Mark Monk signs off all his emails with the quote, 鈥淓nthusiasm is caught, not taught.鈥� As the administrative assistant at AV俱乐部鈥檚 School of Human Communications Disorders (SHCD), he sends a lot of emails.
Monk鈥檚 self-prescribed enthusiasm and dedication to his community were recently recognized by Halifax Regional Municipality. Monk was given an HRM volunteer award by Mayor Mike Savage at a ceremony last month.
鈥淚t was quite exciting,鈥� Monk says.
Monk was nominated by two students at the SHCD after they saw him laying a wreath a Remembrance Day ceremony on behalf of the Halifax Pride Committee.
鈥淭hey noticed my commitment to my community, and I mean in the bigger sense: my student community, the community I work in, the community I live in,鈥� says Monk.
Monk belongs to many Halifax communities, and volunteers in several of them.
As a volunteer and proud member of the LGBT community, Monk is now the volunteer coordinator of Halifax Pride. He recruits, mentors and trains new volunteers to help them serve in the community during the annual pride festival, Canada鈥檚 fourth-largest Pride Festival.
鈥淚 feel a sense of giving back to my community: a community that helped me come into my own,鈥� Monk says. He was awarded volunteer of the year with Halifax Pride in 2011 and 2012. 聽
In 2011, Monk also participated in the 鈥淚t Gets Better鈥� video made by prideHealth, a group for LGBT employees of Capital Health and the IWK Health Centre. Monk was one of the interviewees.
鈥淚 was once incredibly shy,鈥� Monk said. He says he was also a victim of bullying in his teenage years. He strongly believes that it does, in fact, get better. He says volunteering in his community has helped build that self-esteem.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the opportunity to get to know your city. It鈥檚 the opportunity to show your expertise in the city, and it鈥檚 a great way to gain confidence.鈥�
With a background in community theatre, Monk also takes time out of his busy life to serve as secretary of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Nova Scotia, a position that fell into his lap after being recruited to sing in the male ensemble.
鈥淚t helps to work on my skills as an administrative professional,鈥� Monk says.
His stage experience propelled him to volunteer as stage manager for the AV俱乐部 fundraiser 鈥淔or the Health of It,鈥� a skit competition between the different health faculties at AV俱乐部. This year鈥檚 event raised over $35,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation.
As for why he, personally, gives back so much of his time, he says it鈥檚 about doing what he can to support those communities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not for personal gain. I don鈥檛 want to have a wall full of awards. It鈥檚 not what you do; it鈥檚 why you do it.鈥�
(HRM photo)