Bob Haase’s Another Can of Worms

Joiners and Doers

When I was growing up and all the way through the 1970’s and early 1980’s there were a lot of different clubs and organizations to join.  There was a different attitude at that time and many people wanted to join a club or organization and many clubs even had to put membership caps on because they were getting to big.  Some of these clubs were formed to be more or less social clubs and others were formed for a particular purpose or to support a particular cause.  Many of these clubs and organizations were local and served a specific geographic location such as many of the local sportsman’s clubs and others grew to national recognition such as Ducks Unlimited or Trout Unlimited.

 

Kids were joining clubs such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and even the Mickey Mouse Club.  Today even the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are having problems recruiting members.  The kids are not joining clubs like we did and as they get older it is even more evident with most clubs and organizations working hard to recruit and maintain their members.

 

Social media such as Facebook is taking the place of clubs for social interaction, but it is not the same.  Clubs were and still are an important part of what makes this country great. Clubs like Kiwanis, Optimists, and other clubs like this not only provide a source of social interaction, they also raise funds and volunteer help for many important projects and activities within a community. 

 

I don’t believe that our country outgrew the need for clubs like this or the good that they accomplish.  I think the problem is that many people don’t understand how important these clubs are to our society, workplace, and the individuals that join them.  With so many broken families, clubs can provide another outlet that cannot take the place of a family, but can provide a place to meet friends.  The structure of a club with the officers, board of directors, and use of Roberts Rules of Order can help build people skills that can carry over into the workplace. 

 

With people working sometimes two or more jobs to provide for themselves and their families, many people have problems finding time to devote to club activities and simply don’t join.  Related to this is problem finding club members that are willing or have the time to volunteer to serve as officers or take on additional roles with the club.

 

I think we need to do more to promote clubs and the work they do and encourage people to join them.  I think we need to encourage kids to join clubs and set the example by joining clubs ourselves.  I think we also need to get away from that attitude of “what’s in it for me!” and start asking what can we accomplish by working together.  Give it a try!  Find a club that you think you might be interested in, attend a meeting, and when you find the one you like join it!

 

Bob Haase is the host of “Outdoors Thursday” heard Thursday mornings at 9:10 a.m. on News-Talk 1450 KFIZ.