Curator Cynthia Green, right, and Kathy Patterson set up some historical garments for the Historical Society’s exhibit in Scharpensburg Cabin at the Kosciusko County Fair. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

By Lilli Dwyer
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — On May 4, Warsaw’s Old Jail Museum remained closed for a weekend due to lack of volunteers.

“It’s been very rare that it’s happened,” said Kosciusko County Historical Society co-director Sheila Strickland. Normally, the co-directors step in when there aren’t enough volunteers, but both were out of town at the time.

“No one wanted to close; it was very, very sad. But what do you do when you don’t have anyone?” she said.

Strickland defines the Historical Society’s purpose as “the research, preservation and teaching of Kosciusko County.” Volunteers are needed for the front desk of the Old Jail Museum, the genealogy library, the cemetery preservation project, and any events. There are also committees members can be a part of, like property management for the Pound Store Museum.

The Historical Society currently has about 15 volunteers. It takes two volunteers to run the Old Jail Museum on a Saturday: one at the front desk, one in the genealogy library. Training is available for both.

Kosciusko County Historical Society co-director, Sheila Strickland, is pictured working on the landscaping outside the Pound Store Museum in Oswego. Property maintenance is one of the committees Historical Society members can sign up to volunteer their time with. Photo provided by Kosciusko County Historical Society.

“When we first started, we had a number of volunteers and memberships, but over the years it’s just kind of faded away. After COVID, we really did get hit pretty hard. … We’re really trying to get into the community, where people want to come visit and volunteer and be a part of this organization,” Strickland said. “I think it’s across the county that we’re just struggling with volunteers; these nonprofits run off of volunteers and memberships.”

Indeed, other nonprofits, as well as more social organizations offering volunteer opportunities, have experienced a similar dip in participation over the years.

At one time, there were separate Masonic Lodges in Warsaw, Pierceton, Mentone, Claypool, Sidney, Leesburg, Milford, Syracuse and North Webster. Many lodges have consolidated; Mentone and Sidney’s members folded into the Warsaw lodge, Syracuse and Milford became one lodge, and North Webster joined the Cromwell lodge.

“It started in the 70s, 80s. Membership drops off and it’s not that the interest isn’t there,” said Bob Dumford, a Mason for 58 years and current driver for Shriners Hospitals.

Dumford explained this lapse.

“I think it’s the fact that, number one, there’s so many more things for people to do and be involved in now. … You’ve got eight hours for whatever your vocation is, eight hours for sleep and eight hours for everything else. Those eight hours are when you’re going to do your volunteering, and those are the hours that get stolen by other things. And how many people do you know who work two jobs? That’s 50, 60 hours a week,” he said.

This downsizing, he claims, is no more dramatic than what has happened to other organizations.

“The Knights of Columbus, the Lions, the Kiwanis; they’re all experiencing the same thing,” he remarked.

There may also be a gap between registered members and active volunteers. According to Mason Richard Knisely, there are over 160 registered members of the Warsaw Lodge, with 21 volunteering for organization efforts in the past year.

Each year, the lodge provides a scholarship for Warsaw Community High School and runs a food stand at the Kosciusko County Fair, with proceeds going to charity. They’ve also started holding a monthly get-together to socialize outside regular meetings and hold members’ interest.

Bringing in new, younger members is a challenge for many. Most of the Historical Society’s volunteers are older, often retired. The same can be said of other organizations, such as the American Legion.

“With that lack of new people, it puts a strain on active members,” said Natalie White, adjutant for Post 49 in Warsaw. “The Legion has always been considered old.”

Things have been looking up, she said, since the Legion went non-smoking. It’s now easier for people in their 20s — many of whom don’t smoke or might want to bring their children — to have a meal or participate in activities, like bingo and karaoke.

Members of the Warsaw Masonic Lodge and their families get together for a monthly social night outside their usual business meetings. From left are Kyle Holz, Linda Roe, Lori Roe, Richard Knisely and Kirsten Terrell. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

Dumford described the benefits of volunteer work as “camaraderie, education and a feeling of satisfaction.”

Ivy Tech communications professor, Lori Roe, points to a vital social aspect in volunteering and community participation.

“People got used to being in a bubble during the pandemic and now some of them are afraid to go and meet new people. And if we don’t have those social connections, community falls apart,” she explained. Roe is a member of Tri Kappa and Eastern Star.

“It provides, also, a support network a lot of people don’t have. … There are many people out there who are suffering from loneliness and depression, and they don’t know what to do about it,” Roe said.

Roe’s advice for anyone who is interested in volunteering but hasn’t found the time or motivation is, “join a group and do what you can when you can. … People shouldn’t feel guilty if they can’t go to every single thing. I think people think it’s more commitment than it is. … You do what you can, and then that network, that social aspect is there for you.”

Strickland mentioned seasonal events, like the Downtown Spooktacular and Haunted Warsaw Walking Tour, which happen outside work hours and don’t require a long-term commitment. White, who said she always has volunteer opportunities — especially for building maintenance and in the kitchen — can help train anyone interested in getting their bartender’s license.

“Get to know the organization you’re interested in, ask questions. A lot of them have a presence online or in the chamber (of commerce),” said White. “Don’t be afraid to say, ‘Hey, I can do that.’”

More information on the Historical Society is available at kosciuskohistory.com and facebook.com/Kosciuskocountyhistoricalsociety. For volunteer information, call (574) 269-1078.

Information on American Legion Post 49 can be found at facebook.com/AL49Warsaw. For volunteer information, call (574) 267-5549.

To learn more about the Warsaw Masonic Lodge, visit warsawlodge73.com.