Like with many community organizations and events, the pandemic had a significant effect on local civic organizations and their typical operations.
For those in Sumter and Clarendon counties, the pandemic has affected not only in-person events, but also the demographics the organizations' members make up.
Members of civic organizations are often retired members of the community, so when the pandemic hit and older demographics were among the most at risk, many civic organizations' member rosters took a significant hit.
"The CDC recommended that we not gather in groups and those that were more vulnerable be especially cautious. Over the last year and some, some of those older members have passed away. Some have aged some and are no longer as physically able to participate. But also, some are still being cautious because the pandemic certainly is not over," said the president of the Manning Rotary Club, Rachel Gainey. "Generally, you have your working professionals of all ages, and then you have your retirees because they have more time and are at a point in life where they can give back. A lot of times, it's the work schedules that prevents many of the younger folks from participating and being involved because they have responsibilities during the day and aren't able to get away as easily."
For some civic organizations, the pandemic brought into perspective the need to attract younger generations to give back to their communities.
"Our last social was tacos and trivia, which was a lot of fun. So, I feel like there is a desire for young people to get involved in things," said the director of partner development for the Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce, Ariel Floyd. "Sometimes people don't know where to go to get involved and be around like-minded people, so Young Professionals of Sumter (part of the Chamber) used the pandemic as a time to rebuild."
Some civic organizations, even before the pandemic, were able to adjust to an altered method of meeting during the pandemic.
"We actually have a diverse group. We have members in their 30s, and a large amount of our members are probably in their 50s, and then some are early 60s. We did have one older gentleman who was approaching 90 years old, and of course he didn't come to the meetings during the pandemic and has not been back since," said Brittany Tindal, current member and past president of the Optimist Club of Clarendon County. "So, I would say most of our members were either younger, or if they were older, they got vaccinated and felt comfortable going ahead and coming back to the meetings. It is definitely a group where you do have some people who are retired looking for something new, but there's also a lot of us that are still in the working force, like myself."
The pandemic brought to the light the need for social events around the community that will bring people of all demographics together, which is why many local civic organizations are eager to return to normal operations under the hope that member rosters will grow.
"I think other clubs and organizations can attest to this as well: You don't really realize how thankful you are that you can do things until you can't do them," said the Chamber's Floyd. "So, when we were able to do things, we're really thankful to do them, and we are ready to put in the work to make them happen."
https://www.theitem.com/stories/sumter-clarendon-civic-organizations-feel-pandemic-impact-in-membership,367888?
Comments