By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Without a fresh infusion of volunteers the local Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society (OLWQS), which works to protect and preserve the lake for future generations, could close down.
“If we don’t get more help we’re likely to fold,” warns OLWQS President Birgit Arnstein. “We are a wholly volunteer-driven organization and we need new members and volunteers.”
“We do this because we value Osoyoos, we value Osoyoos Lake, preserving and protecting this beautiful lake for everyone – locals and visitors and our children and generations to come,” she explains passionately. And she adds, it’s also important because the lake is the lifeblood of the local economy.
The society which was founded in 1991 by community members to help promote public awareness of the lake has evolved over the years to include scientific data sampling which is used by scientists including both provincial and federal ministries.
The local society is also the vanguard in monitoring and protecting Osoyoos Lake from invasive species like the zebra and quagga mussels. To date, BC lakes are mussel-free, largely due to stepped-up monitoring and inspection of boats entering the province.
Osoyoos Lake during a busy summer day. Don Urquhart photo
Community education is also a key part of the society’s work, which includes student outreach at local schools, painting yellow fish on storm drains around town, shoreline cleanups, and invasive mussel inspection demonstrations and information sessions, for instance.
“We need a treasurer, we need public relations help, citizen science volunteers on our boat, data managers, we need help maintaining the website and social media, research help, fundraisers, help in bringing in speakers,” and the list goes on.
Arnstein is quick to point out that this substantial need for volunteers is not because the work or the society environment is uninteresting or unpleasant in any way, it’s much more a reflection of Osoyoos’ demographics.
“The reason we need new volunteers is, for lack of a better description, we are ‘aging out’,” she says. “People want to spend more time with their grandchildren, travel, etc. so they want to move on, it’s not that they don’t enjoy working with us. It’s just other things draw them.”
She acknowledges the water quality society, like most of the other volunteer-driven organizations in Osoyoos, hasn’t been very successful at attracting young people. “We certainly could be more responsive to young people by altering our times of activities,” and embracing more ad hoc, volunteering around specific discrete tasks.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, finding volunteers for the boat-based activities in the summer is not too difficult.
Arnstein does highlight that time commitments need not be onerous and also that there are numerous benefits from volunteering with the society. This includes learning about the lake as well as learning skills, like fundraising, public relations, board of directors experience, and so on.
Two key positions where there is an urgent need includes someone to fill the treasurer role which is “a lot less work than many non-profit societies,” as well as someone interested in learning to become a data manager.
The OLWQS will be holding a fundraising event on Sat. March 25 from 5-8 p.m. at the Sage Pub. Tickets are $20 for a burger and beverage. Live music by Jeff Smith and Vincent Decowns as well as live and silent auctions. Tickets are available at Polka Dot Door or Wayside Select Books & Art or call 250-408-5460. For more information on volunteering, visit osoyooslake.ca or email [email protected].
