Chamber chatter

No doubt you’ve noticed that the committees and organizations you participate in have had a drop in membership, rather, a drop in volunteerism. Not only here, but nationwide. The fraternal organizations have seen a major decline to the point of closing many, or at least chapters. I remember when the Elks Club in Missoula was the most popular social gathering spot in town. The Moose was a close second. Service organizations such as Rotary and Kiwanis there are still pretty solid and I partially attribute that to the time of day meetings are conducted. But they face the same challenge all do: 20-80. Twenty percent of the membership does eighty percent of the work. Some places are 10-90, but regardless, this ratio is the norm. Burn out. And I get that. Too much for too long and the torch needs to be passed. Hopefully, there is someone who has the energy and vision to take it for a few years, and so the cycle continues. Which leads me to where I want to ‘soapbox’ for a moment. The American Cancer Society Relay for Life has been a well organized, profitable event in Mineral County for many years. To the by-stander, it is a well oiled machine that involves gobs of volunteers (help) that culminates into a FUN event. We all know someone close who has been affected by cancer which is one of the reasons this is so successful (and FUN) in our county. But their leadership is plum worn out and they are in need of a chair for 2015. This requires a committed individual(s) who oversees the event through meetings, phone calls, emails and personal relationship building. It’s not easy, but it’s not killer, either. It pays squat, but the reward is magnificent! You get to meet and work with some of Mineral Counties finest people and raise money to fight one of the most despicable diseases on earth. A couple of years ago, Mineral County raised nearly $45,000. That same year, Missoula County raised $86,000. Kinda tells ya of the generosity of our neighbors, doesn’t it? Call me at 822-5122 if you’re interested. Thanks.

In closing, tomorrow evening at 6:30 is the monthly Chamber of Commerce meeting, Aggie Salisbury with Open Doors, Inc. will be our guest speaker. We’ll have an abbreviated agenda to give everyone plenty of time for Q & A on what Open Doors vision is and how we can become involved in strengthening our county. We only have 15 chairs but don’t let that keep you from attending.

Monte Turner,

Mineral County Chamber of Commerce, co-chair