ARE THE WHEELS REALLY FALLING OFF?
THE BIG QUESTION.
Has the Covid malaise and this ‘me too world’ skilfully undermined the will of the people in terms of them getting actively involved in community volunteering?
It is an interesting and apparently widespread conundrum that ACTIVE community volunteering is on the wane and with no obvious turnaround in site. A FACT!
Why is this so and what will it take to regain our lost territory from the intransigence and apathy to the greater good?
Rotary as an example.
One only has to look at the loss of members from across Rotary as a whole, but more specifically, our Districts 9455 and 9465 where we are over 30% down on a very few years ago.
I look at our own Club, with its very active and well recognised community engagement… everything going for it in the traditional sense of wanting to belong, and yet, we are also caught up in the conundrum of a reducing interest in belonging.
Where will our future community leaders come from?
Generally, new and active members are both hard to find, and sadly, hard to retain.
And all the while, the average age continues to head north!
Without the energy and commitment of volunteers, community services are bound to suffer and I do not have any confidence in Governments, of all levels, being able to fill the gaps, let alone understand the underlying needs of their communities.
What can we do about it?
Much more easily said than done, but it does rest with each of us to do our extra bit to reenergise the apathy within our communities, speak out for the value of volunteering and ask others to join with us in helping to create a better world for those who follow.
And what messaging should we employ to genuinely interest those who would gain from the ‘give back’ of volunteering with Rotary?
And what messaging should we employ to genuinely interest those who would gain from the ‘give back’ of volunteering with Rotary?
All comments welcome!
My thoughts.
Kenn