Two longstanding Vernon Rotary clubs are preparing to join forces.
The 100-year-old Vernon Rotary Club has voted to merge with the Kalamalka Rotary Club, according to Brian Reid, president of the latter club.
Reid told The Morning Star the Vernon Rotary Club is down to just three members, and two of them are in their 90s while the other is a mom in her 30s with three young kids. Given that the Vernon club isn't attracting new members, Reid said it makes sense to amalgamate the two clubs.
"Right now Rotary International is saying that to charter any new club we need 20 new members, so they're trying to either ease them out or ease them into different amalgamation situations where two clubs will merge and make it viable," Reid said.
The Kalamalka club president said the amalgamation is a good alternative to letting the Vernon club fold, and an option that allows the club's century-long legacy to live on. He added the Kalamalka club welcomes the opportunity to join forces with the Vernon club.
"It was a natural fit for us to say, look, you've got three members ... you can't attract new members, so what are you going to do with your legacy?" Reid said. "This was a great fit to say we'll take the legacy on and just maintain that the Vernon club is still around, it still exists, but under our name."
The merger isn't official just yet; the Kalamalka club still has to vote on it. That vote will take place Thursday, June 19. If the merger goes ahead, Reid said the official name of the club would be the Kalamalka Rotary Club of Vernon, B.C., Canada.
The history of Vernon's three Rotary Clubs (including the Silver Star club) is already deeply intertwined. Reid said the Vernon club chartered the Kalamalka club in 1981 and the Silver Star club in 1991, essentially making it the parent club of the other two.
"We want to honour them and say we'll not let you fold into oblivion," he said.
If the Kalamalka club votes in favour of the amalgamation on June 19 as expected, Rotary International will still have to formally endorse the merger.
