DUNCAN — Leaders of several of Duncan’s various civic clubs met Thursday afternoon during the weekly Noon Lion’s Club meeting to discuss a problem affecting them all: declining membership numbers.

Representing the clubs were Tom Daughtry for Lion’s, David Duwe for AMBUCS, Cindy Reynolds for Rotary, Pam Germany for Kiwanis and Jean Schalt for Optimists.

This meeting provided time for those attending to learn more about each club, come up with reasons for the decline in members and try to find solutions.

“Each club provides great service projects that are invaluable to the community, so what’s causing this decline,” asked Chris Deal, president of the Duncan Chamber of Commerce, who facilitated the discussion.

Each representative was given the opportunity to share a little about their club such as their projects, current membership numbers and what they were at the peak of their club.

That information can be found in the sidebar to this article.

Clubs took turns describing some of the reasons they believe their memberships are suffering.

Most of the clubs agreed on the same reasons which included no money for dues, lack of invitations to the groups, and no youth coming in to take older member’s places.

“Most people don’t have the time or expense to join,” said Duwe.

One way those on the panel thought to find a solution to this problem was to talk to local employers.

In the past, some companies would encourage their employees participation in the civic clubs by offering to pay their dues for them.

Due to the economy, in recent years this practice has stopped but the clubs would like to see it began again.

It was suggested that maybe representatives of each club go as a group to local businesses and ask to explain to their employees what each club does and allow them to choose the club they’re most attracted to, if they are interested.

This goes into the subject of the clubs being more inviting. Many have the idea that they need permission to go to any of the clubs’ meetings, when that simply isn’t the case.

All of the groups are open to the public and said they would enjoy anyone showing up to find out more.

“We have an idea going of replacing ourselves, so you get someone to join who can take your place once you’re no longer able to be in the club,” said Germany. “I now ask five people a day to come to a meeting and I’ve gotten two to join.”

All of these clubs need some of two kinds of members, those who are able to give donations of money and those who are able to give their time.

Without both types of members, the community activities these clubs host and the good they do for the locals will all fade out and be no more.

Lois DawnJones with the Duncan Visitors and Bureau urged the clubs to utilize Duncan Calendar, which is a website that can post information about their meetings and events.

This is another way to promote their club and get the word out there that they exist.

Finally, most of the clubs are comprised of the Baby Boomer Generation.

While some include those of the X Generation, they are few and there are almost no Y or Z Generation members.

The solution to this problem was more complex to come up with for the panel.

“It’s not just civic clubs who are facing this,” said Deal. “We need serving hearts, so where have we missed instilling that and how do we find younger generations?”

One member of the audience said it is difficult for young people to just show up to meetings and events the clubs host because they don’t feel accepted and that the older members seem stand offish.

He urged the older generation to go sit with the younger visitors and to make them feel welcome.

While some clubs have junior extensions in high school and college, once those members graduate, they still feel like outcasts among the full fledge groups and this is one way to correct that.

Deal pointed out that the issue of declining memberships was nothing they would be able to solve in just one day and that possibly more round table sessions would be needed.

Overall, he said, it is important to work toward the future.

“Everyone owes gratitude to all of these clubs for what they do in the community,” said Rev. Arnold Nelson. “I would think that they have what people would look for to help with good causes.”