The thesis investigates how volunteer organizations come to exist and take action. Whether it be athletic activity, health, education, religion, or the community fair, all of us have experienced the work of a volunteer organization in one way or another.The cumulative effect of Canadas 75,000 registered charities details the following statistics: $90.5 Billion; 1.3 million employed; 1.6 million volunteers per month. These statistics do not account for the comparable activity of Canadas estimated 100,000 non-profit organizations.If we can understand through sociological inquiry how volunteer organizations come to exist and take action, we will be able to articulate depth and meaning to an incredibly significant-and somewhat forgotten-sector of our society.The research was guided by Normative and Functional Integration theory which provided the characteristics and focus. The methodology involved an in-depth analysis of a specific national volunteer organization through the use of interviews, historical research and document analysis. In addition a story is provided and interwoven throughout the thesis. The story represents the process of integration in a historical fiction context. The characteristics of Normative and Functional Integration theory, along with the research findings are present throughout the story.