In the days that, we all hope, represent the decline of the necessity of Zoom meetings (though perhaps not their complete disappearance), we received an erudite and detailed report from incoming Joint-President Lydia respecting her attendance at the Convention held in Prince George and the expectations for the coming year. The latter discussion she prefaced by describing three overriding themes: the first is literacy, then youth and, perhaps above all, the expansion of membership.
Lydia described the newest of Rotary’s goals as the Environment, a subject which had already gained a certain focus in the planning of Jean and herself. Naturally, our Club already has some cachet in light of the substantial work carried out so successfully by Past-President Joyce in the cleaning of local, and particularly on far-away, shores both with and apart from other club’ assistance (at which earlier time it had to be focused on ‘economic development’).
Lydia and Joy have indeed formulated some useful ideas arising from discussions arising ‘at large’. One particular theme is the eternal issue of ‘Club Revitalization’, our Club in particular having shrunk substantially in membership over the past decade (this is not real ‘shrinkage’ actually, our accretion of Members having been reasonably healthy, but age, moving away and the Passing of Members has left an undeniable impression of numerical decline).
Literacy, Youth and the Environment will therefore form the core of the coming year’s activities, which she and Joy are to a degree working on with attention to interesting speakers, not always easy in the reign of Zoom. Additionally, she proposes an occasional Nighttime Beachwalk along the foreshore: this, of course, will demand the enthusiasm of the younger and fitter of our members ... a group which at this point perhaps needs a few new acolytes. Lydia describes this as a ‘Visibility Event’, a description that might need a bit more explication! Lights and candles she described: your correspondent is looking forward to the details, which one hopes may include a dose of hot toddy.
The three overriding themes will be Literacy, Youth and Environment (the first of which is already under way). The last-named was already a major topic of discussion at the Conference, and of course we already have some experience upon which to build.
Turning to ‘local’ issues, revitalizing the membership is going to be a prime focus: there is no reason why a good number of suitable candidates should not be expected. Lydia believes that an active membership of 30 to 40 members is achievable, and some ‘activities’, such as popcorn stands at public markets are doable, though such activities are going to have to be carefully devised to bring in the right candidates. We can propose to some neighbourhoods such thing as clean-up projects and the like, and approach some groups by seeking exposure on community websites. The active collection of books can also be combined with actively approaching communities. We will also invite top-notch environment-advocates to speak to us, preferably with an enhanced guest-list.
Finally, we have experience and expertise that we can proffer to the community: we need an enhanced group in the future, and to a degree the process will need some funding. This was a thoughtful and perhaps profound presentation, one deserving of continued attention ... this is set to be an active Rotary Year!