It was 2005 and retired Albertan Gail Drinnan couldn't find a local online volunteer opportunity that matched her skills and interests. Now two years later, Drinnan still continues to share her time and talents via the Internet to help Macdonald Youth Services (MYS), a charitable organization located 800 miles away in Winnipeg.
Drinnan, who had not volunteered via the Internet before, sees online volunteering as flexible and in sync with her retired lifestyle.
"It just suits my lifestyle and schedule, ... I get up in the morning and ... usually have some free time ... and I can sit at the computer with my coffee and put in some time," stated Drinnan. "... if I have other things I have to do I can just work when I need to, if its something late at night, I can put in a few hours - it's just really convenient ...," added Drinnan.
"Using a professional presentation application called ProShow Producer, Gail has produced some remarkable DVDs for us,"commented MYS Online Volunteer Program Developer Randy Tyler. "Whether it was recognizing the 40th anniversary of our longest-serving employee or developing an orientation for our Treatment Foster Program, Gail has demonstrated flexibilty, a diverse skill set and a commitment to high standards," added Tyler.
To learn how Drinnan originally got involved with MYS and what has motivated her to contribute over 350 hours of online volunteer service, MYS South Dakota-based online volunteer audio producer john Small interviewed Gail. To listen to or download the Skype to land line phone interview (mp3: 5.33 MB), please see the following URL now:
http://www.mys.ca/
Macdonald Youth Services (MYS), a 77 year-old trusted and respected registered charitable healing and support agency based in Winnipeg, Canada, provides a variety of innovative and leading programming for thousands of Manitoba’s young people on a yearly basis. MYS has been successfully utilizing highly-skilled online volunteers from around the globe to enhance their programs and services since 1998.
For further information:
Randy Tyler
Macdonald Youth Services
Winnipeg, Canada
T: 1-204-949-4292
http://www.mys.ca
E: http://www.mys.ca/
Skype: randytyler_canada
