It appears Blaine Lake is experiencing, like many other rural communities, a lack of volunteerism within the community, or maybe it's called a lack of volunteer enthusiasm.
Statistics indicate that many young families are relocating to smaller communities for the lifestyle preference, however are also enjoying the freedom of not "having" to volunteer. Communities, large and small, urban and rural, depend on volunteers to plan, organize, initiate and implement events. Without volunteers, many events, fundraisers, organizations, churches and communities would cease to exist, making them extinct.
As the famous saying goes "many hands makes the workload lighter." It is time that everyone takes pride and responsibility in keeping a community alive. Until now, it has fallen on the shoulders of a small number of citizens.
Well people, those shoulders are starting to droop and the hands are becoming tired and worn. Please take the initiative to become involved. No one is expecting you to tackle every board or every event, but sometimes just volunteering to stuff envelopes, make a few telephone calls or do some baking is exactly the right ingredient required to keep the organization afloat.
No one is asking you to serve on a board. Let's face it, some people are just not 'sit-in-a-meeting' kind of people; however, ask them to work the concession, sell tickets, direct traffic, cut grass, paint and the workload is already lightened!
A most recent example of volunteer evasion occurred with the Blaine Lake Community Association (BLCA). BLCA held its annual general meeting at the beginning of April. It was already known some directors were not letting their name stand and there was concern that, without enough directors, the organization would be required to dissolve. The BLCA constitution states the board must consist of a minimum of 12 and maximum of 24 volunteer directors; the result at the AGM was only 11.
Word spread quickly of the disappointment among the parents and current directors and it appeared BLCA was facing demise. A public meeting was scheduled for two weeks later to decide what to do with the organization.
The meeting attracted concerned individuals, some of whom volunteered to serve on the board of directors. After much discussion and a nomination process, the number of directors totaled 21. BLCA would remain a viable, active non-profit organization that would continue to maintain and operate the recreational facilities within the community as well as plan and implement programs and fundraising events.
Question is: Why must it get to such dire needs before people volunteer?
On the other hand, it was rewarding to witness the youth and staff of BLCS volunteer to assist the Blaine Lake Communities in Bloom committee with a community cleanup event May 15. By using the manual resources within the community, including the students and youth, organizations can accomplish so much more. The adults should be commended on nurturing the volunteer ethic within these young souls.
No community is immune to what I have described above. If any of you readers feel like your community is thriving on volunteerism, all I recommend is that you step back and take a close look at those volunteers. Ensure that you are not burning them out too soon. Attempt to lighten their load with access to other volunteers. Build a good network on a firm foundation and it will take your community into the future, a bright future.
Let's keep volunteerism alive and well in rural communities within Saskatchewan. Let's not add volunteers to the endangered species list!
