ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2022 - 10

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
Celebrating the volunteer
Barry Cavanaugh
TOWARDS THE END OF THE ASET YEAR , and as
we gather for our annual meeting, something always comes
to mind - something we take for granted far too much,
something we often don't even notice, or something about
which we're often reticent to say anything. That something is
service. I want us to consider for a moment the place of the
volunteer in an organization such as ours, and the notion of
service and volunteering in our society generally.
It's a little obvious to say without the work of volunteer
members, ASET couldn't deliver on its mandate... but it's
absolutely true. Without them, we'd often miss the boat on
why we do what we do, or its importance in the larger community,
or in fact the protection of the public and the essential
quality of the profession's role.
ASET itself is essentially a volunteer... we exist, founded and
delivered by our members, to provide a public service, and a
service to one another. Service to others is a hallmark of the
volunteer, and of an organization such as ours.
We're often a little trite about the significance of volunteering.
We talk about " giving something back, " or " getting involved, "
but let's call it what it really is - a caring for others,
a willingness to be of service and to help, a recognition that
we need to make our own society as we would have it: rooted
in a sense of community, of the common good.
The meaning of the volunteer relationship and the service of
the volunteer is more subtle, and goes a little more deeply
than we often realize... I think it has something to do with the
very way in which our society, our kind of democracy, functions.
It's a reflection of our culture as a people.
Somewhat uniquely, Canada has a strong and diverse volunteering
sector: all manner of professional and trade associations,
unions, charities, community leagues, service
clubs, and on and on... Certainly, we may be more interested
in what it means for ASET, but when we talk about volunteerism
we are really talking about a distinct and profound
approach to citizenship.
We are talking about personal acceptance of responsibility
for our joint enterprises, and indeed, responsibility for
one another. Does that come of the experience of banding
together to develop the resources we've needed in the roots
of our nation-building? Does it come from our shared immigrant
experience, and the commitment to a new place in
the world? Does it come from the religious faiths underpinning
our cultures? These are all possibilities. Perhaps it's
uniquely all of that.
The Oxford Dictionary says that a volunteer is " a person who
voluntarily takes part in an enterprise or who offers his or
her services in any capacity. " Our society is built on that,
isn't it? Even our government is really by volunteers.
All around us examples flourish, from the community playground
down the street, to the theatre company we frequent
- even the basic delivery of services in our communities,
like food banks, or community soccer. Think about our city
councils and all the committees in our towns and cities that
get things done, and that bring a vision to our common life.
We're built on collaborative effort, and on the impulse to
help and support one another.
As such, what we celebrate when we honour ASET volunteers
is no small thing; we celebrate the people who make
our entire society work, who benefit us all. We all appreciate
someone who " steps up " ... from the volunteer soldiers in our
world wars, to the people who run the homeless shelters
in our communities, to the neighbours who organize minor
sports leagues, to the ASET members who spend their time
and knowledge supporting the aims of their profession.
We celebrate volunteers doing all manner of things that
make our lives better, that make our communities safer and
healthier, that teach - by example - our children in their
turn to step up and lead, and serve, and build. Our voluntary
spirit is at the very heart of who we are as a nation, as a
people. That urge to serve and to care is what elevates us,
what makes us.
10 | SUMMER 2022 | TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA

ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2022

Table of Contents
ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2022 - Cover1
ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2022 - Cover2
ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2022 - 3
ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2022 - Table of Contents
ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2022 - 5
ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2022 - 6
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ASET Technology Alberta Summer 2022 - B Cover
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_spring_2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_winter_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_fall_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_summer_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_spring_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_winter_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_fall_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_summer_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_spring_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_winter_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_fall_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_summer_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_spring_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_winter_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_fall_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_summer_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_spring_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_winter_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_summer_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_spring_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_fall_dec2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/aset55anniversary
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_spring_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_winter_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_fall_2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_spring_2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_winter_2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_fall_2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_summer_2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_spring_2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_winter_2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_fall_2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_summer_2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/aset/ta_spring_2015
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