Goose Story
Next Fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in V
formation, you might consider what ornithologists have discovered as to why
they fly that way.
As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following.
By flying in V formation the whole flock adds at lease 71% greater flying range
than if each bird flew on its own.
People who share common direction and sense of community can get where they
are going more quickly and easily because they are travelling on the thrust of one
another.
When a goose falls out of formation it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of
having to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of
the lifting power of the bird in front.
If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who
are headed the same way we are.
When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose
flies point.
It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs with people or with geese flying
south.
Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
When a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot and falls out of formation,
two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and
protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and
only then do they launch out on their own, or with their group. Geese are such
role models for us humans!
Source Unknown
Volunteer Opportunities
There are lots of outlets for latent volunteer tendencies within our organization!
Do you have experience in journaling, are you good at public speaking, can you create power point presentations, are a musician or an artist, or do you want to join our lively fundraising team? At this time we could well use someone with office experience who is willing to volunteer their time for one or two hours a week.
If you are interested in Hospice and are wanting to volunteer, talk to one of our Coordinators to see if there is a place for you within the Hospice Society.
Our largest group of volunteers is of course our Visiting Volunteers who support patients in their homes and in the Hospital. This kind of work can be very rewarding and is indeed the primary purpose of our organization. However it is not for everyone and the process for becoming such a volunteer is designed to help you decide whether or not the work is for you.
After the receipt of an application form, you, as a potential volunteer are interviewed by one of the Coordinators. Should you together decide that you should take the volunteer Training Course, then a place will be found for you in the next available course.
Volunteer Training Courses,held over 2 days and 2 evenings, are normally held twice a year as needs dictate.
The course itself is also designed to help you decide if visiting patients is for you or whether other volunteer opportunities are more appropriate .A final interview allows you and the coordinator to decide where in the organization you would be happiest.
The course is not required for those who will not be working directly with patients.
As one reflects on the philosophy of hospice/palliative care, the choice not to use precise terms is indeed fitting, for the art of hospice care is rooted in the individual’s personal journey. Palliative care can be practiced in many forms and settings. The recipient of hospice care and services might be patients in the hospital, patients in outpatient and community settings, or those living in residential care facilities. These individuals and their families are our reason for being. It is in their service that the hospice movement was born and continues to grow.
This is an excerpt from the Volunteer Training Manuals of the Squamish Hospice Society and Nanaimo Hospice Society
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