One expert, Robert Putnam of Harvard University, published a book on the subject last year. Bowling Alone summarized Dr. Putnam's research into community involvement. America used to be a nation of joiners, he says. Now we are more likely to bowl alone than in a league, more likely to drop out of the Lions Club than join one. Such trends have hurt communities, he found.
People are less likely to run for office.
They are apathetic about voting. They trust each other less and their children don't do as well in school, among other effects. Bowling Alone got attention. Organizations across the country, including the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, embraced the message and launched surveys of social connectedness in their own cities. In my mind, the Charities Guild and similar groups are the exception that proves the rule.