A service club that has done so much for the Drumheller Valley is in need of new members to continue to be viable.
The Rotary Club of Drumheller is hoping to increase their membership as, like many other service clubs, their numbers continue to decrease. Rotary Club President Jay Garbutt shares that they are hoping to rejuvenate Rotary in Drumheller. “Our club’s been serving this town for over 100 years, but we need to rejuvenate our club. We’re getting older. Our club number has shrunk to only about 20 members and in order to be as effective as we want to be, and continue to make the positive change in our community and the world, we just need more people. We’re really working hard to rejuvenate our club and bring in hopefully at least 10 to 15 new members over the next year.”
It is important that this drive happens sooner rather than later according to Garbutt. “We need people now. I know there’s people out there who’ve thought about joining our Rotary Club for years, and they’re waiting for the ideal circumstances in which to do it. The truth is that we can’t wait. We need them now. Our club is considered to be one of many that is not healthy in its size. Any club under 25 members is considered not healthy and we need to change that and need to change it now. I know that there’s been lots of people who have given it a moment’s thought. We need them to get off the couch, reinvigorate their passion for doing things for this community and for the broader world. Rotary is an international force for good. Come and find out more about us, if they need to. I know a lot of people already know lots of what we do, they just need to decide to get involved, and we need them now.”
The view of Rotary has changed quite a bit over the years notes Garbutt. Let’s talk about what Rotary isn’t anymore. We’re not just a wealthy businessman’s club anymore. That hasn’t been true for decades. Our club has been over 50% female at different points in our recent history. We’re welcoming people from all walks of life. There’s no more attendance requirement. We don’t even meet weekly anymore. What we need are people who know that they can commit a few hours a month when we don’t have projects going on, and a few more hours a month when we do have projects going on. We need members who are going to get involved and help this club move forward for the tremendous future that it can have. We raise a tremendous amount of money on an annual basis and new members are going to have an equal say as long-term members about what we do, where we focus our priorities, who we help and how we change, move the needle and change people’s lives for the positive.”
It is important for people to understand that the need is now, admits Garbutt. “It’s important that the community understands that if they value what Rotary does, that we can’t keep on the way we’ve been, and that we won’t necessarily be able to be effective even in just a couple of years down the road unless we’re successful in this campaign. I was just talking to a new prospective member this week, and shared about the minutes from our last meeting to indicate the ways that our club is. There were eight different things, from an international potential for us, to explore working with the Canadian and Ukraine club connections to help really infuse some capital into tremendous projects due to the war in the Ukraine, and as well as our continued support of the Rotary Seniors Christmas Dinner. Then there were six other things that were involved, and that was just one meeting. We’re still really active, we do all kinds of great things, but the truth is, Drumheller, we need you now. We need you to get involved in our tremendous organization, and we’d love to hear from you.”
Reach out to any Rotary member to find out more, or call Jay Garbutt 403-823-8194 or by email at jaygarbutt@gmail.com
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