The 100 Mile House Community Club is at risk of closure.
The non-profit society has independently owned and operated the 100 Mile Community Hall since 1956.
Dot Verboom has been its president and chairperson of BINGO since 1987.
She and some of the other volunteers on the board are ready to retire and the club has been seeking new members for years to no avail.
“The ones that are in there now, we’re all getting up there in years,” she said. “We need new blood and new ideas.”
Membership has been dwindling over the years, according to Verboom, as people have passed away or moved out of town.
The club is currently comprised of 15 people. If membership fails to increase and if nobody steps up to replace Verboom or the retiring directors, the club will have to close.
RELATED: The Forest Grove 94 Lions Club will stay open
This would mean 100 Mile would lose BINGO and its main facility for weddings, funerals and other events.
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett said the closure of the hall would be “devastating.”
“This is part of the heart and soul of our community and hopefully people will step up.”
Barnett said she knows every single member of the board and how long and hard they have worked.
“As people get a little older, you know, they have other family things they wish to do and they want to move on, so hopefully the younger generation will show up and take over an asset that has been here since 1956.”
Barnett said the club has done “an awesome job” in the community and she hopes people will step up to keep the hall alive.
RELATED: 100 Mile House mural honours one of the district’s founders and its first mayor
The club’s finances are in good standing, according to Verboom. There are no outstanding debts. All it needs to remain successful is more people and new leaders.
Directors are typically elected at the club’s annual general meeting at the end of February.
Verboom said they will likely have to call a special meeting sooner than that, which is allowed under the club’s constitution as long as two weeks notice are given.
If you are interested in becoming a member, director or stepping into the president role, you can start the process by calling Verboom at 250-395- 3346.
beth.audet@100milefreepress.net
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.