A local institution is closing shop. The Quyon Lionettes, a community service group founded just over four decades ago, has decided to disband.
It’s a natural phenomenon as the members, some of whom have been involved through much of the group’s long history, are well into their senior years and would be happy to pass the baton along to the next generation. But it was not to be, as these days the people ready to serve as volunteers seem few and far between.
It’s true, the volunteer sector ain’t what it used to be, and it’s a problem confounding many community organizations. It was a similar fate that befell the Shawville Lionettes prompting it to close up shop a few years ago. Other service groups struggle to hang on with too small a volunteer base.
Are we all just too busy raising our families, doing our jobs, running our businesses? Is everything more complex than in earlier, simpler times, not to mention more expensive and moving faster? Is it just no longer possible to find the time to volunteer? Or are we seeing a shift in attitudes about whether it is worth lending a hand to help make our communities good places to live? Was that something more for the previous generation, but not for us? Are we descending into an everyone-for-themself world?
Some subscribe to the idea that the market will provide for all our needs. Others look to government to take care of us. The truth probably lies somewhere in between. Even then, there are inevitably cracks that some members of society would fall through if it weren’t for the efforts of volunteer service groups.
While the decision to dissolve the Quyon Lionettes feels like a sad development, there is much for which to feel grateful. Over the forty-one years of service to the community provided by this dedicated group of volunteers, all manner of activity to raise funds for worthy causes have been produced. Duck races, murder mysteries, golf tournaments, community day meals, MNA breakfasts and car rallies, to name a few. With donations going to community hospitals, schools, cancer research, CHEO, the Ottawa Mission and other health-related organizations, the value of these generous expressions of community spirit is almost incalculable when you think of the many people who have benefitted.
And even in the process of disbanding, the Lionettes decided unanimously to ensure their remaining funds are distributed equally among the three schools in the Municipality of Pontiac and via the Pontiac Hospital Foundation for long term care. As the Lionettes put it, they are “investing in our future and caring for our elderly.”
To the Lionettes who have seen these many good works through, we owe our appreciation. Theirs is quite a legacy, all told.
