Seeking citizens for service

Published 4:20 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

Around holiday time, many communities celebrate by setting up opportunities for children to sit on Santa’s lap, holding Christmas and New Year’s parties and doing gift exchanges. None of these activities would be possible without local service organizations, which set up the celebrations. In recent years, these organizations have grown older and become smaller because the younger generation doesn’t have as much interest.

“It’s very difficult to get new members,” said Holly West, member of the Lions. “The generations have changed. If you look at most service clubs, they’re inhabited by older people and the generations have gotten away from doing the service clubs. The service clubs are what your dad did, not what you do, kind of thing.”

With both spouses working, couples choose their time more wisely, so they don’t want to commit to this kind of thing, said West.

“It just seems like it’s not the thing to do to become part of a service organization,” said Don Oster, orientation chair of Kiwanis.

“For the older generation, it was a natural thing to join,” said Tony Yanez of the Eagles. “The younger generation doesn’t know what it really is. There’s more to us than watching TV, playing pool, sitting around eating steak and drinking beer.”

It used to be the thing to do after work, said Bill Williams, governor of the Moose. People didn’t have a lot of money, so they would go down the street to the Moose and spend a few hours there.

“Now people have money,” said William. “They can do things.”

“Our problem is that we’re in a community where people don’t work in the community,” said Charlotte Jacobs, past president of the Rotary. “We have people that visit us and are actually members of Rotary, but in Seattle or Bellevue, or where they work. It’s hard to find local people who are interested.”

Despite their struggles to recruit new members, none of the organizations hold membership drives. All five organizations count mostly on word of mouth. They also depend on the various activities held during the year to interest people in joining.

Lions

The Lions and Kiwanis used to count on the fireworks stands they set up every year, but that no longer occurs. With only nine members remaining, the Lions Club is too small to hold that fund-raiser now, West said. In the past, the club was much larger and did fundraisers, then invested that money. That money is now donated to food banks or families in need, and to fund high-school scholarships. These efforts also help to put the Lions Club name out. Members also give out and collect phone numbers, telling people about themselves and their organization, and making sure to give call backs.

“It’s mostly through invitations,” said West.

Kiwanis

One of the biggest fundraisers and recruiting aids for Kiwanis is its “Giving Tree,” which is held every year in the Valley. People pick names off the tree and purchase appropriate Christmas gifts. Last year alone, the club raised $30,000, which all goes back into the community, said Oster. The club also funds a scholarship at Mount Si High School and volunteers to help ring the bell for the Salvation Army, which raises $8,000-$10,000 a year. These activities put members in the public eye and creates interest in the Kiwanis organization. Members also simply invite friends, family and the public to their meetings.

“It’s the camaraderie we have within the club,” said Oster. “A lot of people came as guests and saw the program was of great interest. We’ve struggled in the past, but we’ve been well blessed in the last two years that our numbers are back up.”

Rotary

The Rotary Club holds several local programs, a few of which are at Mount Si High School. These include Interact, the high-school branch of the club, which helps to attract new members early, and a scholarship for a graduating senior to help them continue their education. The club also sends a group of students who have refurbished computers to Uganda to set up labs and train students there to use the computers. It holds fundraisers, such as an annual golf tournament in July, and takes part in North Bend’s annual Festival at Mount Si, Jacobs said. A main part of the Rotary’s recruitment is through invitations to friends to attend its once-a-week breakfast at Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club to hear what’s going on. There is a guest speaker each week who highlights something pertinent to the community.

“People hear about the program, what we’re doing in the community; that’s how we find new members,” said Jacobs.

Eagles

The Eagles organization’s biggest recruiting event is its one open house per year, which is all that is legally allowed, Yanez said. With one of the biggest facilities available for rental in the Valley, the club holds many weddings, birthday parties, celebrations, even wakes at the club house.

“People come see it, they like what they see, then they join,” said Yanez. The club is planning to do a major redesign of the facility to make it into a more club-like atmosphere. He hopes that new members will jump in and offer some ideas for the space.

The club does a lot of functions for children, as well as charity drives. It also offers scholarships, both national and local, Yanez said. The club depends a lot on the women’s auxiliary, which directs these. In order to join, new members must have a sponsor, and must go through an interview process with the sponsor before their membership is voted on in the bi-weekly Aerie meeting. It takes a majority vote to become a member.

Moose

Like the others, the Moose counts a lot on word of mouth and its fundraisers during the year. The club holds holiday parties, “Kid’s Day America,” helps out with the Giving Tree, holds auctions and donates money to numerous causes in the community. In the past, the club auctioned off a football signed by the Washington State University football team from the Holiday Bowl, earning $900, which was put toward community efforts. The club recently purchased 46 sweatshirts for low-income children. Members also volunteer their time at school and community functions.

“If somebody brings something to us, or if someone’s in need,” they’ll help, said Colwell Reed, prelate. “We can do anything.”

In order to become a member here, guests must go through an investigation committee before being voted on by the whole club.

“The only way you won’t be a member is if you’re a felon,” said Williams. That’s the national organization’s law, he added. “We have some control about who can come in and who can’t.”