As happens with volunteer groups, the members get burnt out and move on, being replaced with new members who offer their ideas to the organization – that is how organizations grow and change. Another turning point for the orgization was in 2002, with a new president, Tim Ruscheinsky. There was a need to update the hall, as little repair had transpired since it was rebuilt in 1990. The society at the time was just barely able to keep the doors open.  Rental income and fundraising activities were devoured by the increasing insurance costs. Several grant applications for capital improvements were turned down. Another thought was to obtain registered charity status under the Federal Government. The registered charity status allows the society to issue tax deductable receipts for donations made to them. Also, many granting organizations would only grant money to societies that were a registered charity. In 2009 Roe Lake & District Recreation Commission became a Federally Registered Charity. However, the society had to divest the programing of functions by the complex to another society, which resulted in the formation of the Interlakes Community Association. These two societies now operate non-arms length – membership is the same, board of directors are the same, as are the executive.

In a 2008 meeting, Jim Zailo brought a newspaper clipping about a Kraft Canada grant for community sports centres – so an application was submitted – the result a $25,000 grant to help upgrade the ball diamonds. That was the turning point – that $25,000 was levered with additional grants to produce $172,500 in grants over the next 6 years to renovate and update the hall and build two new ball fields complete with irrigation.

The hall interior was reconfigured to allow the washrooms to be accessible to both the inside and outside users; to allow the kitchen to be used as an outside concession as well. A storage room was built along one side of the building to store tables and chairs and allow for storage cupboards for the regular user groups. Energy efficient lighting and energy efficient updates to the electric furnaces were undertaken. New pine wainscotting was installed. The kitchen is being brought up todate to commercial standards. The total project has spanned 6 years, but work was undertaken only when sufficient funds were found for the “next step”. Over 2,500 hours of volunteer help, numerous hours of volunteer machinery time, and donations from the businesses and residents alike have made this new renovation project possible. The community continues to foster the rural outlook of “helping your community to make a better community”.