#WeDay. Never heard of it? Well, 20,000 educators and youth have. But don’t worry, you couldn’t buy a ticket to We Day – you only could earn it by taking on one local and one global action. #WeDay Vancouver took place recently at Rogers Arena, on Oct. 21. It is a movement of youth coming together to make the world a better place through local and global action. Like this movement, I believe we each have the power to create change.
Some time ago, I read an article in my local Burnaby paper that mentioned The Clef Society of Burnaby was going to be forced to dissolve after over 65 years of operation if it couldn’t find some new board members to replace the ones retiring. The Clef Society promotes classical music in youth. Beyond my belief in promoting music in youth and playing Classic Baby Einstein CDs for both my children, I have no other connection to classical music. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to help this society. The paper had said the annual general meeting was that weekend. I figured I’d show up in the off-chance that not enough people came out. It turned out that I and one other woman were the only two people that came out that day.
Fast forward, with a few other members stepping down the society is now going through the process of dissolving. I have mixed feelings. I am happy I volunteered. However, I can’t help wondering if only two more people had come to the aid of this society, it would still have the resources to continue on – providing a public venue for young classical musicians to hone their performance skills. I’m sure many other people in my community read that cry for help in the paper and thought there would be plenty of other people that would step up.
As Keith Harris, vice-president of the Clef Society of Burnaby, put it recently in an email to me explaining about the dissolution of the society, “the Clef has, for the past few years, been going through declining member support with volunteer help becoming increasingly difficult to find. This trend is cyclical, and it is currently on the low end of its cycle. This is in general being felt across all societies and associations in which public volunteer help is required for the society to function.”
If public volunteerism is on the decline, then societies and associations that drive community initiatives and engagement are at risk. What do our communities stand to lose if one by one cultural societies like the Clef continue to dissolve?
We must recognize that, personally, we have the power tochange things, improve our communities, and add value to our lives and others’.
It is important that we engage. If not just for the benefit of leaving your own personal mark – a legacy, but for the benefit of the community, city and world we live in.
The final Clef recital at the Shadbolt was held on Nov. 16.
This recital was by students of the Broadway and Markham music studio, from North Vancouver. A “wind-up” party after the recital concluded the event and the official function of the Clef Society of Burnaby – after 65 years of successful operation.
The #WeDay event has come and gone from Vancouver, but hopefully we can all be inspired by its message and come together to make the world a better place through local and global action.
For those interested in getting involved but not sure how, there is now a free app We365.
Next time you see someone in need, or a society in need, take a moment to engage – and whether the outcome is good or bad, at least you will know you did your part.
Alicia Brady Deaust is a marketer, philanthropist, writer, wife and mother. You can follow her blog at aliciabradydeaust.wordpress.com or engage with her on Twitter, @Lahaina1979.
