One of Irish statesman Edmund Burke?s “little platoons of democracy” ? the Reisterstown Kiwanis ? is having recruitment problems.
Founded in 1935, the Reisterstown Kiwanis typifies Burke?s idea of a “little platoon” ? crucial, the 18th-century philosopher said, to the operation of democratic society. Today, the club soldiers on, donating money, sponsoring civic projects and helping neighbors, despite what seems to be a flagging interest in voluntarism.
“It?s much harder to find people who want to get involved,” Reisterstown Kiwanis Secretary Don Dudey said. “All volunteer organizations seem to be struggling with the same problem.”
Recruiting problems notwithstanding, this 22-member chapter of the 265,000-member-strong Kiwanis International continues to plow time, treasure and talent back into Baltimore County ? providing about $25,000 in cash alone to scholarships, service promotion projects and other outreach groups.
“[Kiwanis] is a civic organization whose primary emphasis is working with children and the local community,” Dudey said. “But we?re open to any project within the community.”
Two of those projects ? Key Club and Terrific Kids ? involve local high school and elementary school students. The former promotes the operation of a “mini-Kiwanis club” at Baltimore County?s Franklin High School. The latter provides for recognition of younger students at 15 elementary schools and their parents for non-graded classroom activities like attendance and conduct.
“They are a wonderful group of people, and it?s really neat when you see a civic group like the Kiwanis give back to other organizations,” said Casey Baynes, director of Arbutus? Casey Cares, a nonprofit that helps critically ill children and their parents. “We?re thrilled to be associated with them.”
“Kiwanis has been very supportive of the community,” said Bob Barrett, Baltimore County?s director of recreation and parks. “They made a very sizable donation to the Reisterstown Regional Park for Kiwanis Playground and Field up there.”
An Indian word that literally means “we trade” or “we make merry,” Kiwanis now means “we build” or “we help the children of the world,” Dudey said, adding that the club has also sponsored a Bulgarian orphanage for the past five years.
“We do have a good time,” he said. “We have good fellowship. We work together in the projects. We help the community in whatever way we can.”
As for the flagging recruitment, Dudey remains upbeat, saying that new clubs are nevertheless still springing up.
“You just have to keep working to show people that there are people out there that want to help others but who can?t do it alone,” he said.
Kiwanis Club of Reisterstown:
Meets at Reisterstown United Methodist Church
26 Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown, Md. 20136
410-833-1414
