Iqaluit (Mar 22/04) - Ron Tologanak has been pulled in a dozen different directions over the years, trying to keep fishing derbies, snowmobile races and other events running smoothly in his community.

He is the recreation co-ordinator for the Hamlet of Kugluktuk.

But as Tologanak knows all too well, it's hard work making sure everyone has fun and sometimes there is very little "recreation" in his job.

Through the years, Tologanak has relied on volunteers to make things easier. However, while there are many people who love to help out, Tologanak has had problems holding on to the good ones.

Now Nattiq Frolics is coming up in Kugluktuk, April 19-25. Tologanak has a whole list of things that need to be done to make sure all the races go on without a hitch.

Which is why Tologanak flew to Iqaluit last week (March 12-14) and spent the entire weekend talking about plans for the Volunteer Nunavut Network, a brand new Nunavut-wide organization that will link community-minded people together and offer volunteers support and advice.

"It felt helpful, getting to hear the experiences of other people," Tologanak said during a break from the meeting on Sunday afternoon at Inuksuk high school.

A positive environment

Ted Schabell, recreation co-ordinator for Cambridge Bay, told the group of 30 participants, from communities all over Nunavut, that it was good to feel the positive energy in the room.

"I like meeting and hanging out with positive people," Schabell said.

Kylo Harris, also from Cambridge Bay, expressed amazement at how the network was created over the weekend.

"It blows my mind it never existed before, a group for volunteers," said Harris.

Sheila Levy, host organizer and co-chair of the Volunteer Nunavut Network, said it's about time a group for volunteers was officially formed in Nunavut.

"We need a network that supports volunteerism," said Levy. "We need to know what works for everybody."

Premier Paul Okalik dropped by on Friday night and gave a moving speech in support of the group. MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell and Peter Irniq, commissioner of Nunavut, also stopped by on Friday to offer words of support and encouragement.

By Sunday afternoon, the walls and bookshelves of the Inuksuk high school library were covered with brainstormed ideas on large pieces of paper.

One sheet of paper was titled "The old days," and listed a series of volunteer activities people in Nunavut have always done -- carry water, make kamiiks, get ice, and help give birth as well as hunting, gathering berries, building a community gathering place, taking food to people, storytelling, transporting each other by boat -- that were never thought of as "volunteering."

Yet, they realized that these activities clearly illustrate the spirit of volunteering, the group members agreed.

Interest increasing

Susanne Karetak, from Arviat, was moved by the experience of being around like-minded community workers.

"It has been very informative," she said. "It encourages us. Sometimes it gets hard, but people are starting to help out more in Arviat."

Kukik Baker organizes a youth group in Arviat which has grown to 30 members.

"It's just awesome. You get a natural high from the young people," Baker said. "We want to use what we learn here, put it into practise at home so we don't burn out."