Book of Appreciation
Kerry Volunteer Centre is daily impressed and encouraged by the willingness of people in Kerry to volunteer. We are delighted to be in a position to enable and support volunteering and believe that it is extremely important that volunteers know how much their efforts, time, energy and skills are appreciated. Kerry Volunteer Centre is delighted to launch this on line book of appreciation on Ireland's National Day of Volunteering to celebrate volunteering and to thank volunteers in Kerry. The roles that volunteers play are many and regrettably their efforts often go unrecognised. We encourage and ask you to share your appreciation, support and recognition of volunteers and celebrate volunteering by sending us a short message for volunteers, by clicking on the thank volunteers icon on our homepage. Sincere thanks to those of you who have submitted messages to date as outlined below, your words highlight the wonderfulness of volunteers and importance of recognising volunteering.
Kerry Volunteer Centre Board of Management and Staff
On the auspicious occasion of Give It A Swirl, the national day of volunteering, a very hearty 'thank you' to volunteers in Kerry, from all walks of life and every background, for their good work. In Ireland, most of us are directly or indirectly positively affected by the actions of volunteers nearly every day of our life - whether we know about it or not. Whilst volunteers rarely undertake to volunteer for thanks, it is important that we take the time to recognise their contribution to making our society better. And what better opportunity than today? People in Kerry are well used to celebrating in September and I am delighted to add my thanks and good wishes to volunteers as they rightly take the centre stage on September 25th.
Dr. Yvonne McKenna, CEO
Volunteer Centres Ireland
Community Work Department
Kerry Community Services
HSE South
Rathass, Tralee
Co.Kerry
066-7195635
On behalf of the Community Work Department HSE South, I would like to congratulate and commend the work of the Kerry Volunteer Centre. Supporting and encouraging volunteerism is an essential and integral element to all sustainable and healthy communities and one which we fully support.
The Community Work Department HSE South would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hundreds of volunteers who work hard in supporting and ensuring vital health and personal social services remain active in the county.
Noreen White
Principal Community Worker
To all Civil Defence Volunteers, past and present;
I would like to on behalf of myself, Kerry County Council and the Civil Defence Board to thank all those volunteers who have helped make Civil Defence what it is today and in particular the volunteers who have given and continue to give freely of their own time for the betterment of others. The Volunteers are the backbone of the organisation and deserve the highest praise for giving freely of their time.
I would also like to thank are the families of the volunteers, the unsung heroes, who support the organisation. I would also like to thank each volunteer for their commitment and dedication to the organisation.
Thank you all.
Yours truly,
Tom Brosnan
Civil Defence Officer
I live in DINGLE where it is very hard to get VOLUNTEERS. I was so lucky to get MARGARET MULCAHY . She gives her time .and has done so much to help with my daughter who has ASPERGER'S SYNDROME. She has a lovely personality. I thank her so much for all the time she has given EIMEAR. A HEART OF GOLD.
The Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA), Kerry Federation wishes to thank all its members in the county for the many good works done voluntairly in Community, for neighbors and for each other. 2010 marks the I.C.A's Centenary Year. All members are wished a healthy, happy and fulfilling year.
Yours in Friendship,
Kerry ICA Federation
Many Thanks form the management and staff of Shannow FRC to all the volunteers who have worked so hard to support Shannow FRC and their community.
ST. JOSEPH'S HOME,
KILLORGLIN
CO. KERRY
TEL: 066 - 9761124
FAX: 066 - 9762177
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
We are grateful to all Volunteers for offering their services.
Thank you,
Sr. Mary Halpin,
Director of Nursing
Tralee Community Garden Project Steering Committee would like to thank sincerely our 100 plus volunteers for contributing their energy, skills, good humour, time and interest for the creation of our blossoming Community Garden. We look forward to celebrating the volunteers achievments and to demonstrating our appreciation of our volunteers’ efforts at our Organic Cookout in the Garden on Friday 25 September.
Tralee Community Garden Project is a totally voluntary initiative which benefits from huge support of many businesses and community agencies in Tralee, and we are extremely grateful for their support. The committee is very appreciative of all its volunteers and would like to highlight its gratitude of our volunteer Project Liaison Officer Gretta O Rourke for managing the operations of the Community Garden and for managing the Community Garden's volunteers.
Sincere thanks,
Tralee Community Garden Project Steering Committee
Chairperson Cllr. Jonnie Wall Geraldine, Secretary Geraldine Sheehan Kerry Volunteer Centre, Treasurer Nathan McDonald Ballyseedy Garden Centre, Gretta O Rourke Project Liaison Officer, John Sheehan Tralee Town Council, John Griffin Tralee Town Council.
A really big thank you to the dedicated volunteers who helped as part of North Kerry Equi-Friends work with special needs children and horses. Over the last three years so many children were able to learn to enjoy contact with horses and riding some achieving first and second level certificates and this summer one child had the great experience of riding at the RDS. Volunteers are such a valuable asset to our community without which small groups such as ours would not survive. Time is precious and those that dedicate valuable time without pay are extremely special, a mere thankyou never seems enough.
Wendy Brosnahan
North Kerry Equi-Friends
Geraldine,
Thank you and your staff for organising volunteers to help with our kids camps and renovations to the building. Thanks also for your support and training via the workshops - they were invaluable. Keep up the good work.
Best of luck
Tony.
Listowel Community Centre
During the worst excesses of the Celtic Tiger the philosophy of greed extended to many individuals who jealously guarded their time and often reduced any commitments they might have to a wider community. Happily An Taisce volunteers did not fall by the wayside throughout this episode and continued their sterling voluntary work which the passage of time has now proven to be an invaluable safeguard to preserving Ireland's rich natural and built heritage.
I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the often undersestimated and frequently unpublicised efforts of An Taisce volunteers acting only from an ethical sense of duty towards the community good. Frequently their efforts were not appreciated and even stigmatised by vested interest groups. Without them though Ireland would be a poorer place, both environmentally and socially. If any justification of the value of non governmental voluntary groups was ever needed, An Taisce volunteers embody this.
John Sweeney, President An Taisce
We would very much like to add some names to the list of volunteers as a public thank you from An Taisce to all the members of the Local Association that works so hard in the county and especially to: Mattie Cronan Chair,James Courtney Vice-Chair,Maeve O'Donnell Secretary / Planning (Tralee), Hubert Strijn Asst. Secretary / Development Officer,James O'Carroll Treasurer / Planning (Tralee),Catherine McMullin Planning (County) Bernie Goggin Planning (Dingle),Donal Corkery Natural Environment Committee
Abby McSherry Local Associations Development Officer
An Taisce
A special thank you to all the wonderful volunteer tutors who have given of their time to teach the over 55's basic computers on the Age Action Getting Started Programme. Their enthusiasm to volunteer and their willingness to be involved in this exciting programme is most commendable. You the volunteers drive this programme - your time and commitment is most appreciated .
Thanks so much.
Kathleen Mc Auliffe - Age Action Ireland - Kerry Project.*
On behalf of all of us in Age Action Ireland, I want to thank most sincerely all the Kerry volunteers who have worked with Age Action’s Getting Started computer programme in Ballyduff FRC, IT Tralee, Shanakill FRC, St. Brigid’s FRC. We were delighted with the very positive feedback from the learners about the patience, enthusiasm and encouragement of all the volunteer tutors. Of course we are all like that in Age Action! Many, many thanks and best wishes for the advance of volunteering in Kerry.
Robin Webster, Chief Executive, Age Action Ireland
To Whom It Concerns
I wish to whole heartedly thank the Kerry Volunteer Centre for their unwavering support in supplying excellent volunteers to our charitable organisation since we were set up in 2007. Without the assistance and support that the Kerry Volunteer Service provided to us our organisation would not have been in a position to advance as quickly as it did. The volunteers provided to us have been dedicated, reliable and committed. Once again thank you very much and we wish you the very best of luck and much continued success into the future.
Kind Regards
Derek Rowe
Chairman - All Ireland Air Ambulance
I would like to thanks to Rhonda and Janine who supported me in the learning of the English language during the past summer time and to Geraldine Sheehan, Kerry Volunteer Centre, who did the networking for us.
kind regards
Cristina Aguilera
La Leche League Tralee would like to thank sincerely the Kerry Volunteer Centre for supporting our annual parenting conference. We are always met with a positive and prompt response and have met fantastic volunteers over the years who always give 100% on the day. Without the support of KVC, we would be unable to resource the day- we look forward to working with you again this year.
Giving of your time with your own free will is a nobel occupation, and the volunteers of the St. Vincent de Paul are among the best I have ever come across.They are kind and sensible and helpful, work without judgement and in the spirit and ethos that our organisation requires. Thank you for that.
Catherine Monaghan
Kerry Regional Office
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Festival of Kerry Support Group would like to extend a big High 5-0 to all the voluntary stewards that assisted throughout the week of the 'Back to Basics 3' Street Carnival during this years 50th Celebrations of the International Rose of Tralee in August. Volunteering for a 6 day long Festival is not for the faint hearted as it involves long hours, working under bad weather conditions and sometimes with Managers who are sleep deprived !! but a thousand "Thank You's" to all the stewards who joined our team through the Kerry Volunteer Centre. It is you, the people on the ground, that make an event like this come alive and sustained and you all individually helped in some way to make it the best Festival in many many years. Congratulations to all Volunteers on this special day for you.
Bryan Carr
(Event Coordinator)
From Bishop Bill Murphy
Every community needs people to lend a helping hand. The Church is no exception. In every parish numerous people, women and men, young and old serve their community as Eucharistis Ministers, Readers, Altar Servers, Collectors or as members of a Parish Pastoral Council, a Finance Committee, a liturgy Group, a school Board of Management and the St. Vincent de Paul society.
It is no surprising to find such a high level of volunteerism in the Church. Loving service is of the essence of Christianity. The Church would not be true to its founder if it did not embody the commandment of loving service which he required of his disciples.
There is,of course, a risk that volunteering can become a means of satisfying one's own needs or be reduced to mere 'activism'. Spiritual motivation is vital. As volunteers we should act out of love and show the people we serve that we really care about them. This will help us to give meaning and purpose to our own lives and make volunteering a very rewarding experience.
Give it a Swirl Day is a great way for people from all walks of life - individuals, families, community groups and businesses - to get involved for just a few hours, in a hands-on volunteer project in their local community. There are activities to suit everyone and it promises to be great fun. I would urge everyone to Give it a Swirl and am delighted to be involved in this initiative to celebrate and thank volunteers. The contribution that volunteers make to our society and communities is vitally important and valuable. It is important that volunteers are acknowledged and know how much appreciated their are. I wish volunteers and volunteering in Kerry ongoing success.
Mininster of State John Curran
I once heard said; “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has”. This is something that has never left me and indeed I am reminded of it on a daily basis through my work. Volunteers are forever reminding me of what can be achieved when honest hard-working people go that extra mile for the good of society. Volunteers throughout Kerry are to be applauded for the time and dedication they devote to the various projects with which they are involved. These are ordinary people who have become heroes to many through their work in the community. It is these volunteers who bring a quality of life to Kerry communities. Many thanks to the Kerry Volunteer Centre who encourage and foster this. I wish you every success for the future.
Alan Kelly, Labour Party MEP, Ireland South
The word volunteer comes from the Latin for doing something of a persons own free will. So volunteering is special because it is a very personal gift of time and energy.
Volunteering has always been very important. They have provided services like care motivated by love and concern rather than an expectation of recompense. in the last decades we have become increasingly reliant on paide service many of which were once voluntary. However with slim budgets to maintain social services volunteers are more important than ever.
The reality today is that many basic services will only be provided if someone is willing to freely provide them. The volunteer,now moves centre stage. And hopefully the good work they have been doing quietly in the background will be noticed and appreciated.
It must also be hoped that in becoming aware of the work of volunteers and the many urgent calls on their help, others will swell the ranks of the volunteers across Ireland .On the occasion of International Volunteers' Day, I would like to say a special thank you to all volunteers and in particular those of whom I have had the pleasure to experience. I would also like to commend Kerry Volunteer Centre for all their efforts in encouraging and supporting volunteers and volunteering. They should be very proud of themselves and all they achieve.
Kathy Sinnott
I am delighted to have this opportunity to congratulate and once again sincerely commend the great work that is done by volunteers everywhere. Volunteers are the life blood of a community. They give time, energy and commitment to their own place and their people. I know from my own Experience, particularly during my period as minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the vital role that volunteers play to develop and maintain sporting facilities and to encourage participation in sport.
Because of the huge level of commitment and the great work done by volunteers in every community, the quality of life and well being of people, young and old in our communities is greatly enhanced. I very much appreciate the work of Kerry Volunteer Centre and all our Kerry volunteers.
John O Donoghue T.D
A Chara,
I would like to acknowledge and support the role that volunteering plays in Kerry and Volunteer Centres for the positive impacts that volunteers and volunteering has in North Kerry and surrounds. Now, more than ever, there is a great need for volunteers to carry out this most important work. I salute you on your National Day of Volunteering, Friday, 25th September. Keep up the good work and if I can be of assistance in the future please let me know as it would be a privilege to do some little in return for all the goodwill and good work that has been done throughout.
God Bless.
Thomas McEllistrim T.D.
Dear Geraldine,
I am happy to congratulate all those Volunteers on their excellent work and wish you all the best for the future.
Martin Ferris T.D.
Geraldine a chara,
Thank you for your email. I am delighted for the opportunity to praise the valuable work of volunteers throughout Kerry and to support volunteering in Kerry. I would like to wish everyone well in the Kerry Volunteer Centre and to thank them for the effort that they put back into many Kerry communities. The work that you all do cannot be underestimated and I look forward to working with you in the future.
Is mise le meas,
Senator Mark Daly
"Senator Coughlan wishes to express his appreciation for the contribution volunteers have made in the community and continued success
in the future"
I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank all the volunteers the length and breathe of our county for their unselfishness and enthusiasm in the work they do on behalf of all of us.
Whatever groups you belong to whether it be sporting, cultural, educational, Town,Village or Estate enhancement, take a bow, ye are the ones that make us all proud to be part of the wider community. There is a welcoming growth in diversity of cultures, life styles and background in our county and it is only by being tolerant of something that is different, that the respect for the diverse cultures that make up present day communities can grow.
Today we salute the men and women hidden in the background, the volunteers’ that seem to go to endless meetings where sometimes the only decision made is the date of next meeting. We as Councillors make decision, but it is only by listening to you the real community builders that these decisions can have a meaningful and positive input in how our county develops.
Michael Healy Rae MCC
Dear Geraldine
Thank you for your recent letter regarding Kerry Volunteer Centre. As a local councillor I see first hand the wonderful work done but the voluntary groups across all towns and villages in Kerry. The value of their work is unmeasurable and without it many places would cease to function. Kerry is a very special place to live and it is the volunteers/community activists in our communities that make it so, long may this continue and I am delighted to be given the opportunity to show my appreciation and support for the many wonderful people who partake in this work across the county.
Yours Sincerel,
John Brassil
Well done to all the Volunteers throughout Kerry who have given their time, energy and dedication to helping their Communities or those who are vulnerable or need assistance in our localities. Volunteers are needed now more than ever and the Volunteers themselves also benefit from a sense of
achievement in helping organisations, clubs or individauls resulting in a positive impact all round.
Cllr Patrick Connor-Scarteen
As an elected member of Kerry County Council, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate and compliment the excellent work done all over county Kerry on a daily basis by dedicated volunteers who give freely of their time, energy and experience working and assisting in our communities. The importance of the role played by volunteers cannot be quantified and it is most appropriate to express our sincere gratitude to each and every person involved for their dedication and involvement. My sincere good wishes to you for the future.
Regards,
Cllr Brendan Cronin
''Volunteering is Forever Enriching Community."
Michael Gleeson Cllr
Mayor of Killarney
I wish Kerry Volunteer Centre well in all its activities and am delighted to have the opportunity to acknowlegde the wonderful work done by Volunteers in Listowel and throughout Kerry.
Cllr Maria Gorman
I would like to congratulate all those who volunteer in Tralee on the tremendous difference they make and recognise that volunteering is as valuable and important than ever in these recessionary times. I wish KVC ongoing success.
Sincerely,
Cllr. Pat Hussey
Dear Hannah,
Just a note to acknowledge the tremendous work carried out by volunteer all over Kerry and to wish all volunteers and groups every success in the future.
Best Wishes
Michael Cahill M.C.C
While there may not be much to celebrate about 2009 (with tens of thousands of job losses and savage cuts to essential services) we certainly must celebrate the invaluable work carried out by volunteers the length and breath of this county.
During the so-called boom times, much of the work of our volunteers went unrecognised however, it is now obvious to all that without the selfless efforts of our volunteers so many people would be much worse affected by the current situation.
I would like to express my deep appreciation to all volunteers and wish you the very best for 2010.
Cllr Toireasa Ferris
I would like to thank Kerry Volunteer Centre for helping me with my fundraiser for a new orphanage in Tanzania last June. Thanks to them I raised over €1,700 and I can proudly say the new orphanage is due to open this December. If it wasn't for thatmoney it would not have been possible.Now there will be 12 very happy kids this christmas in there new orphanage and KerryVolunteer Centre played a big part in making this a reality.I will forever be grateful for their support and kindness. Thank you Geraldine,Amanda and Linda you do an amazing Job!!
Catherine Moloney
On behalf of Enable Ireland Kerry Adult Service, staff and service users, I would like to send a big thank you to all the volunteers who have helped make 'Day Services' what it is today. Their hard work, dedication, expertise and time is much appreciated by all.
Thank you all.
Enable Ireland Kerry Adult Service