Norm Greenwood, '71 BCom

Norm Greenwood, '71 BCom, is an enthusiastic volunteer both on and off campus. He first told us about his passion for volunteering through the Office of Alumni Relations' Share Your Volunteer Story form. Whether it's volunteering for the Canada 55+ Games or TEC Edmonton's VenturePrize program, his commitment to mentoring and staying involved not only provides him with a way to give back to his community, it also helps build a healthy business environment both locally and provincially.

Tell us how you stay connected to campus through volunteerism.

I have tried to stay connected with the university through several different avenues. Since I am a business graduate, I have volunteered at the Faculty of Business case judge for first-year students and as a business mentor for new grads. I also participated at CAPS: Your U of A Career Centre's Careers Day last year as a "Human Book," which was a new concept and was also a first for me. The Alumni Association also sends out emails that give me an opportunity to see what events are coming up and which I am able to volunteer my time and expertise for. All these events allow me to stay in touch with the campus and students. They give me the opportunity to meet new people and try different volunteer activities.

Why do you think it's important for grads to volunteer their time?

Having the opportunity to volunteer is totally rewarding - it allows me to have a real sense of contributing to the success of the next generation as they go forward. I have always believed in giving back whenever I can. Having someone with years of street smarts gives a whole new level to the learning experience for the student. This learning experience goes both ways, as both the volunteer and the student learn from each other. Plus it is also fun to meet new people, share experiences, share your expertise and feel the genuine appreciation from those you have assisted.

Do you volunteer for other organizations? Where?

I have always tried to find a way to give back to the community in a variety of ways. Over the years, I have volunteered at the community level at committees, coaching sports and with the United Way in various functions. I am currently active as a business plan mentor with TEC Edmonton in their VenturePrize program, and it is very rewarding to see new business ventures compete for startup funding. I am also a business plan judge at NAIT and have been a guest lecturer at MacEwan University and NAIT. On another side, now that I am retired, I have volunteered at several senior events and will be helping at the Canada 55+ Games this year, which will be held in Sherwood Park.

What does volunteering mean to you?

It means that I have an opportunity to give back to the community. I have always enjoyed working with a variety of people and organizations. Volunteering gives me a feeling that I am making a positive difference across many levels. Having the opportunity to provide my expertise to groups or organizations that are looking to help their clients is very rewarding. Knowing that I may be able to provide some input that could improve an outcome gives me a sense of accomplishment.

What impact has volunteering had on you? On others?

It has made me feel like I have been able to contribute to my community at a number of different levels. I have a lot of hands on business expertise and being able to share this with individuals, groups and organizations gives me the sense that I can contribute to a better outcome. I have shared my volunteer experiences with other business friends and they have all expressed an interest in looking at how they can be part of some volunteer activities.

Share a story or a memory from your time volunteering.

I was volunteering as a business mentor with a small company. They were looking for some funding to purchase some very technical equipment and needed a business plan. Their owner was not sure how to put together the business plan and needed help. We worked together over a period of four months with many versions of the plan and related documents. The bank reviewed the plan and provided all the funding required and also commented that it was one of the best business plans they had ever seen. The business was able to secure a very large contract because of the new equipment. This was a great win-win for everyone.

On average, how many hours per month do you volunteer?

There really is no average, as it varies from season to season; however, I would say a few hours a month would be a good guess.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I really believe that we all have an obligation to find some way to give back to our communities. If everyone found a little time to share their expertise, then we would see more positive outcomes across the board.