Flin Flon Kinsmen Club member Tim Babcock has entered some esteemed territory.
Babcock was named the new governor for Kin Canada’s District 2 at the group’s district convention in Kenora, Ont. on June 2.
As the district governor, Babcock will preside over 44 Kin clubs in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. Co-governor Colette Doerr of the Thunder Bay Fort City Kinette Club will join Babcock.
He is believed to be the first person from Flin Flon to ever hold the position.
“We have our district, it’s Manitoba and northwest Ontario. Our northernmost club is Leaf Rapids and in Ontario, we go as far as Thunder Bay,” said Babcock.
It was not a decision that was made quickly or without careful consideration.
“For us, it’s a little bit of a process,” he said.
Babcock was nominated as a zone governor at a meeting in March 2017 and, after a vote, was named as a district vice-governor three months later. He also held positions with the district council and district executive in the past.
Once Babcock was named vice-governor, the district governor post was his after outgoing governor Dave Roberts’ term ended.
“Vice-governor automatically becomes governor, there’s no election for that. You’re making a two-year commitment when you sign on for that — if you’re named vice-governor, then you’ve got a chance to learn the ropes a little bit, then the following year you’re sworn in for your term as district governor,” he said.
The new job will mean a lot of travel for Babcock, taking him across large swaths of two provinces. However, he will have a very familiar face to help along the way.
In his new post, Babcock has the ability to appoint his own district executive members. One of them is his wife, Flin Flon Kinette president Hollee Babcock.
“The deputy governors are elected by the zones, then the district governor gets to pick their council. We appoint a treasurer and a service director, which is what Hollee is,” he said.
Along with Hollee, two Flin Flonners currently work with the district. Krista Eastman and Danny Halpin were both named to the district executive. Diane and Tom Therien have also served with the district as communications director and financial director.
Babcock first joined the Flin Flon Kinsmen Club in 2009. He said a friend had urged him to join the group.
“He said he joined because he wanted to make up for all the crappy things he did as a kid. I joined at the time because I knew it would be something I could enjoy but I also wanted to support him,” he said.
“Everybody joins for a good reason. I thought that was a neat one.”
Over the past nine years, Babcock has not only stayed with the group, but has become an integral part.
“Usually, what brings people to Kin is that they want to give back,” he said.
“People usually join for the service, but they stay for the fellowship. When you start to meet with your club, it’s probably a bunch of guys in there that you already know and you have a common bond with. You’re all there because you want to do good things for your community.”
As district governor, Babcock said he hopes to strengthen existing clubs and boost membership.
“Our district, for the last couple of years, has been focused more on just making sure our clubs are healthy. There’s a big difference between a club that has 10 members and they’re growing and doing good things and a club with 26 members but they’re shrinking,” he said.
The Flin Flon Kinsmen Club will soon take a break from programming for the summer and is organizing events for fall 2018.
