Job Vacancy – 24th October 2016
 
National Volunteer Development Co-Ordinator
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the successful candidate will be responsible for the development and co-ordination of all procedures and activities relating to the recruitment, screening, communication, training and motivation of Volunteers.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of three years’ previous management experience in the voluntary sector and the proven ability to develop and lead the volunteer programme.
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Place of work: Athlone (however nationwide travel will be required) Car owner and full driving license essential.

Hours of work: 39 Hours a week (flexibility is required as weekend and evening work will be a feature of this employment)

Skills and Experience:

• Manage the recruitment, screening and selection process of Volunteers across the Organisation
• Develop and deliver Volunteer training programmes.
• Continually evaluate the Volunteer needs and plans for succession and strengthening of the Volunteer Programme.
• Put in place initiatives for the motivation and recognition of Volunteers
• Develop an effective communication system for all Volunteers to ensure a consistent message.
• Develop and review relevant policies and procedures regarding the Volunteer programme.
• Develop appropriate literature (i.e. handbooks/brochures)
• Develop and maintain relationships with appropriate outside bodies, agencies and organisations.
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Office Professional and Database management.
• Ability to thrive in a rapidly growing and changing environment that requires high levels of flexibility and versatility
• Ability to think and act strategically with excellent communication and organisational skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to work with both technical and non-technical users.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with high degree of accuracy and attention to detail whilst working to agreed timelines.
• Identify the skills-set of each individual volunteer with a view to maximising the input to the organisation of each volunteer’s expertise
• Liaise with the Recruitment, Training and Development Committee and other committees as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer
• Other tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer

 
Applications with cover letter and CV for this position should be forwarded to John Byrne, Chief Executive Officer:  johnbyrne@communitygames.ie by Friday November 18th 2016.

ON a bright spring Sunday in April 2014, the Monaleen U-10 Community Games Gaelic football team travelled to Killaloe to play an early season challenge game against the local side.
 
Monaleen had won the Munster title the previous year, qualifying to compete in the All-Ireland semi-finals in Athlone, but this was a new squad. There were plenty of early season rustiness on show from both sides through the opening half with little separating the sides on the scoreboard. Just before half-time Killaloe struck for two quick-fire goals, both of which were softish in nature. As a Monaleen assistant coach I was summoned to take a trip from my spot on the half way line down to the full-back line to try and sort the defensive frailties out.
 
Shortly after I arrived, Killaloe struck for a third goal and I quickly realised the root cause. The full-back and corner back had noticed the arrival of Anthony Foley on the sideline and were busily discussing same when a high ball dropped into the danger area and the Killaloe full-forward had little difficulty in dispatching the ball to the net.
 
They always said Anthony Foley had an innate ability to be in the right place at the right time on a rugby pitch. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the best place for the Monaleen Community Games side that April Sunday two years ago!
 
Neither Monaleen player would have been old enough to remember Foley as a player, they knew him as the Munster coach and were in awe that he would come to their match. Somehow it just didn’t seem right to tell the three excited youngsters chattering away in the back of the car on the way home that evening that the Munster coach was at the game to watch his son playing. As far as they were concerned, he had turned up to watch an U-10 football game.
 
Most of those same players are 12 now and struggling to come to terms with what has happened to Anthony Foley. Their dads are around the same age.
 
Sport is cruel at times, we all know that. But, not half as cruel as what life can throw at us on weeks like this.

This article is taken from an article published in the Limerick Leader by Colm Kinsella on 22nd October 2016

 Attention County PRO
It’s that time again just when you thought all your hard work was over. IT’S MEDIA AWARDS TIME!  The Awards will be held this year in the Salthill Hotel on Saturday 26th November.

There is a slightly different format this year, hopefully you will have picked up your new scrapbook over the Festival Weekends, this gives everyone the same starting block.   If you have not received your scrapbook, please email us by clicking here.

Can you please put your paper cutting/photos from your local paper into the scrapbook using whatever format you wish.  The closing date will be FRIDAY 11th NOVEMBER for receipt of the books. Please post them to Bernie Brennan, Community Games, 20 Inish Carraig House, Golden Island, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. 

THERE ARE 2 NEW AWARDS THIS YEAR
1/ The Best Written Article that you have had published this year (this needs to be submitted in a sealed envelope)
2/ The Best Photo that you have had published this year (you can submit up to 6 photos if you can’t decide on one)

BREAKDOWN OF AWARDS
Runners up Regional Paper x2 (based on submission of Media Books)
Runners up PRO X2 (based on submission of Media Books)
Overall Regional Paper (based on submission of Media Books)
Overall PRO (based on submission of Media Books)
Social media winner (judged externally - based on Area, County and Provincial facebook pages - no submission needed)
Facebook photo winner  (competition to be launched 19th October)
Best Website (judged externally - based on Area, County and Provincial facebook websites - no submission needed)
Radio (based on submission of Radio Coverage - apx 30 mins of audio)
Best Written Article published (please submit this - judged externally)
Best photo Published (please submit this - judged externally)

As part of our Jubilee Celebrations, we would like to recognise the vital contribution of our volunteers over the past 50 years. 
 
This will be in the form of:

1. County Golden Volunteer Award
2. National Golden Volunteer Award

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Each County is asked to select a nominee recognising a volunteer who has given outstanding service to the Organisation since its foundation.  The Award is aimed primarily at volunteers at Grass Root/Area Level and the Awardee does not have to have served in any formal capacity at County Committee or other level.  The only restriction on nominees is that the person may not have served on the Board of Directors over the past 5 years (since 2012).
 
Each County is asked to submit their nomination with a photograph which must be at least 1mb in size and emailed to sinead@communitygames.ie accompanied by a brief biography, 400 words max, by 10th February 2017.
 
On receipt of the nominations the biographies of all Nominees will be published in the Irish Independent over a two-three week period with voting taking place online by email but restricted to one vote per email address. 
 
All Nominees will be invited to a lunch where they will receive an Award to recognise their contribution,on Saturday March 18th 2017 where the overall winner will be announced.