"Service above self" just happens to be the motto of the International Rotary movement, but it also best describes the volunteer members of service clubs everywhere.

Service clubs present a perfect opportunity for ordinary citizens to serve their community in a selfless manner while also providing an opportunity to meet other like-minded people.

Orléans is blessed with a number of excellent service clubs which are more than happy to welcome new members. The Rotary Club of Orléans, the Optimist Club, the Kin Club of Orléans, Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est and Lions Club chapters in Orléans, North Gloucester, Navan and Cumberland, all have a longer history of serving their community.

The Rotary Club of Orléans is part of Rotary International which is a worldwide organization made up of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Among their many initiatives and activities are the Ottawa Rotary Youth Forest, the Orléans Rotary Youth Awards and the semi-annual Fallingbrook Park Cleanup. They also organize a number of fundraising events to help raise money for Rotary programs such as the International Student Exchange program.

As the name suggests, Kiwanis East Ottawa Est is a global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time.

Among their many initiatives and activities are the O Canada cele-bration on Petrie Island and the sKreamers haunted attraction at the Proulx Farm. They are also the founders and custodians of the Kiwanis Adventure Playground at Millennium Park and they are the founding partner of the World Trivia Night event which benefits the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa.

One of the main purposes of the area Lions Clubs is to take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of the community. The clubs are involved in a number of fundraising activities in the various communities they serve such as the Navan Fair, the Canada Day Seniors Bingo, the A4 District Memorial Forest, and the Blind Anglers Tournament. Among the initiatives they support are the Eye Glass Recycling Program, Camp Banting, and service dog training.

Although not as large in numbers as the other area service clubs, the Optimists International has chapters in Orléans, Blackburn Hamlet, Beacon Hill and Carlsbad Springs and like the Kiwanis Club they mainly support and organize youth initiatives.

So, as you can see, there are a number of clubs you can join to both help support your community and expand your connections and friendships. Just do a little research and pick the one you feel most comfortable in joining.