Contest: TEDxCalgary shows you the music! (CLOSED)

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave you met Ted?

More specifically Ted X?  TEDxCalgary is just like those now world famous Ted talks, but they are independently organized by different cities.  Next week, Calgary will be hosting its latest event and the topic is something that is near and dear to my heart: volunteering.

I’ll admit that I don’t volunteer as much as I should, but I’m definitely making a point to do it more and more and it’s amazing how an hour here and there, can make a big difference.

Here’s what we know already, Calgarians volunteer double the amount of the national average and this city amazingly has more than 5,000 nonprofit organizations. The fact that this city continues to give and give, even during all of our booms and busts is one of the reasons that I love it so much.

So why do people volunteer?  What is there motivation?  And most importantly, how can we volunteer better?

These are just some of the topics that will be discussed at next week’s TedX event on November 18th.  If you think you’d like to contribute to the conversation, then there you should definitely check out the event.  They are still looking for delegates to attend, all you have to do is take a moment to apply.  People are still talking about the last TedX event, and I’m still kicking myself for not going, so if you are looking to meet some of this city’s movers and shakers or maybe you are looking for the motivation to take control of your volunteering, then this is the event.

Click here to apply to be a delegate.

Now, here’s something that’s really cool. This month’s Ted X even will be held in the brand new Calgary Folk Music Festival Hall, so to celebrate, they’ve given me a sweet prize to one of the biggest volunteer events of the year.  I have in my possession to perfectly smelling four-day passes to the 2012 Calgary Folk Music Festival.   The festival will take place from July 26-29, 2012 and you better believe that these two passes will sell out almost immediately, they are worth $330 afterall.     (Please note, anyone in Canada can enter, but the prize is for the passes only, not flights.  But if you want to crash on my couch, well, we can talk about that.)

So how do you win them?

All you have to do is tell me your greatest volunteer story!  Why do you take time out of your day to help others?  Have you met someone amazing through volunteering?  Post it in the comments section and you’ll be entered to win. Just to save yourself some time, you don’t need to write an essay, I’ll be doing a random draw for the winner.

Bonus entry, tweet:  “I love to volunteer, so I might win two 4-day passes to the @calgaryfolkfest from @TEDxCalgary and @mikesbloggity! http://ow.ly/7lY15 ”

Contests closes next Monday, November 14th at 11:59pm/MST.