While out blowing and raking leaves the other day, I was reminded of the passage of ‘time’, and the changing of seasons.

‘Time’, one of those precious commodities, like health, that we often take for granted, without truly appreciating what a gift ‘time’ is. A gift not to be squandered. 

Contrary to musical lyrics, ‘time’ is not in a bottle, and can’t be stored away. 

‘Time’ is seen from the perspective of a succession of hours, duration, tempo, and can be comprehended through familiar phrases like ‘timeless, or even, ‘time stood still’, which of course is a misnomer, as ‘time’ never does stand still.  ‘Time’ keeps marching on, regardless of our state of mind, and with no particular care of our feelings or consideration. 

We can’t control ‘time’.  In fact, the exact opposite. We are often controlled by ‘time’, time tables, time-lines, hours in a day, and a multitude of other ‘time’ constraints. Although we can’t control, we are definitely empowered to make the most of our ‘time’, in whatever fashion of our choosing. 

Hobbies, interests, passions, and especially families and friends, which is ‘invaluable time’. Unconsciously, we invest precious hours, without thinking in terms of the passage of ‘time’. However, once spent, the realization that those moments will never be recovered, nor recaptured, underlying the importance of not wasting ‘time’

Another perspective is what is ‘value-enhanced time’, offering the reward of selfless devotion in serving others, your neighbourhood, your community, or even the world around us. 

So, where is this conversation about seasons changing, opportunities and ‘time’   possibly going?  Glad that you asked. 

We are fast approaching the end of 2025, and facing the seasonable evolution of our Club. A ‘time’ when we find ourselves appealing to the membership to consider investing some of your valued ‘time’, in leadership roles, in order to ensure the continuity and successful operation of our Club, for the 2026 term!

Many of you are new to the Club, and among the almost 30 new members joining since 2023, now standing at 198 strong. Although daunting for new members to any club or organization, the best way ‘to get involved’, and to maximize your enjoyment, is to do exactly that, ‘get involved’.  In fact, the more you invest in whatever activity or program, the greater your personal reward and satisfaction.  

Your initial reaction might be “I’m too new to the Club”; or “I don’t know that many members” or “I haven’t been around long enough to contribute”. Not a concern.

To reinforce that assertion, currently 5 of our Executive Management Team have less than two years of membership under their belt, from current Vice President, Treasurer and Speaker Chair, to myself, with only three years since joining the Club, and now President. We all have only one thing in common; we jumped into the deep end, committed and survived.   

Likewise, many of our SIG Leadership Team are also new members, taking on key roles in order to enrich the value of their own membership. There are too many others to mention, but simply to serve as an illustration that you definitely don’t need to be a long-standing member in order to create an impact.

So, we now encourage you, especially newer members to the Club, to just step out of your comfort zone, share your talents, interests and skill-sets and make a significant difference, as you grow and contribute.  Speak to any member of our Executive Team, to VP Pat Hill, (our SIG Coordinator), or even speak to me, with your thoughts and ideas. 

Just offering another ‘invaluable’ way to spend your ‘time’ !