National Volunteer Week is April 19 to 25, and in the April issue of The Buzz, we’re taking a closer look at why you might want to volunteer.
I describe my own experiences as a long-time volunteer, which have shaped how I lead and connect with others. The experiences have also opened doors to a variety of skills and relationships.
We also feature a 3×3 with three of our talented PIC members. Lisa Gibson, Adrienne Jackson, ABC and Sarah L. Manley Robertson, SCMP, ABC, Prosci, chat with Brent Artemchuk about how volunteer work has helped them build skills, confidence and opportunities.
If you’ve been looking for a way to raise your profile, stretch your capabilities and contribute to something bigger than your day-to-day work, volunteering can help. How about volunteering with the PIC executive team? Put your name forward and be part of shaping what comes next for independent communicators.
The volunteers working on PIC’s professional development have organized two events you won’t want to miss:
- Contracts with confidence: Essentials every independent communicator should know on April 22. Contract lawyers Adam Freedman and Shoshanna Lebovits will walk through key elements of strong client agreements, including ways to review contracts while maintaining positive relationships.
- Media Relations in 2026: What’s changed and how to adapt on May 26. A panel discussion on how practitioners are navigating today’s media landscape will feature Natalia Smalyuk, Jacob Robinson and Masha Mikey, with moderation by Trish Tervit.
In this issue, we also introduce new member Sachi Hegde, and share links to more articles about volunteering, including seven reasons it’s good for your mental health.