Volume 2
Issue # 9

August 31, 2002

"A Job With A Greater Cause"

She called to inform me that United Way of the Lower Mainland was interested in my services as a Loaned / Sponsored / Volunteer Representative (which I'll explain in a minute) for this upcoming September - December term. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to go out on yet one more interview, except this time, it was different. Instead of the standard 'meet-with-some-manager-for-an-hour' type deal, this interview or screening process was much more. I spent half a day at United Way, located at 4543 Canada Way in Burnaby, getting to understand the charitable organization. We watched a campaign video and got a brief (mind you, this did take about three hours or so) smattering of what United Way of the Lower Mainland was all about. Then I did the 'meet-with-some-manager' thing with Marlon Marcial, one of the co-ordinators at United Way.

To make a long story short, I got a call back by the end of that week, saying that they wanted me on board for 2002 Campaign as a Sponsored Representative, but my question was, "What exactly does that mean?" Since telling people about my success in finding a co-op placement, the inevitable questions always come up: Where are you working and what will you be doing? Well, the "where" is easy enough. The what takes more than a title. If I were hired by the Dean of Arts Office at UBC for example, I could simply say that I was a research assistant working on a series of projects related to the Faculty of Arts at UBC. Research Assistant, that's simple enough. Sponsored Representative, not quite so easy.

Before I can get to that, I feel that you should know a little bit of background regarding United Way and what "they," as an organization, do. Taken straight out of my orientation guide for United Way . . . "United Way is a charitable organization that works closely with our community to understand human-care needs throughout the Lower Mainland. We combine the gifts of thousands of donors to fund programs to address these needs. United Way donors support a broad range of issues including: children and families, assisting people living in poverty, helping seniors stay connected, and supporting people with health conditions and disabilities."

The funds that United Way raises come from three key sources. First, there is the general public who can make donations via their website or in person at the community campaigns or through mail, etc. That is, people like you and I can and do give to the United Way. Second, there are corporate gifts from companies who wish to make a contribution. Third, (and this is where I come in) for those of you out in the 'real world', you may have encountered, or been a part of a United Way employee campaign in the past. Simply stated, employees within a company (and there are approximately 1200 in the Lower Mainland that do this) attend some meetings and/or presentations, and are given pledge cards to make their contribution, either via a one-time gift of via payroll giving (that is, deducted off each paycheque for the next year).

Photo courtesty of
United Way

Supporting people with a health condition or disability or disability (Like John)

Assisting people living in poverty (Like Nick and his family)

Helping children and families (Like Norlita and her family)

Helping seniors stay healthy and connected (Like Sheila)

My job is to represent United Way of the Lower Mainland in presentations and meetings at the various workplaces; more specifically, I will assist the (volunteer) employee campaign coordinators within each workplace plan, implement, run, and wrap-up their campaigns. And I will be doing this for somewhere between six and sixty workplaces / companies / accounts. Sounds simple enough right? Well not exactly. There is a lot to plan and a lot to think about, but I am, as always, up for the challenge.

How am I a 'sponsored' representative, you may ask. Well, "loaned reps", as it were, fall under three main categories. There are loaned representatives, who are employed by various companies, and their time is donated by the company. That is, they continue to be paid as they are always paid while working at, say, RBC Financial Group, but they will be spending the next fifteen weeks with me at United Way. Next, there are volunteer representatives, who are exactly that. They are donating their own time to United Way to help make a difference. And finally, there are people like me who are sponsored representatives. Working for United Way, we are paid by dollars given by companies who don't have an employee to loan, so they provide funds to hire people like me. I, for example, am sponsored by Coast Capital Savings Credit Union.

I have been assigned, as of yesterday, to the Technology and Communications division, one of the approximately eight or nine divisions that the 1200 aforementioned companies fall into. My portfolio will include companies such as Ballard, Creo, Pacific Newspaper Group (i.e., Province and Vancouver Sun) and some local radio stations. I haven't received my specific assignments yet, but I have been told that the Tech and Comm division breaks down into 3 subdivisions: technology, media and biotechnology. For those of you who know me, I think you can kind of figure how I could/would relate to these particular industries, but if you'll indulge me, I'll take a stab at it myself. Being the young buck of 19 that I am, I was raised around technology, having (some) computers in the classroom, a computer in the home since the age of six-ish. Though I do not the particular companies in here that would be working on space-arms and other wonderful toys like that, I would love to learn. Media, well, you all know of my interest in journalism, having mused as a Now That's Entertainment . . . writer for a couple of years and having met the likes of Vaughn Palmer, Rafe Mair and others. This will be a good opportunity for some networking. Biotech: well, coming from a psychology background with intentions of pursuing a career in this field, staying on the cutting edge of say, MRI technology, would certainly be invaluable to my future studies as a budding psychologist.

To some people, a job is just a job. Just another paycheque every two weeks. I, on the other hand, am looking for more. I want a purpose, a greater meaning to the forty to fifty hours I'll be spending every week over the next fifty or so years. I guess that's what drew me to psychology. I can make a difference in people's lives, one person at a time. If I can help someone deal appropriately with the grief of losing a loved one, if I can help a lonely old lady reconnect with her community, if I can help someone become a better person, then I am a better person from it. I guess that's where United Way comes into my picture, my work. This truly will be a job with a greater cause, and not just a paycheque (after all, they can't pay me that well, and they won't).

Now I leave it to you. Introspect on your own personal or professional ambitions. Are you just after a hefty paycheque every two weeks, or can you do more? What are you doing to provide a safe, healthy, and sustainable community for your family, friends and neighbours? Remember, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE!