Are Service Organizations Disappearing?
Kyle Reyes
Owner, Law Enforcement Today, Blue Lives Matter and The Police Tribune. CEO, The Silent Partner Marketing. Serial entrepreneur. Christian conservative. Keynote speaker.
Years ago, I was blessed to receive a pile of scholarships from organizations that you don't hear nearly enough about any more.
- The Elks
- Kiwanis
- The Rotary
- The Knights of Columbus
It's not that they don't exist. And it's not that they aren't doing the spectacular work that they've always done. I believe it may be because they are getting crowded out in the digital age.
It's a struggle many non-profit organizations face. As their membership ages (and the same can be said for businesses like Country Clubs as well), they become less and less effective at understanding how to market in what's become an extremely noisy society.
It's a disconcerting shift in volunteerism. The fewer people that hear about the organizations...the fewer people that join them. And in a society where time is so valuable and many are working longer and longer hours to make ends meet... are we facing the possibility of many of these organizations disappearing altogether?
Shirley Chisholm once said: "Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth".
Recently I was invited by a friend to an event to raise awareness about the Connecticut Freemasons.
Our conversation went something like this:
Tom: "Hey - you like hockey, right?"
Me: "I like hockey fights. That counts, right?"
Tom: "Listen - my lodge has a cool event coming up with the Hartford Wolf Pack in a couple of weeks. You want to go?"
Me: "Lodge? Like...a ski lodge?"
Tom: "No - it's for the Connecticut Freemasons. We're raising awareness about what we do in the community to help others."
Me: "Masons? Like...the Illuminati?"
Ok, so perhaps this is a tongue-in-cheek, poking fun at my buddy kind of conversation. But here's what it boils down to.
I - along with many others - have become wildly sheltered when it comes to knowing about the spectacular organizations that are out there having a positive impact on the lives of others. And if we're not going to take the time out of our lives to volunteer and support the many groups that are out there...it doesn't hurt to at least catch a hockey game and learn about them, right?
No, service groups aren't dead. But sometimes they just need a little digital help in getting the word out. Hope to see you there.
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POSTED BY
Kyle Reyes is the President and Creative Director of The Silent Partner Marketing, New England's #1 Marketing Agency. We're a boutique marketing firm focused on helping businesses grow in an age of exploding technology. You can find him on Google+, Facebook and Twitter.
Proprietor at L'Assistance & Homeward Bound Services
10 年OH how cool is that, what a hoot. I don't have any personal experience with the Manchester school systems, I was living in VT, MA and NY when trying to find local students. Good to know about East Catholic, I do get asked on occasion from fellow colleagues (given my former life) where to find volunteers, Thank you.
Proprietor at L'Assistance & Homeward Bound Services
10 年I know that some high schools in particular, have students complete a required number of hours prior to graduation. I've "attempted" in the past to utilize local students for projects I had, Problem was, half the time they never showed up. I think students need a real education of what their local entities offer the community, create a sense of ownership in them, and perhaps they will be more dedicated in their commitments.
Proprietor at L'Assistance & Homeward Bound Services
10 年As a former fundraiser for 20 years in the non-profit world, Most places I raised funds for, the bulk of the funds came from the 65++ age groups. How will these organizations survive? How about Instead of teaching "home economics" (yes I remember this useless class), Lets start education in the classrooms. This generation coming up is all about social media. How bout they are given tasks to research local non-profits, do a "book report" about them, and actually Volunteer their time to a non-profit of their choice. If young people don't become engaged,this sector of business is in big trouble.
Just curious, Tom, but quite taken aback by your response and commitment to deliberately exclude more than half the population.
Executive Architect | Application Modernization | Enterprise Architecture | Financial Transformation | Fractional CTO
10 年Society is increasingly more diverse in its interests and beliefs that any other time before that. The challenge in these organizations is the time commitment required in order to belong. Both are solvable by these organizations without them having to compromise their values.