HAY RIVER - Tom Lakusta, who wrapped up a year as president of the Rotary Club of Hay River on Canada Day, believes more people should become involved in community service organizations.

People who are not helping the community are missing the rewarding experience of volunteering, he said.

Tom Lakusta, the outgoing president of the Rotary Club of Hay River, stands by the Rotary sign at the Ptarmigan Inn, where the club holds its meetings. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"They never get a chance of realizing how fulfilling volunteering can be."

Lakusta, who has been a member of the Rotary Club since arriving in Hay River five years ago, believes people are becoming less involved in service clubs.

"I'm not sure what it is," he said. "It might be a general apathy."

Lakusta also suspects some people believe government is doing some of the things that are actually being done by service organizations and churches.

"I think people misunderstand the role of government in society sometimes," he said.

The Rotary Club of Hay River, for example, should be growing, said Lakusta, but that's not the case - the club's membership of 15 or 16 has levelled off or is shrinking a bit.

In a community the size of Hay River, he said a club of 25 to 30 members would be a good size and would be able to get even more done.

"When you bring in new members, they bring in new ideas and new energy," he said.

Anyone can join, he added. The Rotary Club of Hay River has businesspeople, retirees, public servants and others among its members.

"There's a whole variety of people," said Lakusta, who is the manager of forest resources for the NWT with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources.

The 52-year-old, who is originally from Edmonton, said it was "absolutely" an honour to lead the club.

"It was wonderful to lead them for a year," he said.

While he had been involved in professional, sports and church organizations before arriving in Hay River, he had never before been a member of a service club, he said.

"I was always too busy with other things. I never thought about joining one."

And while he had heard of Rotary before arriving in Hay River, he said he had no idea what it was.

After meeting several Rotarians in Hay River, Lakusta said he looked into the club further.

"It's an organization that has a pretty substantial history and has done some pretty amazing things," he said, pointing to Rotary International's work fighting polio and on projects to promote literacy and clean water.

Lakusta said he was also impressed by the calibre of people in the Rotary Club of Hay River.

The Hay River club is involved in a number of ongoing projects, such as its annual Books for Kids initiative and sponsoring exchange students.

During his year as president, Lakusta initiated two new projects - a dinner with the member of Parliament for the Western Arctic and a haiku poetry writing contest for students.

"It was just something to engage kids under the theme of literacy," he said of the haiku contest, explaining it is a three-line poem which originated in Japan.

Judy Goucher is replacing Lakusta of president of the Hay River club, which has a new president each year.

However, Lakusta intends to remain very active in the club as past-president. For example, he hopes to organize the club's annual wine festival.