Suzanne Rochon-Burnett Volunteer Award

Volunteerism is the backbone of the Métis Nation MNO Volunteers put in thousands of hours per year: The MNO could not function without it’s hundreds of dedicated volunteers. The Long Term Care program alone has the benefit of 88 individuals giving their time to make the Ontario Métis community better. Métis Volunteer activity adds value of $1.15 million to MNO every year: Volunteer hours don’t show up on any end-of-year budgets or spreadsheets but their value is indisputable. Using the Imagine Canada - Knowledge Development Centre’s Volunteer Value Calculator the total estimated salaries of MNO’s volunteers would come to $1,157,047.97 a year. We need to understand how much we depend on volunteerism; praise our volunteers, and take note of the importance and value of this fundamental practice within the Métis Nation. Our citizens who volunteer selflessly in our cause to provide thousands upon thousands of hours of service every year. Some serve in elected positions on our councils and boards at the provincial and community level; some volunteer for community activities, such as Riel Day, fund-raisers, potluck dinners, or at our gatherings during the annual fall hunt. We are completely dependent on our citizens to volunteer for the Long Term Care program and to serve on our Training Initiatives’ committees in order to provide these essential services to our people. The staff at the MNO also volunteer their time, going above and beyond to assist the Métis Nation. Without this commitment we would not have been able to progress and realise the accomplishments we are so proud of as a people. While much attention is paid to the rights-based campaign we have been waging to ensure our recognition, our volunteers have been quietly plugging away, ensuring that the organizational and service delivery needs of our people are met. You are all to be applauded. We will do so at the AGA every year by highlighting one person who exemplifies the best of all of the qualities of our volunteers. We will continue to praise and value our volunteers -- Métis citizens to whom we are most grateful.

Suzanne Rochon-Burnett Volunteer of the Year Award Nomination Form [PDF}

Nominations for the Suzanne Rochon Burnett Volunteer of the Year Award close on April 2, 2008

Objective:

The objective is to honor all volunteers in the Métis Nation through the display of panels listing volunteers at the Annual General Assembly each year and on plaques on display at Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Head Office. One volunteer per year will be selected by a special group of panelists. That person will be named and honored at each Annual General Assembly. The Volunteer of the Year will be featured in Métis Voyageur and on the MNO Website and will have their name printed on all MNO stationary and promotional materials for the year between Annual General Assemblies.

Process:

A call for nominations will be made on Louis Riel Day each year. The deadline for nominations shall be April 2 in each calendar year. All valid nominations shall then be forwarded to the Selection Panel for review. The panelists shall submit their ballot of their top three choices to the MNO Chief Electoral Officer by May 2 in each year. The MNO Chief Electoral Officer shall compile a list of the top three candidates who obtained the most votes. In the event of a tie for the third place candidate, all candidates in the tie shall be included in the list. The list shall then be circulated to the panelists who shall then complete their second ballot vote by June 2nd. The Chief Electoral Officer shall compile the list of votes by Candidate and forward to the President of the MNO, the name of the person who obtained the most votes. In the event of a tie, the panel shall hold a run off vote of those involved in the tie. In the event of a tie for the second time, those candidates shall then each be named Volunteer of the Year.

Selection Panel:

The Selection Panel shall consist of 11 MNO Citizens in good standing and shall include:

- The President
- MNO Legal Counsel
- A Senator chosen by the Senators from amongst themselves at each Annual - General Assembly
- Four Community Council Presidents chosen from among themselves at each Annual General Assembly
- The Chair of the Métis Nation of Ontario Cultural Commission (or the Vice Chair in the event that the Chair is named by another category)
- A member of the Métis Women's Secretariat chose from among themselves
- A member of the MNO Youth Council chosen from among themselves
- The Volunteer of the Year for the current year

Criteria for Candidates for the Suzanne Rochon-Burnett Volunteer of the Year Award:

Any MNO citizen may nominate a candidate by filling a nomination form by the deadline. Each candidate must consent to have his or her name submitted. Candidates should exemplify the volunteer contributions made to the Métis Nation and to their community in a way similar to the standards set by Suzanne Rochon-Burnett. The candidates will have given generously of their time and effort. They will have been strong advocates of the Métis Nation and will have established an outstanding record of unselfish commitment to the cause of their efforts. They will be seen as caring and giving individuals and someone to look up to. The candidates will have provided an extended period of service as a volunteer.

Suzanne Rochon-Burnett Volunteer of the Year Award Nomination Form [PDF}