–Salvation Army says, especially top-level public, private sector functionaries

TERRITORIAL Commander of the Salvation Army Caribbean Territory, Commissioner Mark Tillsley is calling for more volunteers to support the work of the Salvation Army.

Dr Tillsley is especially looking for top-level business and government functionaries to volunteer their services to help strengthen and develop the Salvation Army’s advisory organisations.
For the Guyana Division, the call couldn’t come at a better time, since the subject of volunteerism is currently engaging the attention of the newly-appointed Divisional Commanders, Majors Matignol and Mireille Saint Lot, as well as the Advisory Board under the chairmanship of local businessman, Mr. Edward Boyer.

The subject was also raised earlier by outgoing Divisional Commander Emmerson Cumberbatch, and comes against the backdrop that there has been considerable cutbacks on spending within the Salvation Army, which in turn have given rise to a whole host of challenges.

CHANGING FORTUNES
“First of all,internationally,our own leadership has really put a strong call for all territories to increase their own self-sufficiency and their own sustaining capacity for self-sustained operations. We will not be here for many years to come, but we are making steps in the right direction,” Commissioner Tillsley told reporters here recently.

Noting that while the Salvation Army currently has a presence in about 130 countries worldwide, Dr Tillsley said it’s just about 20 “financially independent territories” that are strongly sustaining the rest of the Salvation Army worldwide.
Both he and his wife were fortunate to have worked in what is referred to as “financially independent territories” in the US and Canada, and are now in the Caribbean territory, which relies significantly on support from the Global Salvation Army, outside of what they raise.

Explaining the ramifications of serving as a volunteer to the Salvation Army, Dr Tillsey said: “One thing is important when you raise the issue of volunteerism; the part that is not understood sometimes is the necessity for volunteers at the very top level of business, government and the community to volunteer their service as well, particularly to the Advisory Board.”

He recalled that in another territory where they worked, it was amazing that sometimes people at the very top of their professions don’t stop to ask: “What do we have to offer an organisation like the Salvation Army?”

A MAJOR GOAL
Said he: “One of the goals throughout the Caribbean, and certainly here in Guyana, is the fact that we have to give strong attention to the development and strengthening of our advisory organisations, and getting the very best people that we can, who can also be advisers to the Salvation Army; driving the mission forward in the years to come.
“So that’s the very key volunteer opportunity, since advisory boards need the best people we can get.”

He recalled situations where critical skills were required for the execution of crucial tasks, and said that through volunteerism, the Army has been able to have the jobs done, saving itself considerable sums of money.
“Thankfully, all of a sudden,” he said, “people have come alive, recognising they could make a tremendous difference to the Salvation Army if they were bringing their expertise to bear.”

He also told of volunteers who gave all sorts of legal advice, from real estate to business, whenever the Salvation Army was going to acquire properties, renewing leases and the like.
“If we had to go to the market where we seek these services and pay, we would never be able to touch it,” Dr Tillsey said.

While there is work for Psychologists, Counsellors and such professionals, Dr Tillsley emphasised, “Very often, where we need strength to come on board with us would be in the realm of the fact that there are also significant business concerns, such as sustainability; funding when considering running a movement by the Salvation Army.”
He recalled how the Salvation Army previously lost magnificent buildings for want of repairs, having worked them so hard for so many years. Some now are really in need of replacement; others are just not suitable anymore for the types of programmes for which they were intended.

And here is where, he said, the volunteer skills of realtors can serve them well.
Divisional Commissioner of Women’s Ministries, Commissioner Sharon Tillsley substantiated her husband’s claims, alluding to senior citizens homes and children’s homes that need either refurbishing or otherwise pose a threat to the lives of persons occupying them, adding that invariably there is the need for special types of beds for seniors with special medical conditions.

COMMENDS GOVERNMENT
Meanwhile, Divisional Leaders, Majors Matignol and Mireille Saint Lot gratefully acknowledged the ongoing financial assistance given to the Salvation Army by the Government of Guyana. Just over two years ago,the government, through the Ministry of Social Protection, assisted considerably in refurbishing the Men’s Social Services Centre (Home of the Drug Rehabilitation Programme). Major Saint Lot also acknowledged every contribution made by citizens, including those who “dig deep into their pockets” in order to be of help to the Salvation Army.

The highlight of Commissioners Mark and Sharon Tillsley’s visit to Guyana is to install the new Divisional Leaders, Majors Matignol and Mireille Saint Lot, to the Guyana Division of the Salvation Army today, and the holding of the Annual Officers’ Council, among other engagements.