Swisha outdoors club stays afloat

One of Rapides-des-Joachims’ longstanding non-profit community groups will continue to exist after two new members filled vacant seats at the organization’s annual general meeting on July 6. The Association Plein Air Rapides-des-Joachims Outdoorsmen Club was in danger of folding after five of its eight members announced they planned to step down due to other commitments. [...] The post Swisha outdoors club stays afloat appeared first on The Equity .

One of Rapides-des-Joachims’ longstanding non-profit community groups will continue to exist after two new members filled vacant seats at the organization’s annual general meeting on July 6. The Association Plein Air Rapides-des-Joachims Outdoorsmen Club was in danger of folding after five of its eight members announced they planned to step down due to other commitments. Over its two decades, the club has maintained the municipality’s hiking trails, hosted seasonal fishing derbies and hunting tournaments, and organized dinners and dances.

In June, treasurer Debbie Foley told THE EQUITY that she and other members had been trying for years to step away from the club but had been unable to find volunteers to replace them. When five members announced their intentions to leave this year, finding replacements became an urgent task. After a long meeting, two new members (Daniel Lafond and Denise Racine) joined the club while others took on different responsibilities instead of leaving the board.

Carole Desnoyers was named president, Dina Meilleur vice-president, Alana Bowes secretary, and Lafond treasurer. The club’s four directors will be Racine, Tracy Seguin, Jeannine Ladouceur and Gilbert Millette. Lafond, a resident of Deep River whose parents are from Rapides-des-Joachims, said he would like to help the club bring back its summer and winter fishing derbies that he used to attend as a kid.

“When I heard they were thinning out, I decided to come out to see what I could do to help,” he said. “It’s just giving people in town something to look forward to.” Foley, who is stepping away from the club after more than 10 years, said she was pleased to see the club live on thanks to volunteers new and old who decided to get involved.

“It is valuable for the community, and not just for Swisha because it incorporates Rolphton and Deep River [ . . . ] This was a very happy outcome,” she said.

She said over the years she has seen the events, such as fishing tournaments, derbies and dances, have a positive impact as a gathering place for people and as a chance to get outdoors. “People would not be as connected,” Foley said, adding that events are an opportunity to see neighbours as well as people visiting home. “It’s like old home week.”

At the AGM, the board organized a meeting to discuss the possibility of hosting a fishing derby in September and other events. Club membership is kept affordable at $20 for a family membership or $15 for an individual one. Members do not have to be residents of Rapides-des-Joachims.

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