"Bowling alone" cause for concern

Those involved in civic organizations in our present-day society clearly understand there is an underlying problem with trying to attract younger participants.

As "The Greatest Generation" (Americans of the World War II era) passes away, where are those who will take their place? Of course, to some extent the Baby Boomers have stepped up to the plate, but the trend obviously is away from civic involvement among younger residents of our communities.

This societal development was addressed earlier in a much-discussed book, "Bowling Alone," written by political scientist Robert Putnam.

Putnam said the "stock of social capital" has declined in our communities over a period of time. Evidence indicates citizens belong to fewer organizations, socialize less with friends and families and (hence the title of the book) even go bowling by themselves rather than participating in leagues.

Putnam notes one organization -- Parent-Teacher Associations -- had tremendous growth in the post-World War II years and then tailed off dramatically. In 1960 the organization had almost 50 members per every 100 families with children in school -- a remarkable number. But that declined to less than 20 members by 1980 and has remained at that approximate level since that time.

Those numbers are a sad indictment of our present society and the lack of interest and involvement in one specific and crucial community-based organization.

"The explosive growth of the PTA was one of the most impressive organizational success stories in American history, its unabated, almost exponential growth over the first six decades of the twentieth century interrupted with only the briefest of pauses during the Great Depression and for a single year during World War II," Putnam wrote. "The success -- membership encompassing eventually nearly half the families in America -- was due no doubt to the fact that this form of connectedness appealed to millions of parents who wanted to be engaged in some way in their children's education. It is easy in our cynical era to sneer at cookies, cider and small talk, but membership in the PTA betokened a commitment to participate in a practical, child-focused form of community life."

The PTA certainly is an important example of the decline of meaningful civic participation, but the trend holds true across the board where other organizations are concerned. In general, membership (and financial investments) dropped by at least 40 percent in a wide range of civic clubs and organizations from the 1950s and 1960s to the end of the century.

While well-researched studies show the specific numbers involved with the decline in civic participation and the erosion of social capital, one can see the same trend in an anecdotal way if he or she is a member of a typical club or organization. It grows harder every day to replace aging and deceased members with the younger residents of the community.

For a variety of reasons -- television, two-career families, changes in generational values -- the decline is obvious.

The effect is detrimental to the well-being of communities, but it also has negative fallout for individuals as they do not realize the benefits of socializing with their friends and neighbors while participating in worthwhile activities that keep those very communities strong and vibrant.

Putnam has no easy answers to reverse the trend and neither do we. But we do believe it is important to encourage young people to get involved in cooperative efforts in their hometowns and to realize the importance of carrying on the civic work of those who have gone before them.