Ladysmith Rotary Club president Ken Greig has a big year ahead, and he’s not afraid to swing for the fences.
"It's a little ambitious, but my goal is to double the size of the club in my year,” said Greig, who stepped into the leadership role in July. “If you don’t shoot high, you’re not going to get anywhere.”
Greig’s leadership comes at a time when service clubs across the country are seeing declining membership, a trend he’s determined to reverse through direct outreach and a renewed emphasis on hands-on community involvement.
“I truly believe that there are a lot of people who would be interested in Rotary if they were just asked,” he said.
Rotary’s guiding philosophy is encapsulated in its long-standing motto, “service above self.” It’s a call to action that shapes how members engage with their communities and with each other.
At the heart of Rotary’s ethical framework is the Four-Way Test, a simple checklist used by Rotarians around the world to guide their decisions and actions. Members are encouraged to ask: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
From that foundation, Rotary channels its energy into what Rotary International calls the Five Avenues of Service — five key areas that define the club’s local and global impact. These include club, vocational, community, international, and new generations.
For the Ladysmith chapter, recent initiatives have included the Forest Field Enhancement Group, a collaborative committee that Greig helped found seven years ago. Now a registered society, the group is working toward enhancements such as outdoor fitness equipment, off-leash dog spaces and professional-grade BMX ramps.
“We've done about $30,000 worth of concreting work. We've got the wheelchair-accessible walkway all the way around the field,” Greig said. “This year we actually formed as a society so that we can give out tax receipts and start asking corporations [for contributions].”
Another recent initiative is the club’s beverage container recycling program, which sees Rotary partnering with local organizations to raise funds through bottle drives.
Each partner group receives 75 per cent of proceeds, with Rotary retaining 25 per cent to cover operational costs such as recycled bags and depot fees. The club plans to expand the program to support more community groups.
The club also supports the Interact program at Ladysmith Secondary School, which currently includes 24 students. The teens run their own fundraisers, volunteer at events such as the pancake breakfast and Light Up, and even initiate their own international projects. The club has raised thousands of dollars for community projects.
Ladysmith Rotary’s international work has received district-level recognition, including an award for computer lab projects in Guatemala and sponsorship of children’s education and women’s groups abroad.
In his professional life, Greig has spent 26 years in financial services. He believes business owners — particularly those who benefit from a strong local economy — have a responsibility to give back.
“If you make your living from a community, you should be prepared to give,” he said.
Greig acknowledges many younger residents are balancing family, work and financial pressure. He emphasizes that today’s Rotary is more flexible than it used to be.
“When I first got involved, you had to go to every meeting once a week. Now, we still ask that you attend two meetings a month,” he explained.
Ladysmith Rotary Club meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the first three Thursdays of the month. They take place at Heart on the Hill, 314 Buller St., and include a mix of business, guest speakers and social events.
The club currently has 19 active members, eight honorary members, and several “Friends of Rotary,” individuals who support events but can’t commit to full membership. Doubling that will take some effort but Greig said he and the Ladysmith Rotary Club membership are up for the task.
This year's Rotary International theme of “Unite for Good,” fits well with the Ladysmith club's goals. Greig is determined to build bridges between service clubs, local organizations and a new generation of volunteers. He’s seen first-hand how impactful the organization’s work can be, and he wants more people to experience that for themselves.
“We always hear, ‘Love to support Rotary, you guys do such a great job in the community.’ Well, come and join us,” said Greig.
Because for those who do, he said, the experience becomes something deeper.
“Once you’ve been a Rotarian,” Greig said, “it moves from the head to the heart.”
To get involved with the Rotary Club of Ladysmith, visit ladysmithrotary.org, call 250-245-8078 or email [email protected].
