If you're up for spreading seasonal cheer, Operation Red Nose (ORN) can help you out. By volunteering with the organization, you'll be helping your friends and neighbours get home safe after long nights of revelry, and you'll be making Bowen's roads safer. Here is how ORN works:
A partier who wants a ride home from the pub, a restaurant, house-party or anywhere else calls our dispatch number. The dispatcher determines the person's whereabouts and assigns an ORN driving team consisting of two drivers, a navigator and an escort car. The team drives to the party location in the escort car and upon arrival, one driver takes the wheel of the partier's car and the navigator takes the passenger seat. With the escort car following, they drop the partier and friends safely at their homes.
Because of safety concerns and insurance issues, ORN must follow a number of guidelines. The first is that all of the volunteers apply for a RCMP criminal background check. If you are considering volunteering, go to the local RCMP office and fill out the form. This process usually takes three weeks, so don't wait until you are sure that you will volunteer go and do this now. Each year we have people who decide at the last minute that they want to be a part of ORN and cannot because they apply too late.
This volunteer work is performed in the evening. Participants must not consume any alcohol on the day they will be driving, and it is recommended that they have a nap before showing up.
In past years, the whole ORN crew takes over The Snug Cafe about 9 pm.
There are usually two driving teams plus an organizer and a dispatcher, for a total of 8 people. In addition, there are often a few other Rotarians who show up to provide ORN training and musical entertainment. The local restaurants, particularly Mik'sa and Tuscany, always provide outstanding meals.
The early part of the evening is fairly quiet on Bowen Island. At one point the crews may walk around to the local Pub and restaurants to be sure everyone knows about ORN. The number of calls for trips increases around midnight. Technically the program ends after the last pickup following the bars closing at 1 AM. Sometimes the crews have to make several trips to see everyone home. This is a big island, and a trip across the island dropping off passengers and returning can take an hour.
Jason Campbell has volunteered with ORN on Bowen for three years.
"The people you pick up are usually quite jolly themselves, in high spirits, so that makes it enjoyable to drive with them," he says.
As a newcomer to Bowen, Campbell says volunteering with Operation Red Nose was a great way to make friends and connection.s
The Bowen Island Rotary Club uses 100% of the money received in ORN donations and sponsorships to support youth programs on Bowen Island. ORN operates four weekends during the holiday season on Friday and Saturday evenings, and on New Year's Eve starting on November 29. Volunteers normally participate for one, two, or three of those nights.
ORN is making a difference! Donations to ORN were used to leverage the funds to complete the Outdoor Learning Classroom in the Snake Field at BICS, and accomplish other projects. The Rotary Club also believes that ORN has reduced the cases of anyone caught driving under the influence. Interested? Please contact RCBI President-Elect Denis Lynn at (604) 947-9806.
Robert Ballantyne
