Disappointing sign of times

Service clubs and organizations are exactly what they say they are — service to others.

In the past few months we’ve seen the Rotary Club of Westbank fold after 40 years; the Winfield Hospital Auxiliary shutting down after 61 years; and in Penticton, the Army Navy and Air Force Veterans of Canada has closed its unit, likely permanently.

Each situation was slightly different. For the Rotarians, finding an affordable place for its 17 members to meet was a challenge. The hospital auxiliary blamed a lack of new and younger volunteers for its demise. The ANAVETs was due to a lack of support from its existing membership.

Each organization provided invaluable service to the community, a list of accomplishments too great to mention.

In the case of the Rotarians, it might not be as drastic as it sounds because its members may join clubs in West Kelowna or Peachland. The ANAVET membership has scattered itself to other clubs, including the Elks Lodge.

The common theme here is a lack of volunteers.

If you look closely at a service club or church executive meeting — whatever the club — it’s mostly seniors. A good portion of extracurricular activities in the high schools is covered by the older teachers.

Boomers are the ones volunteering. Yes, seniors have more time than those working, but these same seniors were volunteering when they were in their 20s. The younger generation, unfortunately, is often gone once they have their first conflict or disagreement.

The lack of volunteers could be from the attitude high at the top. It’s discouraging for some when an organization is governed by an office in Vancouver with paid staff making six-figure salaries. Yet it’s the volunteers who donate 15 to 20 hours a week without even claiming a gasoline expense or free lunch.

Those at the top perhaps don’t say “thank you” enough.

As disappointing as it is to see good groups fold, it’s a true testament to the organizations that are still going strong, 50 or 60 years later. Kudos to them for not giving up. Perhaps they know something the rest of us don’t.

Recruiting young blood and learning to compromise are probably two of the things that they are doing right.