By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
DUNNVILLE—It’s no secret that service clubs across Haldimand, like others across the country, are facing a serious dilemma. With an aging volunteer base and no one stepping up in their stead to carry the mantle, membership is dropping – leading to less of the community-focused programming these clubs provided in their heyday and in the worst case, closure of the club altogether.
Rookie Councillor Patrick O’Neill heard the message loud and clear while speaking with a number of local clubs during his 2022 campaign, learning just how serious the issue is in some cases.
“Across the board, the biggest concern is a lack of volunteers and an aging group. The groups themselves are getting old and there’s not a lot of younger people joining. It’s become harder and harder to do a lot,” said O’Neill, who is hosting an open house service club event aimed at connecting his ward’s various clubs with interested community members looking to take a more active role in the town they call home.
The event will be held on Tuesday, May 2 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Dunnville Lifespan Centre. Participants will have a chance to hear from and speak with representatives from a variety of local service clubs. While O’Neill does not have a final list of participants, he listed the Lion’s Club, Legion, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, BIA, Dunnville Horticultural Society, and the Heritage Society as likely to take part.
O’Neill said that he has spoken with many desiring a return of community-focused programming and events seen previously, but thinks they might not have made the connection between the decline in the clubs’ availability and the decline in volunteerism in general: “I feel that people are misinformed on what these clubs did…. A lot of the things that you’re missing or don’t happen anymore does come down to the efforts of the community itself.”
“A lot of those programs were run or facilitated by these groups, and they just don’t have the resources, especially human resources, to do those things,” he continued. “I think it’s time for people to make those connections and learn more about the groups, and see how they can get involved.”
While O’Neill acknowledges that younger people getting started with their families or careers may not have the time needed to join a club, he pointed toward the next generation – those experiencing an empty nest for the first time or cruising comfortably in their careers toward retirement – who could find fulfilment sharing their talents.
“I think that’s a great age group to look at, and then to try to make that a multigenerational thing,” said O’Neill, explaining his hope that new volunteers in that age demographic might bring their own grown children in to help. “The more generations you have in those groups, the more it brings perspective, and new or different ideas. These things are working at their best when you have a lot of different people at the table.”
On the event, O’Neill encouraged the public to come out and learn a little bit more, noting that people might be surprised to find a role that fits them perfectly: “If you find something that fits your own interest or passion, I think that really creates a motivation and helps you find that time.”
He continued, “I think there are a lot of benefits emotionally, those things come when you’re helping people and doing something that’s a little above yourself. Getting those experiences really does make a difference.”
With a wide range of clubs all looking for new members, O’Neill hopes the open house will be the first step towards restoring a solid, thriving volunteer base within the community.
“These types of things are for everyone. Sometimes when you get involved in these types of things, from my personal experience, you find that you have skills that maybe you weren’t harnessing.”
“This is a call to action,” he concluded. “I hope people answer.”
