1. RURAL VOICES NETWORK (RVN)
Innovative Trails to boost rural civic engagement
www.ruralvoicesnetwork.ca info@ruralvoicesnetwork.ca
Interested in making a tangible difference in your community? The Rural Voices Network (RVN) Project with the
Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario is looking for volunteers to help engage rural citizens to share their
opinions, life experiences, and ideas on how community development processes can better reflect their needs.
Volunteer Positions in the following capacities are now available:
- Marketing
- Research & Outreach
- Virtual Communications
ABOUT THE RURAL VOICES NETWORK PROJECT
The Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) is launching a 1-year research project to develop a “Rural
Voices Network” (RVN) that will involve a broad consultation with rural community members, organizations, and
municipalities of Ontario to identify the barriers to civic engagement.
The Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario is a not-for-profit charitable organization with affiliations around the
world, working with and for women in rural and small town Ontario.
MARKETING VOLUNTEER POSITION
- Develop and Circulate public relations material
- Develop a database of viable marketing / network collaborators
- Distribute flyers to interested collaborators
- Promote the 9 Province-wide community forums
- Help develop marketing strategy for the Forums (public & online) and Survey
SKILLS REQUIRED
- Great written & verbal communications skills
- Experience with developing and marketing public relations
- E-mail and web-based public relations & marketing relations
Volunteers will approach their contribution to the development of the Rural Voices Network with a positive and
energetic attitude.
RESEARCH & OUTREACH VOLUNTEER POSITION (COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT)
- Develop a database of viable community/network collaborators
- Actively seek ways to maintain the RVN project initiatives to be sustained past the project end-date.
- Research civic engagement & community development models in rural Ontario
SKILLS REQUIRED
- Great written & verbal communications skills
- Experience with community engagement/development
- Research experience
- Own transportation an asset
Volunteers will approach their contribution to the development of the Rural Voices Network with a positive and
energetic attitude.
7382 Wellington Road 30 * RR 5, Guelph, ON, N1H 6J2 * Ph: (519) 836-3078 * Fax: (519) 836-9456 * www.fwio.on.ca
Operated by Communicate * Collaborate * Community Sponsored by
Sponsored by

2. RURAL VOICES NETWORK (RVN)
Innovative Trails to boost rural civic engagement
www.ruralvoicesnetwork.ca info@ruralvoicesnetwork.ca
VIRTUAL COMMUNICATIONS POSITION
- Implement social media strategy on Facebook & Twitter
- Foster online linkages / networks to promote the RVN project
- Develop a database of viable online network collaborators
- Support the Online Forum Communications strategy - development & implementation
- Support the RVN website development
- Support web design (i.e. Identify viable pictures of rural communities and contact info if possible to add to
our website/social media)
- Actively seek ways to maintain the RVN web-based initiatives to be sustained past the project end-date.
SKILLS REQUIRED
- Great written & communications skills
- Experience with social medias & online forums
- Well-versed in online engagement strategies
- E-mail and web-based communication experience
Volunteers will approach their contribution to the development of the Rural Voices Network with a positive and
energetic attitude.
BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING WITH THE RURAL VOICES NETWORK:
- Build your resume with a fulfilling experience that will strengthen key transferable skills
- Experience the development of a network that connects rural communities across Ontario
- Collaborate with important community development actors in rural civic engagement
- Increase your personal level of civic engagement and help to improve the social cohesion in your
community.
- A personal letter of reference (if requested)
HOW TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
Write a letter introducing yourself and attach to your letter, brief answers to the following questions:
o What attracted you to the Rural Voices Network project?
o What are your personal short and long-term goals?
o What is your idea of what meaningful civic engagement?
Submit your cover and question responses to the following address: info@ruralvoicesnetwork.ca with your contact
info attached. Potential volunteers will be contacted for an interview. Volunteers are welcome to join the Rural
Voices Network throughout the duration of the research process, ending in April 2012. The time commitment for
RVN Volunteer Positions is 5 hours/week minimum (with the flexibility of in & out-of-office volunteering).
7382 Wellington Road 30 * RR 5, Guelph, ON, N1H 6J2 * Ph: (519) 836-3078 * Fax: (519) 836-9456 * www.fwio.on.ca
Operated by Communicate * Collaborate * Community Sponsored by
Sponsored by