National Volunteer Award Profile - Doreen Campbell
The final winner from the third round of Bowls Scotland National Volunteer Awards is Doreen Campbell from Newtonmore Bowling Club.
Doreen has been volunteering at the club for the past 10 years and her enthusiasm and selflessness to help support Newtonmore BC are infectious. She is a previous President and Ladies Club Champion but is currently involved in being the clubs Try Bowls co-ordinator, clubhouse cleaner, head of catering and a committee member. There’s no task too big or too small thanks to Doreen’s ‘can do’ attitude and she still manages to dedicate a lot of time to her playing career as well!
Modestly speaking about her time as a volunteer at the club, Doreen said: “To start with I did not realise I was volunteering, I was just doing my bit to help out when needed.
“I get a great deal of personal satisfaction from volunteering and giving something back to the club and our local community. There’s been far too many good memories during my time at Newtonmore Bowling Club it’s difficult to pick one out.”
One of Doreen’s main achievements has been attracting new members to the club and helping to coach them on the green and make them feel welcome to their new surroundings. The club has a small membership of 30 playing members, so it is vital they continue to attract new people through their doors.
Explaining more about her Try Bowls Co-Ordinator role, Doreen commented: “I started encouraging new players on a Monday afternoon to give bowls a try, this proved popular, so it was decided to incorporate Try Bowls. It is a very sociable afternoon and of course we stop for tea and a blether.”
“Being a committee member gives you a new insight to the game and shows there is more to it than just turning up to throw a few bowls. We need all the help we can get to run a happy club, and our club is happy.”
Graeme Irvine is a fellow member of Newtonmore BC and has been inspired by seeing first-hand the amount of time that Doreen dedicates to her beloved club. He hails Doreen as the ‘lifeblood’ of the club and believes she is a positive role model for fellow members.
After nominating Doreen for her National Volunteer Award, Graeme added: “She does so much for both the bowling club and the village and has a positive can-do attitude.
“I am doubtful if we would still have a fully functioning club in the village if it wasn’t for her recruitment efforts alone keeping us afloat. We are lucky that she does so much more on top of that too.”
Doreen was recently surprised by her National Volunteer Award presentation and finished off by saying: “I was totally amazed to receive this award and I must say honoured as I had no idea I was so highly thought of.”
Congratulations to Doreen on behalf of everyone at Bowls Scotland for receiving her thoroughly deserved National Volunteer Award!
Applications for our next round of nominations close on Friday 1st July. For more information or to nominate someone, please visit: https://www.bowlsscotland.com/club-development/volunteering
