Who will take over once the service clubs have disappeared?
That is a question Barrhead Leader managing editor Barry Kerton asked in his column in January and four months later we are no closer to having an answer.
And the problem is we may need an answer sooner than later.
As you will read in the story on our cover, the local Royal Canadian Legion branch is in danger of folding, in large part due to the losses they are occurring through the operation of its lounge.
Put quite simply, not enough people are supporting the lounge and its other activities to make it profitable and if business doesn’t pick up soon the organization is in danger of folding. Perhaps not right away, but in the foreseeable future.
In an effort to stop the hemorrhaging the Legion has decided to cut the number of days its lounge is open to Friday only.
Which of course is a double-edged sword. While it does cut their expenses it also decreases their opportunity to bring in additional revenue.
They are darned if they do, darned if they don’t.
Unfortunately, they are not the only ones. In recent months we have published multiple stories about how all the areas service clubs, such as the Elks and the Rotary Club, are experiencing a drop in membership. And to make things more challenging the members they do have tend to be older and are no longer able to continue to devote the same type of energy they once did.
Take the Elks as an example, who had to sell their campground in Lac La Nonne, last spring because they were no longer physically able to take care of the property.
Despite all these challenges somehow these service clubs are still out there making a difference in our community.
The Rotary Club recently offered to partner with the municipalities in an effort to help Barrhead and District Family Support Services’ Thrive program, a, family violence prevention initiative. In the last year-and-a-half, the Elks have donated $250,000 to the Barrhead and District Agrena Society’s fundraising effort to pay for its part of the construction of the aquatic centre. Then there is the Legion which donated $8,400 to various organizations who help seniors.
Without a new influx of members the many good deeds the Elks, the Rotary Club, the Legion, among others have and continue to do will cease. And then what will the community organizations that have come to depend on funding from these types of service clubs and all their good works will also come to an end.
Who will step in to fill the void? Our fear is no one.
However, the good news is that there is still time to reverse this trend. This is especially true in the Legion’s case, as all we need to do is to participate in more of their activities. So we will see you at Friday’s meat draw.
