City lawyer Doug Ritzen has been tapped to take the reins of the Canadian Progress Club.
He was voted in as the president-elect during the club’s national convention, which just took place in Moncton, New Brunswick from Oct. 1 to Oct. 5.
He suggested that was just a matter of time before he ascended to the throne.
“You sort of get tapped on the shoulder. As time goes on, if you’re interested, you can move up in any organization,” he said.
He first became involved with the organization seven years ago, eventually moving up to be president of the local chapter, a posting from which he was then asked to be the zone governor. He moved on from that to be the western vice-president of the national board before being asked if he would consider running for the presidency.
“I said, ‘Yes, I would do that.’”
The club is a national organization that promotes some cross-country causes but serves to support charities and community groups that are localized to each chapter. There are five such chapters in the Edmonton area, with the St. Albert chapter working to foster such causes as Uncles and Aunts at Large, Transitions, Camp Warwa and the Special Olympics.
“I’m very proud of what we do,” he professed, adding that approximately $2 million was raised and donated to various groups across the country.
“The organization as a whole does not have great financial responsibilities to head office, or where you are told who your members can be, or how you can raise your money or spend it. There’s nothing where the head organization says, ‘These are the only types of events where you can raise money and this is where you have to donate your money.’ We can decide who we want to benefit.”
The St. Albert chapter has more than 20 members but growth is something that he intends to focus on during his term. Attrition is a common problem with service groups but Ritzen debates whether it can be called a constant struggle.
“It is but it isn’t. One has to realize that everybody has a shelf life. People move. People lose their passion. People have health concerns. People die. You always have to be out there finding new members.”
“That’s one of the big things that we’re really looking at. It’s just a matter of keeping your positive attitude and your head above water and saying, ‘Rather than deciding for other people whether or not they will be good members, ask them and they will decide if they will join. You’ll see if they’re good members. It’s just a way of looking at it.”
Ritzen served one term as city alderman from 2001 to 2004 and is a past president of the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the city CPC chapter, he is also involved with the St. Albert Breakfast Lions Club. He is currently one of the partners at Ritzen Olivieri LLP.
He is set to take over as the official head during the next national convention scheduled for early October 2015.
