Common Unity Ulster and the Ulster County United Way Hosts Free Screening of 'Join or Die' and Filmmaker Q&A at UPAC on Tuesday, October 29th

KINGSTON, N.Y. - Oct. 16, 2024 - PRLog -- Common Unity Ulster and the Ulster County United Way is hosting a free special event and film screening in collaboration with the Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC) in Kingston on Tuesday, October 29^th beginning at 5 PM. The event is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. The night will kick-off with tabling and information on joining local clubs, followed by a 6 PM screening of Join or Die, and conclude with a question-and-answer session by filmmakers Rebecca and Pete Davis.

FREE Tickets and/or Club Booth at the Event available by registering HERE

About the film:
Join or Die is a film about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it. This feature documentary follows the half-century story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking "Bowling Alone" research into America's decades-long decline in community connections examines our democracy's present crisis. Flanked by influential fans and scholars — from Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to Eddie Glaude Jr., Raj Chetty, and Priya Parker — as well as inspiring groups building community in neighborhoods across the country, join Robert as he explores three urgent civic questions: What makes democracy work? Why is American democracy in crisis? And, most importantly... What can we do about it?

"The Join or Die documentary delivers a critical message about the state of volunteerism in our country," said Tony Marmo, a Kingston Rotarian and organizer of the of the All-Service Clubs luncheon every year. "In Kingston, we are not immune from the effects of the decline in volunteers in our service clubs, churches, synagogues, hospitals, emergency services, youth sports and in any nonprofit organization that relies on volunteers. It is essential that we all work together on solutions and build up the very fiber of the USA which was built on taking care of each other and those less fortunate in a voluntary way."

Kingston's All Service Clubs groups, which have memberships throughout Ulster County, include the Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Elks, Junior League, and the Ulster County Italian American Foundation. Members of these groups will be in attendance at the event and will offer information on how to join. If you have a Kingston-area club that would like to host a table and offer information about membership, please contact Tony Marmo at 845-338-9111.

The Ulster Performing Arts Center, which first opened as The Broadway Theatre in 1927, continues to thrive due to a strong history of community support and ongoing volunteerism. "Our 60 volunteers are the backbone of our operation," commented Chris Silva, Executive Director of UPAC. "We truly couldn't function without them."

This event is supported by the Ulster Performing Arts Center, Common Unity Ulster, and NoVo in Kingston.