United Commercial Travellers Adapts to a More Casual World

In this special series of interviews, NACTV talks to representatives from the area’s longstanding service clubs to learn more about their history and accomplishments, current challenges, and prognosis for the future.

The first thing we learn about the Order of United Commercial Travelers of America, or UCT, is that they are not technically a service club but a fraternal organisation. The difference, says founding member Darlene Gillies, is that a fraternal organisation exists to help its members first, and then if there are additional assets to help the community. Helping the community has, however, always been a part of their overarching mission.

Founded in 1888 by a group of travelling salesmen developing an insurance program to help one another through difficult times, the organisation eventually spread throughout North America, coming to Neepawa in 1990. The insurance part of the organisation has been gone from its Canadian chapters for some time, but the commitment to the community has remained.

UCT is particularly known for being involved in safety initiatives, such as developing additional highway markings, train safety, and in particular for this region, organising farm safety demonstrations and activities. They have also organised and helped promote blood drives and safety poster contests for students.

Their biggest footprint in the community, they believe, has been their work with persons with intellectual disabilities. They have been longtime supporters of Touchwood Park, which provides support services for adults with developmental disabilities, and also for decades were involved with Special Olympic bowling, working with individuals for fun and sport, but also taking teams from Neepawa into Provincial and even National competitions.

One of the ways the organisation continues to bring people in is to involve entire families, even extended families, in their projects and services. While for some, participation in a service club can take away from family time, UCT tries to organise activities so that community service IS family time. They recognise that over time, society has become less formal and more casual, and to remain vibrant and relevant today, the organisation has needed to adapt to that.