Eastern Volunteers is a not for profit, community based organisation that provides community transport and volunteer recruitment within Maroondah, Whitehorse and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

Eastern Volunteers is overseen by a voluntary Board and Management and consists of 14 part-time staff and approximately 100 volunteers. I have been a board member of Eastern Volunteers since the middle of this year and was officially nominated as a member of the board at the AGM.

The guest speaker was from Bendigo Bank who spoke about Bendigo’s community banks and the assistance that these banks can provide for community groups. The Bendigo community banking model demonstrates how the business sector can become involved in the local community and it is encouraging to see an increasing number of businesses assisting community organisations.

The AGM included several changes to Eastern Volunteers Rules of Incorporation to reflect deductible gift recipient status and to empower the organisation so it can raise funds for a new and accessible head office.