One of Stettler's mainstays, the annual Kinette/IODE Rummage Sale is seeking new committee members for this year as they get organized for the event scheduled to be held in September.
With some dissent among the Kinette members, only six have volunteered to help this year – Donna MacKenzie, Cheryl Barros, Tanya Derr, Allison Baird, Sara Wengryn and Jenna Taylor.
"Some of the Kinette members weren't happy with the amount of money they were making for the work they put into the event," said Elpha Senft, IODE education secretary and one of the Rummage Sale committee members who coordinated the meeting on Thursday, Jan. 19. "Therefore, at the meeting we decided to form a new Rummage Sale committee and we're asking community members to volunteer."
According to Senft, this year the committee will be made up of department heads, so there will be a lot more members compared to last year's eight.
"We want each committee member to head up a department," Senft added. "So if we were to look at the Curling Club, there are about eight departments – toys and games, Christmas displays, miscellaneous items, clothing, bedding, books, specialty items, jewellery. And then at the Agriplex there are another eight – hardware, sports equipment, furniture, upholstery, kitchen ware, appliance, electronics, CDs and DVDs and other electronic items."
Senft said that the aging members of IODE has been a challenge of late and even though they receive and accept new members, most of them are more than 50.
"Last year we recruited five new members in IODE, but they are all in the 50 plus age group," Senft explained. "We are asking the younger generation to join us, anyone who is interested in education and community service is eligible."
According to Senft, "fresh blood" to an aging organization can often make the difference.
"This is as much a call for new IODE members as it is for the formation of a new Rummage Sale committee," Senft said.
IODE and Kinette Club members will be meeting next on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at the craftsroom at Owner's Condo/Spruce Terrace.
"Anyone who is interested to be a part of the Rummage Sale committee is welcome, we're looking for a bigger number to sit on the committee this year and we would like a lot of community participation," Senft said