The author of Ecclesiastes tells us "to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

Some attribute that piece of wisdom to Solomon, and it could be interpreted many ways. For those hoping for some future event or outcome, the sage advice might be to exercise patience as all the pieces come together. One could also read it as a reference to the past, recognition that circumstances change and what once was, is no more.

Such ponderings were set off in the recent story detailing the challenges facing organizations known as service clubs. You know what they are. Many communities in Arkansas have welcome signs that include recognizable, circular logos of Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and more groups that meet weekly or on some regular schedule.

To a great extent, service clubs help achieve a sense of community by creating a reason for business people and residents to gather and build relationships. Communities are made stronger by such face-to-face relationships. And the organizations typically embrace missions with grand goals worldwide.

Rotary International fights to end polio across the globe. The Lions have spent decades raising money to eradicate blindness. The Kiwanians have long focused on promoting health, education, leadership and service among young people. And there are more clubs doing such good works.

Once a mainstay of American community life that spread around the world, service clubs are strong contributors to the public well-being around the world. But one particular trend disturbs those who recognize all the advancements made possible by the organizations: Young people aren't joining. And that will ultimately spell death to any group.

The looming concern is whether the time of the local service club has seen it's season. Is it, as one leader said, that younger people don't have the time or energy to devote to civic clubs, or are they finding some other pathway toward civic involvement?

We suspect there's another culprit involved in this trend as well, and that's workplaces that, in the interests of budget-cutting, nix support for the dues involved in keeping service organizations alive and thriving. If companies value their communities, strong consideration should be given to supporting their employees' involvement.

The saddest aspect of this is the suggestion that young people tend to be less involved and less civic-minded. Some feel "getting connected" translates into creating accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and similar social media applications. Those are strong tools that can accomplish a lot of good, but one cannot consider it volunteerism and community involvement to simply retweet the United Way's plea for contributions, or the America Red Cross' drive to collect blood. You can't stick a needle in the arm of a Facebook post, and donating blood can't just be one's Pinterest. Action is required. One researcher suggested these social media tools make young people feel busy -- too busy to volunteer or be involved -- even when they're not.

How sad, and damaging, it will be if a generation or two or more is lost to the great benefits of civic involvement and volunteerism. We hope service clubs can rekindle the interest through new initiatives and ideas. The end result is a better life for individuals, communities, the nation and the world.

Commentary on 03/26/2014