Earlier this year, reduced and aging membership threatened to close the North Bend Lions Club after more than 60 years of community service. But recent work with a consultant and an influx of new members have re-energized the club, President Doug Laird said.

'We did not want to quit," Laird said. 'We're moving on, it's exciting."

Membership declines have plagued many service and fraternal organizations in the Bay Area and nationwide. Sharon Koberstein, the exalted ruler of the Coos Bay Elks Lodge 1160, said her organization's numbers have declined as well, but it still has more than 300 members.

'I think all private clubs are struggling for membership," she said. 'The younger people just don't join organizations anymore.  'Their lives are too busy to get involved, so it falls on seniors, and we don't live forever."  Laird became the local Lions' president in July following 30 years of membership. He swore in five new members earlier this month with the help of Vicki Smith, the Lions' district governor.

The new Lions mean a rebirth for the club, he said, noting that at 62 years old, he's one of the youngest members.  The North Bend Lions was chartered in 1947. Earlier this year, only five or six people attended club meetings that once drew 70.  'You can't work projects, you just can't do anything," Laird said.  Lions is known for providing sight and hearing assistance, such as vision and hearing exams to people in need.  'We serve," Laird said.  'That's how simple it is. We want to make the community a better place to live and we want to help people who need help."  The club president attributed the club's rejuvenation to a 'Healthy Club" program.

Once a month for five to six months, Richard Smith, a former district governor and Vicki Smith's husband, met with the North Bend club, teaching members how to maintain active members and find meaningful projects that will draw in younger members.  'Obviously it's worked because we got the new members," Laird said.  Vicki Smith said she was pleased to see the North Bend Lions Club bring in new blood.  Of the 43 clubs in her district, she said at least 10 are experiencing membership problems.  'We have to be willing to change and to meet the needs of the younger adults today," she said.

New members

Among North Bend's new Lions members are Sheila and Gary Schmith.  Sheila Schmith said had done some volunteer work for the club, and she eventually decided to join because she and her husband wanted to give back.  She is especially interested in the club's effort to provide glasses and hearing aids for needy children.  'I know as a child growing up, there was a time period when I needed glasses and my parents weren't able to afford it," she said. 'The Lions club helped me get the glasses I needed."  'If I can help make it stronger and make it go, I'm all for it."

As Elks continue mission, they look to stay alive

StoryDiscussionAs Elks continue mission, they look to stay alive

Alexander Rich, Staff Writer"> By Alexander Rich, Staff Writer The World | Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:00 am | (0) Comments

Font Size:Default font sizeLarger font size.COOS BAY - Helping area youth has been a big priority for members of the Coos Bay Elks lodge in recent years. They've organized soccer and basketball events, handed out Christmas presents and put together food packs for disadvantaged local elementary school students.

It's a way of preserving not only the community's future, but also the fraternal organization's as it celebrates its centennial this year.

When the branch formed in 1909, its membership was made up of businessmen, lawyers, a newspaper editor and hoteliers in their 30s and 40s. Membership has ebbed and flowed over the years, but it's also grayed. Many members are twice the age the lodge's founders were in the inaugural year. It's become a goal to attract young men and women into the fold to preserve the group's traditions and keep the lodge alive.

"Getting people to get involved and stay involved is what we hope for," said Mike Huffman Jr., the lodge's exalted ruler.

It used to be easy to find new recruits. In its hey-day, during the 1960s and '70s, the lodge had membership approaching the 2,000 mark. It was common for the lodge to initiate between 10 and 20 new members a month. At one particularly fruitful ceremony in the lodge's 1969-70 year, 103 new members joined.

"That was when the mills were running full bore," said Cecil Koberstein, a two-time past exalted ruler, as well as a past district deputy grand exalted ruler.

The lodge has always attracted members from a variety of professions, though its fortunes have been heavily influenced by the drop in the timber and shipping industries. Lumber mill owner L.J. Simpson was among the 25 charter members that the Roseburg lodge sponsored July 15, 1909.

As membership swelled into 1980, the group decided to move out of its original Elks temple, on Second Street in downtown Coos Bay, into a much more spacious facility on Radar Hill. But as timber jobs dwindled, so too did the number of Coos Bay Elks. The lodge had to abandon its new home in the 1990s and spent several years in a temporary space before establishing a permanent lodge at 265 Central Ave.

The lodge has about 350 members, a number which may have fallen more sharply were it not for the decision in the '90s to initiate women. The decision came following a lawsuit in the Midwest, said Sharon Koberstein, Cecil's wife and chairwoman of the centennial committee. She was one of the first three to break the gender barrier at the local lodge. Initially, there was some resentment, she said, though they've since been readily accepted.

"It would be hard for them to turn us down," Koberstein said.

While there are fewer Elks members, the organization continues its community project mission.

"Elks has had fewer members, but we are doing more," said secretary Lou Kolkhorst.

They've gotten involved with Easter egg hunts, sponsoring Boy Scouts food events and fundraising for various organizations, including food cupboards and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. They also have been manning booths at the Fourth of July celebrations at Mingus Park the past few years.

It gives the Elks a chance to pitch the organization to young men and women.

Between the Internet and more two-income families, it seems fewer young people are interested in joining groups. But the group is getting better publicity and larger turnouts at events these days, Huffman pointed out.

That may help, as Kolkhorst admits the Elks and other fraternal groups face an uphill battle for younger members.

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.Posted in Local on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:00 am Updated: 5:06 pm