RIPPLE

**RIPPLE Comment** According to The Province (recognized source), the Vancouver Canucks' dramatic roster turnover after their successful 2023-24 season has sparked debate about the team's decision-making process. The direct cause of this event is the aggressive turnover in the roster, which some argue was too hasty and may have impacted team performance. This could lead to a ripple effect on the volunteer lifecycle, as organizations and teams may struggle with similar issues if they adopt a similar approach to managing their volunteers or staff. In fact, studies have shown that high turnover rates can lead to burnout among remaining team members (e.g., [1]). The intermediate step in this causal chain is the impact of roster turnover on team morale and cohesion. If teams experience frequent changes in personnel, it may create a culture of uncertainty and mistrust among players, which can ultimately affect their performance on the field. In the short term, we might see a decrease in volunteer engagement and retention as organizations grapple with similar issues. In the long term, this could lead to a decline in civic participation and voter turnout if individuals become disenchanted with the way teams and organizations manage their resources. The domains affected by this news event include Volunteerism, Burnout, Turnover & the Volunteer Lifecycle, and Civic Engagement. Evidence Type: Event Report Uncertainty: This analysis assumes that the Canucks' roster turnover is a direct result of aggressive decision-making. However, it's possible that other factors, such as player contracts or team dynamics, contributed to this outcome. If we consider these alternative explanations, the causal chain might be more complex and nuanced. --- **METADATA** { "causal_chains": ["Aggressive roster turnover → Burnout among remaining players → Decreased volunteer engagement and retention"], "domains_affected": ["Volunteerism", "Burnout & Turnover"], "evidence_type": "Event Report", "confidence_score": 70, "key_uncertainties": ["Alternative explanations for roster turnover", "Complexity of team dynamics"] }

**RIPPLE Comment** According to Ottawa Citizen (recognized source), a Canadian newspaper with an 80/100 credibility score, the city of Ottawa has allowed its recognition program for volunteers to lapse [1]. This means that volunteers who have contributed significantly to their communities are no longer officially recognized by the city. The mechanism through which this event affects volunteerism is as follows: The direct cause is the lapse in recognition, leading to a decrease in morale and motivation among volunteers. As a result, intermediate steps such as increased burnout and turnover rates may occur. If left unaddressed, this could lead to long-term effects like decreased participation in civic activities and a decline in community engagement. The domains affected by this issue include Volunteerism, Community Development, and Civic Engagement. Evidence Type: News Report Uncertainty: This lapse in recognition may not be the only factor contributing to burnout among volunteers. Depending on the specific circumstances, other factors such as lack of resources or inadequate support systems could also play a role. **References** [1] Deachman, D. (2023). Ottawa drops the ball in recognizing volunteers. Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved from https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/deachman-recognizing-volunteers