The Genesis of the Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference

Moncton business owner Tony Hebert has been involved with community non-profit organizations for more than 30 years. He has been instrumental in many million dollar fundraising campaigns for United Way and Moncton Boys and Girls Club and assists many other non-profit groups by serving on their board of directors or committees.

Through his involvement with the non-profit sector, Tony came to appreciate the difficulty of volunteer recruitment and retention, a challenge that got him thinking about ways to improve that situation and help non-profits grow.

One of the firms Tony owns and operates - ShareKnowledge Inc. - offers it's management and expertise in areas such as publishing, printing, website design/serving and business planning. The company has the capability to lead a community volunteering recruitment project. It is able to act as producer and lead investor and also to provide the expertise and communication services necessary to educate non-profits, agencies and their members on how to engage the public to increase volunteering.

In October 2007, ShareKnowledge Inc. coordinated a sell-out event to celebrate volunteerism. With the success of that event, the seed was planted for the development of other ways to increase awareness about volunteerism.

Soon after, ShareKnowledge brought a concept for the genesis of Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference to the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern NB Region Inc. and the Volunteer Center of Southeastern New Brunswick Inc., with an initiative in which ShareKnowledge would take the financial and organizational lead for the first expo.

Soon afterwards, the City of Moncton agreed to underwrite the costs of the Moncton Coliseum Agrena for the event, providing space for more than 150 non-profit groups. We're thrilled to launch the region's first professional Volunteer Expo and Conference. Hands Up! Everyone!!

About ShareKnowledge Inc. and its Involvement

Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference is owned and operated by ShareKnowledge Inc. Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference is under copyright registration # 1056867 and has formalized its trademark #1391912 as per the copyright and trademark act of Canada.

ShareKnowledge Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is a privately-held, for-profit company. ShareKnowledge has provided a forgivable loan guarantee of $100,000 in cash and in-kind services to underwrite the establishment and success of the first Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference.

The ShareKnowledge business objective is to operate Hands Up! as a profitable and sustainable business opportunity so in the future an investment for the next Hands Up! Expo and expanded distribution of the business model to help other communities in Canada, will be in place.

During the Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference, free-will donations collected from attendees will be returned pro-rated to non-profit groups participating at the show to help defray the cost of their booths.

In addition, since ShareKnowledge is acquiring sponsorships for the event and since the sponsorship dollars could total more than the operational costs, ShareKnowledge will refund any initial surplus to be returned to paying exhibitors to further decrease their booth costs. Monies over and above this amount will be used to ensure the longevity and self-sufficiency of the Hands Up! Expo and Conference in subsequent years, with the initial investment returned to ShareKnowledge.

Why the Hands Up! Expo and Conference will be Successful

ShareKnowledge brings much-needed operational, management and personnel resources. All financial risk for the organizing and operation of the Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference is the responsibility of ShareKnowledge Inc. Funding for the successful delivery of the event will be achieved through the sale of sponsorships or in-kind donations.

The involvement of the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick and the Volunteer Centre of Southeastern New Brunswick Inc. will also contribute greatly to the event's success both for the exhibitor and educational components.

We are confident that many other sponsors, friends and volunteers will come forward to assist with the Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference. Particularly when they appreciate its ongoing value to our community and to all citizens of southeastern New Brunswick.