The CAMRA YVR Executive is one of the best groups of people I 
have ever worked with in my whole life. Their dedication and hard work inspires me to give everything I have to this organisation so that I can help them as much as I can. This is one reason why Vancouver Branch has chosen to present the CAMRA BC “Volunteer of the Year” award at the Powell River Beer Festival this weekend (bus tickets still available). The award, nominated by you and voted on by the BC executive is for someone who really went all out in 2013 and gave an unparalleled amount of time, energy and enthusiasm.
This award is also given in Memoriam of some of the CAMRA friends and volunteers we have lost over the years. One of 4 awards to be given out in Powell River this weekend and celebrating some of the people who make the craft beer community happen, not just the breweries and brewers. I do hope some of you come up to a very cool city in a beautiful part of the world with a lovely Belgian Brewing genius who makes incredible beer.
Of course everyone is a volunteer in CAMRA BC, we give our time to do lots of things, from the very visible like this website, newsletter and the 15 events we’ve run already this year to the less visible like filling membership packs and all the meetings. We attend as many craft beer events as we can to spread the word about CAMRA. This presents something of a dilemma, we’re unable to come to all of the myriad events that now fill up the craft beer calendar in and around Vancouver so should we keep on going to the same events each year or should we try and support other newer events to spread out message and recruit still further? Let me know what you think: pres@camravancouver.ca
One thing that has happened a few times this year is that life can get in the way, a few of our elected volunteers have found that they can’t continue to give CAMRA the time and resources that it deserves, Vancouver Branch Vice President Chad McCarthy recently stepped down and we totally understand, no-one knows what their life might entail over the next 12 months – we thank Chad as well as all of our volunteers past and present. We welcome Kerry Dyson who will be stepping in until our next election. I hope you’ve enjoyed CAMRA under the current executive’s management but as we start to think about next year please consider standing for one of our elected positions next February, it’s a lot of work but it’s absolutely worth it to be involved with such a great group of people and steward such a great organisation. Or if you feel that your community would benefit from a new branch (doesn’t have to be big – look at Powell River’s 80+ membership in just one year!) let me know, we’re always looking!
Cheers
Adam Chatburn,
President, CAMRA BC – Vancouver Branch
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