerous non-profit and service organizations in the area. "Many of the agencies are eager to get going on this," Kamenz remarks, Coordinating the bureau could turn into a major project. Kamenz says she has contacted many similar bureaus set up in business communities throughout B.C. The Sunshine Coast bureau serves an area with a population slightly higher than that of Ter- race and has 1,200 volunteers registered. "We could quite easily hit a thousand here," she says. The volunteer placements will be subject to follow-up contacts with the agencies and the voiun- teers. "We'll check for satisfac- tion on both sides," Kamenz said. “It’s really important to match volunteers to the services so that everyone feels good and is happy." In addition to the placements, the bureau will also attend to the quality of volunteer help and the programs they serve. "We will develop standards for volunteer programs, develop training for volunteers and agencies using volunteers, act as a consulting service to assist agencies in managing and retaining their volunteers, and establish pro- grams for volunteer recognition," Kamenz said. The program is funded by the federal government’s Seniors’ Independence Program, the prov- ‘incial government’s Healthy Communities Initiative and a < Terrace Review —- Wednesday, December 11, 1991 23 efforts. series of local fund-raising Cherle Kamenz: Best use of a wealth of experience and talent. Our Coming Events column is a public service offered by the Terrace Review. Deadline is Friday at 5 p.m. Coming Events must be mailed in or dropped off at our office, 4535 Greig Avenue, typed or In legible writing. Information concerning the Twin River Estates project is available from the Skeena Senior Citizens’ Housing Society office, corner of Apsley Street and Lakelse Avenue, on the last Thursday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m., or phone 638-1518 for a taped message or further information. Untll December 14 — Interested in improving your English? Join an Advanced English as a Second Language class meeting at the Reading Place (next to the Tillicum Twin Theatres). For more information, call 635-9119. Thursday, Dec. 12 — Support Group meeting for persons suffering from M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), also known as C.F.I.0.S. (Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome), at 7:30 p.m. in the down- stairs meeting room of the Terrace Public Library. For more information, please contact Kathleen Talstra at 635-2718. Thursday, Dec. 12 — Regular monthly meeting of the B.C. Old Age Pensioners’ Organization, Branch 73, at 2 p.m. at the Happy Gang Centre, 3226 Kalum St. For further information, phone 635-9090. Thursday, Dec. 12 — PACES (nee Young Mom's Program) OPEN HOUSE, 3 to 6 p.m. at #5-4644 Lazelle Ave. We cordially invite you to attend our open house to have a look at our temporary facilities and dis- cuss this new program. If you are unable to attend our open house and have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 638-8367. We look forward to seeing you there! December 13 and 14 — it’s a puppet showl! The Terrace Public Library presents two short plays: the first is an East Indian folk tale, “The Tiger, the Brahmin and the Jackal’, and the second is “Mole and Troll Trim the Tree”. There will be two performances: Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. Admission is {ree and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 638-8177. December 13, 14, 20 and 21 — The Terrace Figure Skating Club will have a gilt wrap table in the Skeena Mali. We look forward to seeing you there and wrapping your Christmas gifts for you. Saturday, Dec. 14 —- Workshop for children, Christmas in India with Rani Scholz, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Kitimat Centennial Museum. The work- shop is free and for children eight to 10 years of age {maximum of 10 chil- dren}. Learn to prepare sweets and make decorations. To register, call the museum at 632-7022, Museum hours are Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 12 noon to 5 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. December 14 and 15 — Terrace Ringette invites all to come and watch our sport in action at our upcoming tournament. These games will be played at the Terrace Arena on Saturday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 7 a.m. until noon. Monday, Dec. 16 — The regular monthly meeting of the Mills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary will be held at 8:15 p.m. in the board room of Mills Memorial Hospital. All members are urged to attend. New members are _ welcome. Tuesday, Dec. 17 — Caledonia music is holding their Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. at the R.E.M. Lea Theatre. Admission is free. Donations are wel- come, Wednesday, Dec. 18 — Homebased Business regular monthly mesting, 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., at Gim's Restaurant. All newcomers welcome. Phone 635-9415 for further information. Friday, Jan. 10 — The Pacific Northwest Music Festival committee reminds competitors and teachers that the deadline date for entry into the Festival is Jan. 10, 1992. The Festival dates are March 30 to April 11. Syllabuses and entry forms are available from Sight and Sound in Terrace, Kitimat and Prince Rupert, from the public libraries in Terrace and Kitimat and from the Secretary, P.O. Box 456, Terrace, B.C. V8G 4B5. January 20 to 24 — Kermode’s Alcohol and Drug program presents a powertul one-week workshop, “Family Healing", at the Inn of the West in Terrace. Special guest speakers from Edmonton are Rebecca Martell and . Edward J. Bellerose. Admission is FREE. Please pre-register by phone Benita Chapdelaine at 635-4906. Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 18, March 3 and 10 — Diabetic Clinics will be held. Two-. day clinic for Type | and II diabetics Jan. 28, Feb. 4, March 3 and 10; one- day refresher on Feb. 18. A doctor's referral is required for the clinics. Contact Mills Memorial Hospital dietitian Joan Marr at 638-4050 for further information. , i i