Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
When it was founded in 1945, the Pine Grove-Arbovale Men’s Organization had a mission to serve the people of Arbovale and the surrounding communities. Through the years, the members have raised funds and provided the Arbovale Community Center as a place for organizations to have meetings, as well as a place for the community to hold family events.
Although it was founded as a men’s only group, the organization has decided that, in 2023, it’s time to make a change.
At its July meeting, the organization officially changed its name to Arbovale Community Center and is now opening membership to men and women, young and old – anyone who wants to serve the communities of northern Pocahontas County.
ACC secretary Kevin Fraser said the organization is planning to host a membership drive at the same time as its annual Mulligan Stew event on Friday, October 13.
“We’re going to do a membership drive,” he said. “We, of course, now, are looking for anybody and everybody, young and old. We want to start doing more things for the people. Things like game night, cards night, dances, parties, whatever.”
The center has been the meeting place for the American Legion and Durbin Lions Club for years and is also available for rent for parties, yard sales and more. The only rules are no alcohol and no wakes.
“The health code doesn’t allow it,” Fraser explained, of why wakes are not allowed.
Following the by-laws, funeral dinners are free to the public. Other events are charged a fee, depending on the usage. For use of just the hall and not the kitchen, it is $80; with the kitchen, it’s $95.
The price has increased because the organization plans to hire someone to clean up after each event, to ensure the center is kept in tip-top shape.
Since it was built in 1955, the center has undergone several upgrades, most recently to the gas lines.
Along with the changes, the organization now has a Facebook page under the name Arbovale Community Center. It is open to everyone interested in being a member or who wants news about events taking place at the center.
The ACC meets the last Monday of each month at 6 p.m. Those interested in joining may attend the meetings to see what the organization does for the community.
