Young adults serving the community

<p>If you think young adults in their 20s and 30s are not as interested in serving the community as older adults are, think again.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>The newly formed Petaluma Active 20-30 Club is comprised of young adults under age 40 who have a desire to make a difference.</p><p>The Active 20-30 U.S. & Canada was established in 1922 and has nearly 50 clubs nationwide. The organization's focus is on making a difference in the lives of children, while also providing young adults with the opportunity for personal growth, friendships and leadership development.</p><p>Last fall, the Petaluma Active 20-30 raised funds to help landscape McDowell Elementary School. This month, the club sponsored 23 kids, mostly from the Committee on the Shelterless, in a KidSpree event at Kohl's in Petaluma. </p><p>KidSpree is a national project of the Active 20-30 that provides needy children with the tools necessary to start the school year off right. Each child participating in the project receives a $150 gift card to shop for back-to-school clothes and accessories, a haircut and a backpack full of school supplies.</p><p>“We joined forces with the Sebastopol club and North Bay club out of Rohnert Park for KidSpree,” said Wade Call, president of the Petaluma Active 20-30. “We took 65 kids in all. It was a great event. This was the Petaluma club's first attempt at doing the KidSpree, and it was very successful.”</p><p>Though the Petaluma Active 20-30 turns a year old this month, the club has a long history in Petaluma. </p><p>“It started here in the late 1920s as a men's-only organization for young men in their 20s and 30s,” said Call. “It was strong during the Depression, when people wanted to help out other people, then died off during World War II when men were leaving to go to war. It made a comeback in the '40s and '50s, then disappeared again. It came back a fourth time in the 1970s, and died off again.”</p><p>Call was introduced to the Active 20-30 when he was a child. His father was a member of the Santa Rosa Club, so after college, Call was eager to join the club, too.</p><p>“I live and work in Petaluma now and had been in the Santa Rosa club for 31⁄2 years when someone mentioned that I should start a Petaluma chapter,” said Call. “We're a year old now.”</p><p>In addition to club meetings held twice a month, the Petaluma club is closely tied to neighboring clubs in the county, and there is usually some kind of event going on each weekend for its members, from fund-raising events to ski and camping trips.</p><p>“We try to make meetings fun and lively,” said Call. “We also try to mix in some social activities that are sort of aimed at recruitment, as well. We try to create a balance of fun and work, but our main focus is being involved in the community.”</p><p>The combination of youthful socializing while doing something positive is a winning recipe with its members.</p><p>“What I like about the 20-30 club is that it's comprised of people who realize you can't really complain about what's going on in the community unless you're actively involved,” said club member Kyle Rested. “We've got a tremendous group of young people. I think we can help bury the stereotype that younger folks don't care. We're on the total opposite side of that belief. Our focus is on giving what we can to support the kids in the community.”</p><p>Call said the club provides not only the opportunity to help others, but also encourage personal growth and development of leadership skills.</p><p>“I love meeting new people and making new friends,” said Call. “What I like most about the club, though, is the effect we have on the community through events such as KidSpree. But there's also the opportunity to gain leadership skills and for personal growth. You can join the club and hang out, but you can also take a leadership role in running the club or a committee.”</p><p>“People in the club are all on the same page of trying to raise money to help kids,” said club member Jenna Cook. “Those who like to give back will find that the people in this club are all here for that same purpose.”</p><p>The Petaluma Active 20-30 meets twice a month on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Mister Magoo's, 1375 Petaluma Blvd. North. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/Active2030Petaluma or www.petaluma2030.com.</p><p>(Contact Yovanna Bieberich at yovanna.bieberich@arguscourier.com)</p>