Club is the heart of rural community
Published Monday January 5th, 2009
Nauwigewauk is a community that may be small in size but is big on spirit. The name doesn't roll off your tongue but it's been on a roll as far as having a good, old fashioned sense of community for the last 60 years.
The heart of activity is the Nauwigewauk Community Club. It's been a magnet for well over 200 families from preschoolers to seniors for year-round get-togethers and sports. Skating, hockey and a carnival are a winter focus outdoors while tennis, baseball, a playground, barbecues and a family fun day take precedence in warmer weather. The Community Fire Department and Community Hall, along with about 50 acres of riverland and woodlands are owned and operated for and by the community. Dances, parties, Guides, Brownies and Sparks take place in the 50-something year old hall.
Although the local service districts of Nauwigewauk and Hampton have provided an annual $10,000 grant to the club for which local volunteers are appreciative, it's been hard to stretch it to cover escalating utility and insurance costs for the hall. There is no lack of fundraising effort by the responsible stewards of the club, but the hard-earned $152.58 profit reported by Dawn Hunter from their family fun day, for example, can barely make a dent in annual power costs of almost $2,500, oil at more than $2,800 and insurance of more than $2,600, not to mention maintenance.
Fairs, breakfasts, mulch sales, strawberry dinners, barbecues, flea markets and rentals also help meet the annual base operating costs of about $30,000. They are delighted the local service district has increased their annual grant at a recent community meeting.
The small, tightly-knit community is situated near the picturesque Kennebecasis River and Hampton Marsh, but at times its proximity to the water has taken a toll. In the high water years of 1973, 2005 and 2008 the Darlings Island Road, the site of the Community Hall, has been inundated.
Last year, the club's president, Linda Dodge-Anderson, and vice president, John Henderson, asked the Greater Saint John Community Foundation for help with maintenance costs. The estimate is about $50,000 over the next five years, a daunting figure for this group. A grant from the foundation is getting them started and they are appealing for more help. They think the foundation's support bode well for the recent increase in government funding. New ventilation, replacement of deteriorating floor joists, and other updating is being tendered and going ahead.
Dodge-Anderson cited "the important contribution our facility continues to make to our community" in making the case for support. They offer it to locals at no charge for funeral and wedding shower receptions and keep membership at a very modest $10 annual family fee to encourage participation.
"The facilities the club provides are comparable, on a smaller scale, to the parks facilities that you would find in municipalities that would be cared for by a municipal parks department," she added.
From incoming president John Henderson's perspective, the newly updated hockey rink, complete with floodlights and improved surface is a major drawing card for youth. They are hoping for a stretch of cold weather to get it in shape. His son will be able to hone his minor hockey skills out doors, along with local friends. Seniors look forward to the annual free supper and the personal connections kept with them by volunteers. It really adds to the feeling of belonging, regardless of age.
The Girl Guides appreciate the support which "has enabled them to provide valuable programs to the young girls in our community"¦and have experiences that they otherwise would not have; developing skills and friendships that will stand the test of time and mould their futures."
In addition to Dodge-Anderson and Henderson, Becky Consolvo, Barb Hill, Beth Allaby, Carolyn Henderson, Sharon Wanamaker Robichaud, Mary Ann Blagrave, Gary Buck, Elizabeth Carr, Pat Hanratty, Tina Jordan, Jim Mortimer, Brad Slipp, Cathy White, Taya Wallace and Brad Trecartin are valued volunteers from the 2008 and 2009 executives. Coming up next month will be the seniors' supper and lots of skating, weather permitting.
Community Profile is a weekly column highlighting community causes and work done by non-profit organizations in the Greater Saint John area. It is contributed by Jane Barry, executive director of The Greater Saint John Community Foundation. Contact the foundation at 506-672-8880. To view other Community Profiles go to www.saint-john-foundation.nb.ca
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