News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Members of the Alpena Rotary Club spent the day on Wednesday sprucing up Rotary Island Mill Park in Alpena. Many groups and clubs such as Rotary are looking to add members to help achieve their goals and missions. Most clubs have experienced a significant drop in members.

ALPENA –Service groups in Alpena play a critical role in providing funding, volunteers and other types of support for many community endeavors.

However, some are feeling the pinch from shrinking membership meaning fewer people able to do the heavy lifting needed to plan and execute fundraising events and area projects.

While some clubs are maintaining or gradually increasing membership, if numbers continue to slide at others, it could affect the types of projects done around the area and the amount of money raised for those projects.

“People have lives and we understand that and that’s important,” said Beckie Thomson, president of the Alpena Optimist Club. “But we don’t need a lot of time for a little while, but instead a little of your time for a long while.”

The Optimist Club was established in 1959 and for many years had a strong membership numbering into the 90s.

That has dramatically declined in recent years.

Today, the club has 35 members, of which about 15 are active.

Thomson said that, in a perfect world, there would be double that number, but she knows that is unrealistic because few people, especially those who are younger, are donating time.

The club utilizes social media and holds recruitment meetings to try to stir up interest in the club, which includes use of the clubhouse on M-32. Despite such efforts, responses have been limited, Thomson said.

The work the club does isn’t labor-intensive, Thomson said, and most people should be able to squeeze a few hours from their busy schedules to help make a difference for children in the local community

Optimist hosts a Family Fun Fishing Day and a spring break event for schools. It organizes the rubber duck race on the Fourth of July and host several bump-and-runs. The club’s work has led to the creation of a youth park at the county fairgrounds and provides scholarships for area graduates and a special children’s cancer fund to help cover health care costs for families.

‘MANY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE AGING’

The Alpena Kiwanis Club also is trying to increase its membership.

According to President Rocky Roland, the club currently has 37 members, with about 20 who are active. He said the club is responsible for the kiddie park near Bayview Park and also works with the Alpena Sports Boosters Club –which has 17 members — on the popular Avenue of Flags in Alpena, among other projects.

He said having more and younger people involved would also be a plus.

Roland said Kiwanis is in the same boat as other clubs in Alpena and beyond.

“Our numbers used to be higher, but we have been at least stable for the last five years,” Roland said. “The trouble is, many of our members are aging, and we are trying to figure out how to attract younger people. I believe, in a lot of cases, the concept of service and giving doesn’t come to someone until they get older — and that it is not easy to do when you’re young. But they are needed.”

‘ONE NEW MEMBER A YEAR’

One local club that is bucking the trend and seeing a slight increase in membership is the Alpena Rotary Club.

The club is responsible for spearheading several large projects, including the splash park at Starlite Beach and Rotary Island Mill Park. It is also working with the city on planned improvements to Mich-e-ke-wis Park.

Rotary President Bob Barrigar said the club has been able to add new members because the Alpena region has seen growth in population the last several years. He said there are about 70 members at this point, but club leaders hope more can be added again this year.

“We lose a couple, then gain a couple, but our goal is to always add one new member a year,” Barrigar said. “We are definitely on an upward trajectory because of the new people moving to Alpena and the new business starting up.”

Barrgar said anyone interested in joining Rotary can leave a message on its Facebook page or attend one of its meetings at noon Mondays at the APlex.

‘THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE’

About 18 months ago, the Alpena Lions Club was suffering through a membership decline, incoming First Vice President Bernie Lamp said. Since then, however, numbers have begun to rebound. He said the club has added six new members, whom he said are already working hard in the club.

Lamp said the Lions currently have 45 members. The group is still looking to add more.

“They have been very active and had good participation, but, for various reasons, some of our current members will leave and we’ll be looking for more new ones,” Lamp said. “We seek men and women of all ages and backgrounds.”

One of the Lions’ primary goals is to help provide assistance with sight issues and to help provide funding for leader dog programs. It also collects glasses that are sent around the globe for those who need spectacles.

He said the club also maintains and cleans Sytech Park on Bagley Street.

One of its primary fundraisers happens June 7 and 8, when the “white cane” sale will happen in Alpena.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpeanews.com.

Alpena service clubs, by the numbers

A look at the number of members at Alpena service clubs.

Optimist Club: 35

Kiwanis Club: 37

Rotary Club: 70

Lions Club: 45

Sports Boosters Club: 17