Update: The workshop originally scheduled for Thursday, January 12 has been postponed until Monday, January 30. 

The Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Port Elgin Tourist Information Office, Southampton Visitors’ Centre and the Town of Saugeen Shores, is offering a free workshop to special event planners in Saugeen Shores, with particular focus on volunteer strategies.

The workshop will take place on Thursday, January 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Rotary Hall, 600 Tomlinson Drive in Port Elgin, with a storm date of Monday, January 30.

The workshop will focus on topics such as: Recruitment and retention of volunteers; Seeking skill based volunteers; Evaluation and training of volunteers; Managing volunteers; Volunteer connection website.

Speakers include: Roxanne Davidson, General Manager/Festival Coordinator, Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival; Season Neill, Volunteer Non-Profit Director, Port Elgin Pumpkinfest; Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director, United Way of Bruce Grey.

To register, RSVP by January 5 to cherylbeamish@saugeenshores.ca.

“We’re pleased to once again offer a free workshop to the community. The Town of Saugeen Shores and the Chamber of Commerce recognize the importance of leveraging community events and working together for success,” Jessica Linthorne, Community Development Officer with the Town of Saugeen Shores, said in a news release. “Saugeen Shores is home to many talented business owners and community leaders. We’re happy to work together to provide support to our local event planners.”

Cheryl Beamish, Tourism Coordinator with the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce, Port Elgin Tourist Information Office and Southampton Visitors’ Centre “hopes this workshop will help all local groups, clubs and organizations who utilize volunteers in the planning and implementation of their events; as volunteers play such an integral role in so many local events.” She added, “Special events are an important economic driver and contributor to our local tourism industry so we feel it’s important to invest on a local level in this way.”