CIVISCOPE

CIVISCOPE
After nine months, only two districts are listed
because their existing clubs are displaying a
gain as follows:
Alabama-West Florida
Civitan District
2013-2014
4th Quarter
Alabama-West Florida - Gov. Jack Groves
Valley District - Governor Leslie Benmark
Email from Kearney Dee Hutsler
“Dear Jack, John, Butch, Willie and Janis,
At this point in the year, here are your double
digit Hometown Heroes for October-June:
Alabama Central - Vestavia and Research
have
had
double
digit
additions!
Alabama North - Decatur and Smith Lake have
had double digit additions. Cullman has had 9
additions. Alabama-West Florida - Prattville,
Andalusia, Enterprise, Boll Weevil, Millbrook,
and Crestview have had double digit additions!
(Jack, this is amazing!)
A Message from the Governor
July 2014
Fellow Civitans,
Magnolia, Gautier, and North Bay have had
double digit additions. Mississippi North Downtown Shannon had double digit additions
with West Point coming in second by adding 7.
At the beginning of each month I look forward
to receiving the FOCUS report from Louis
Stephens, Vice President of MembershipLeadership, Civitan International. From this
information, I get an understanding of how our
Alabama-West Florida District compares with
the other 21 districts in North America and just
how good - or bad we are. So let me give you
some quotes from this report and an email that
I received.
Please congratulate the Presidents of these
clubs. Those numbers show a conscious effort
to build Civitan.”
This is your district. You have made your
district and me look good and I thank you. But,
we can improve for we have most of the 4 th
quarter in front of us. I ask our leaders to lead
and I ask our membership to follow. Ask
someone to become a Hometown Hero and
join your Civitan Club.
FOCUS “Sponsor-a-Member Competition"
Sponsorship Banners: After nine months, the
Alabama-West Florida District, led by
Governor Jack Groves, MST, is leading the
Best Percentage category with 32% (27-84)
officers sponsoring one or more members
this year. Leading the Highest Numeral
Category with 48 officers sponsoring one or
more members is the Heartland District led by
Governor Joyce Sullivan, MST.
Existing Clubs’ Overall Gain Column
To be listed in the existing clubs’ overall gain
“Net Growth Heroes” column, a district must
show more additions than deletions in its
existing clubs.
Jack F. Groves, Governor 2013-2014
Alabama-West Florida District
370 Buford Street
Monroeville, AL 36460
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Enterprise Pilot Club Yearly Awards
Clean up the Community
The Enterprise Pilot Club sponsors the Man,
Woman, and Youth of the Year awards
annually.
The Alabama-West Florida District Officers
are excited to aid their communities in
whatever is needed! Governor Olani Borders,
PR Coordinator / Lieutenant Governor Kayla
Ashcom, and Secretary / Lieutenant Governor
Xavier Scott volunteered for the "Clean-up the
Community" event, sponsored by District 1
Dothan City Commissioner Kevin Dorsey.
There was a fantastic turn out!
This year, two of the Alabama-West Florida
District Officers were nominated for the Youth
of the Year Award. Junior Governor Olani
Borders and Deputy Governor Erin Stafford
were both nominated. Also, Enterprise High
School Junior Civitan Club Historian Alex
Cardona was nominated. What an honor for
these three Junior Civitans to have been
recognized for their academic achievements as
well as their service to their community!
There were citizens from multiple areas and
organizations that came to assist in this service
project. Jr. Governor Olani Borders stated
"that she was so inspired that she would like to
do this project again in Enterprise and is going
to contact her city officials office on Monday".
What a great way to represent their District and
Civitan!
Olani Borders was recognized as the
Enterprise YOUTH OF THE YEAR!
J.U. Blacksher High School in Uriah
Jr. Civitan Charter Ceremony
January 22, 2014
Co-Presidents Ashlee Phillips and Maribeth
West accepted the Charter! The new Jr.
Civitan Club is sponsored by the Monroeville
Civitan Club.
Olani stands proudly with her parents,
Clinton & Elizabeth (Liz) Borders
Olani Borders was the recipient of the
Enterprise Civitan Club John Simpson
Scholarship Award, the Alabama-West Florida
District Scholarship Award AND she was the
recipient of the Civitan International Shropshire
Scholarship. Congratulations to Olani!
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Greenville High School
Jr. Civitan Charter Ceremony
January 22, 2014
Millbrook Civitan Club
Photos of the Millbrook Civitan Club with
Stanhope High School Jr. Civitan Club in a
joint effort for the Head Start Easter Egg hunt.
Daisha Durant is the President of this new club
and accepted the Charter. The new Jr. Civitan
Club is sponsored by the Camellia City Civitan
Club in Greenville.
The same day, Governor-Elect Penny Nichols
conducted the Charter Ceremony for the new
Park Crossing Jr. Civitan Club in Montgomery.
The Montgomery Civitan Club is sponsoring
this new Jr. Civitan Club!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Millbrook Civitan Club Sells Onions
in the month of May
The Millbrook Civitan Club had another very
successful onions sale.
They sold 2,160
pounds of onions this year.
Pictured: (left to right) Penny Nichols, Susan
Stringer, Ray Stringer and Jimmy Sutherland.
Millbrook Civitans Build a Ramp
On April 25, 2014, Civitans George Broadway
and Bob Magdon built a 16-foot ramp.
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Boll Weevil Civitan Club
Crestview Civitan Club - Guest Speaker
Thomas Boni, Editor of the Crestview News
Bulletin, was a recent speaker at the Crestview
Civitan Club. Boni gave the history of the
"printed word", the current conditions, and the
promising future for the News Bulletin. You
can learn more by visiting their website at
www.crestviewbulletin.com.
President Gloria Jones
with Thomas Boni
Their first rummage sale was a great success.
The $472 raised will be added to other monies
raised for their Relay for Life team.
Boll Weevil Civitans were at Enterprise State
Community College on April 25th to honor
cancer survivors. Monies raised go to help the
American Cancer Society fight the disease.
Club members (shown above) who worked the
sale were: (left to right) Bill McCrary, Christian
Helvin, Doreen Thomas, Carol Goggans,
Debbie King, Marvin King, and Troy Richards.
The Crestview Civitan Club meets on the 2nd
and 4th Thursdays at 11:30 am for lunch, and
the Club meeting is from Noon - 1 pm at the
Coach-N-Four Restaurant, 114 John King
Road, Crestview. Visitors are always welcome.
For additional information contact Gloria Jones
at [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Their Relay for Life team, chaired by Debbie
King, raised over $1,500 for the American
Cancer Society by selling torches and
luminaries either in memory of, or in honor of,
someone affected by cancer.
Pensacola Civitan Club - Guest Speaker
Trevor Sikes, the Preparedness and Response
Coordinator with the American Red Cross,
spoke to the Pensacola Civitan Club on May
7th. The Red Cross Office has a staff of eight
employees and 111 volunteers. They cover
from Pensacola to Santa Rosa Beach in
Walton County.
Team members (pictured below): standing in
back - Doreen Thomas, Brittany Dionne, and
Carol Goggans. Sitting, left to right:
Mike
Jackson, Marv King, Debbie King, and Bill
McCrary.
To make a donation, go to:
www.yourredcross.org
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Trevor is a member of AmeriCorps and has
been contracted to the American Red Cross of
Northwest Florida.
One 7# Bag of Peppermint Candy at Sam's
Club now costs $9.00. We need to take in
approximately $15 to $20 per bag, so monitor
your money from time to time to ensure we are
not LOSING money.
To date, we have
collected $9,500.
Spring District Meeting
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Hosted by Camellia City Civitan Club
in Greenville, Alabama
This year's John Simpson Scholarship Winners
($1,000 each) are:
College - Thomas G. Hale
Nominated by the Andalusia Civitan Club.
Thomas attends LBW Community College and
will transfer to Auburn University in the fall.
Bronze award patches presented to four Clubs
based on taking in at least $2,500 annually:
Boll Weevil, Cottage Hill, Montgomery, and
Pensacola.
The Cottage Hill Civitan Club of Mobile still
leads in Coin Box income.
CLAXTON FRUITCAKE: Eleven (11) Clubs
participated in selling Fruitcake this past year.
Our District sold 26,675 pounds of fruitcake!
Cottage Hill sold the most fruitcake: 8,952
pounds. Next was the Pensacola Club with
over 6,000 pounds!
High School - Olani Borders
Nominated by the Enterprise Civitan Club.
Olani will be going to the University of Alabama
this fall.
HONOR CLUB recognition is based on
achievements in the areas of service,
knowledge, fellowship, club growth, and
participation in charitable programs.
PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL: The President's
Council provides a special opportunity for
individuals to give additional support to the
Civitan organization.
Your tax deductible
membership in this elite group starts with a
minimum commitment of $10 each month (or
$120 annually).
The following Clubs were recognized as Honor
Clubs and received a banner patch award for
the 2012-2013 Civitan year: Camellia City,
Cottage Hill, Georgiana ACTION, Greater
Wetumpka, and Millbrook.
Our district has 103 members. We are one of
the leading districts in all of Civitan.
Membership is acknowledged with a special
lapel pin and an exclusive invitation to the
annual President's Council Reception held
during the Civitan International Convention.
FOUNDATION REPORT
by Randy Eckhoff
Candy Box: Since 1976, millions of dollars
have been raised through the well-known "blue
boxes," serviced solely by volunteers. We have
21 Clubs in the District participating in the
Candy Box program, and 12 Clubs participate
in Candy Box.
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Four Civitans joined the President's Council
at the Spring Meeting: Josephine Roper
(member of Millbrook AND Montgomery
Capital Civitan Clubs), Wendell Andrews
(Georgiana ACTION Club), and Clint & Liz
Borders (members of both Boll Weevil and
Enterprise Civitan Clubs).
Civitan International Freedom Fellow ($1,200) This designation helps support the General
Fund of Civitan International and is the only
Fellow that is not retained in an endowed
account.
CIVIANS AT THE HELM: Clubs designate a
portion of their fundraising revenue to support
the Civitan International Research Center.
Giving levels based on a club's official
membership roster on the first day of the fiscal
year. The following Clubs were recognized:
The Civitan International Sustaining Research
Center Fellow ($2,500) - is the most
prestigious level of recognition, developed to
help fund scholarships, fellowships, and grants
for scientists at the Research Center through
an endowed account.
$200 per member earns Admiral of the Fleet
level: Cottage Hill and Montgomery
$100 per member earns Admiral level:
Enterprise
TRAINING DATES: There are two dates for
President and Presidents-Elect Training that
are nearby. This one-day training is mandatory
for the 2014-2015 officers in order for their
Club to qualify as an Honor Club:
President Pat Goodson
accepts banner patch
for the Enterprise Club
Saturday, August 2, in Mobile
Deadline to register is July 28th
$50 per member earns Captain level:
Dothan and Millbrook
Saturday, August 23, in Birmingham
Deadline to register is August 18th
$25 per member earns Navigator level:
Montgomery and Prattville
ELECTIONS:
$10 per member earns Helmsman level:
Andalusia, Blue Gray-Montala, Camellia City,
Georgiana ACTION, Greater Wetumpka, and
Pensacola
Ed Higdon and Debbie Bruce-Juhlke are
running for Civitan International President-Elect
2014-2015. You must be on the boat (Civitan
Cruise Convention in August) to VOTE!
A new level has been added starting this next
Civitan year:
$75 per member earns
Commodore level.
Chuck Rice from the Montgomery Civitan Club
is running for Governor-Elect of our District!
FELLOWS PROGRAM Individuals are
recognized for their contributions to Civitan and
the local communities they serve with a
minimum donation as indicated below:
Several Clubs have good
numbers so far this Civitan year:
Civitan International Foundation Shropshire
Fellow ($1,200) - Interest from this endowed
fund is used to fund Civitan scholarships.
Civitan International Research Center Fellow
($1,200) - Interest from this endowed fund is
used to provide scholarships, fellowships, and
grants for scientists at the Research Center.
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Recruitment
Millbrook - 22 new members
Prattville - 13 members
Andalusia - 12 members
Enterprise - 12 members
Crestview - 11 members
Boll Weevil - 10 members
Crestview Civitan Club - Guest Speaker
Civitans Support
Wounded Veterans Project
May 13, 2014
Peggy Brockman of Brockman Enterprises,
Inc., spoke to the Crestview Civitan Club on
June 12th. As a certified member of the John
Maxwell Team, Peggy is a published author, a
motivational speaker, an effective trainer, and
a passionate coach in all types of leadership
and development courses. She imparted some
invaluable tools on how clubs can effectively
build their membership.
Two members of the Lions Club Steering
Committee for the Wounded Veterans Project
were recent speakers at the Enterprise
Civitan Club - the co-chairman of the
Wounded Veterans Project, Conrad Stemple,
and the Lion's Club Treasurer, Chuck Seitz.
For additional information on the many
speaking and training topics her company
provides, please visit her website at:
www.speaktraincoach.com or contact her at
850-259-8356.
The Enterprise and Boll Weevil Civitan Clubs
made contributions to the Wounded Veterans
Project to allow the purchase of a recumbent
bike for a wounded warrior. These bikes are
custom-made for a wounded warrior to use
based on the extent of his injuries and allows
the veteran to ride in a reclined position moving
the bike with foot pedals or hand controls.
Shown in photo above (left to right): Conrad
Stemple, Club President Pat Goodson, Club
President-Elect Donna Skelton, President of
the Boll Weevil Civitan Club - Michael Jackson,
and Chuck Seitz.
Shown in photo (left to right): Chuck Rice,
President of the Montgomery Civitan Club and
one of the club builders for the Crestview Club,
Peggy Brockman, and Joe Faulk, Crestview
Civitan Club Secretary who is responsible for
the speakers at each meeting.
Pat Goodson with
Michael Jackson
Good citizenship and defending democracy
means living up to the ideals and values
that make this country great.
Ronald Reagan
6/4/1986
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The Presidents of both Civitan Clubs were
presented with Certificates of Appreciation and
a replica of the dog tag that will be placed on
the bike before it is presented.
Enterprise Civitan Club
New Members Installation
April 8, 2014
Pensacola Civitan Club - Ramp Raisings
Civitans built an 18-foot ramp at the home of
31-year old Tracy Carlson on June 21st. Tracy
suffers from anorexia and bulimia and has
fallen several times.
She now uses a
wheelchair. To date, Pensacola Civitans have
participated in 376 wheelchair ramp projects!
Pat Goodson, (left), president of the Enterprise
Civitan Club, recently installed five new
members into the Club. New members shown
are Mary Alice McSwain, Leta and Don
Muraski, Donald Edgar, and Roger Hall.
A bit of Wheelchair Ramp History...
Pensacola Civitans built their first ramp in 1995
for a mother and her daughter who lived in this
trailer north of Town & Country Plaza. The
ramp was approximately 30-feet long and the
railings were 2" wide and 6" apart.
Curtis Thomasson (right), the Chairperson of
the Campus Civitan Program for the AlabamaWest Florida Civitan District and a member of
the Andalusia Civitan Club, was the featured
speaker for the meeting. Curtis stressed the
uniqueness of Civitan as the Civitan
International Headquarters AND the Civitan
International Research Center are both located
in Birmingham.
Plans drawn by George Codone, reviewed by
Fred Knodel, and approved by the Escambia
County Permit Office! Participants: Joe Black,
George Codone, Pete Devries, Bob Johnson,
Fred Knodel, and TJ LeMaster.
Boll Weevil Civitans Sell ONIONS
The Boll Weevil Civitan Club's Vidalia onions
sale was a big success again this year. They
sold 2,250 pounds of onions (225 bags)!
Mike Jackson and Christian Helvin loaded
Mike’s truck with the onions! The weather was
good and most onions were delivered within a
few days.
Who is this?
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District Convention is Next Month!
National Leadership Forum at
Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas
Our annual District Convention will take place
Friday and Saturday, August 1-2, at the Wind
Creek Casino & Hotel in Atmore, Alabama!
Registration forms will be coming out soon.
Book your room at this beautiful hotel for just
$89 per night, plus tax. Call 1-866-946-3360.
Event name: Alabama-West Florida District
Civitan International.
The Pensacola Civitan Club sponsored nine
students to this year's National Leadership
Forum. They were the first to board the South
Bus that left at 3:30 am on Sunday, June 1st.
The picture below was taken on their return to
Pensacola on Friday, June 6th, at 6:45 pm.
Penny Nichols will be installed as our 20142015 District Governor in Atmore! Since our
last convention at Wind Creek, they've added a
bowling alley, an arcade, and a Cinema. Good
food, fun, and Civitan fellowship are in store for
you at Wind Creek Casino & Hotel.
Monroeville Civitan Club
Thelma Scott and Tanny McMillian were this
year's District Chairpersons for the National
Leadership Forum. There were 54 students
who attended this year from the Alabama-West
Florida District. Harding University's American
Studies Institute National Leadership Forum
has been located on the Harding campus in
Searcy, Arkansas, for 58 years!
Monroeville Civitans built a ramp for Braxton
Drew on June 7, 2014: Lanar Hastings, Robert
Rockford, Kermit Brown, Robin Sanderson,
and Bill Ferguson. That's Braxton - sitting on
top of the ramp materials!
This program has served the southeastern and
southwestern states - primarily through the
support of Civitans in the Alabama-West
Florida District, the Alabama Central District,
Alabama North District, the Tennessee Farm
Bureau, the Arkansas Farm Bureau, and other
civic organizations!
Mac McKinney of Montgomery, Alabama, was
one of its strongest supporters. When Mr.
McKinney was active in the Alabama-West
Florida Civitan District in the 1970's and
1980's, he sent as many as 200 delegates to
the National Leadership Forum every summer.
It is in his honor that our District refers to this
key project as the Mac McKinney Leadership
Forum.
April Drew, Braxton's Mom, spoke to the
Monroeville Civitan Club on July 1st, and
explained why her son needed a ramp at their
home.
April and Braxton
Each year's Forum assists youth to become
better equipped with the necessary tools to
preserve the traditions and ideals upon which
America was founded.
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Montgomery Civitan Club
Boll Weevil Poker Run
Saturday, June 7, 2014
On May 16th and 17th, the Montgomery Civitan
Club again hosted the Montgomery Miracle
League at an end of season cookout for all the
teams. All participants were awarded trophies
at the end of their final games and then they
headed for the hotdogs!
The Boll Weevil Civitan Club had 18 riders in
their Poker Run in June. Everyone seemed to
enjoy themselves and all received a Civitan
patch for their jacket or vest, and a gift
certificate from a local restaurant.
They set up at Old Homestead on SR 84 in
Level Plains at 7:30 am. Club members were
there to help - despite it being a hot, muggy
morning. Riders left before 10 am and were
back by 1 pm. Everyone enjoyed hamburgers,
chips, and baked beans ... prepared by Dianne
White.
Hotdogs, chips, cookies and drinks were
served to all Miracle League participants,
families and coaches. Club members prepared
and served all of the food for over three
hundred people.
The Miracle League is
baseball adapted to allow participation by
persons with special needs. The field is
specially built to facilitate wheelchair use and
cushioned to prevent injuries in case of a fall
for those persons not in a wheelchair. The
Montgomery Miracle League started in 2004
and the Montgomery Civitan Club supported it
at the outset with a significant contribution of
funds.
(Left to right): Jeremy Hilton, Allen Hagler, and
Clint Borders did all of the grilling and prepping
of the food. They did a great job!
There was another group of bikers raising
money for a child with leukemia. Boll Weevil
Club members took up a collection and Mike
Jackson presented the cash to them. That's
what Civitan is all about!
President Chuck Rice
was presented a plaque
by Miracle League
representative Kerry
Cherry and the
Montgomery Civitan
Miracle League team.
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Well Deserved Recognition in Enterprise
June 10, 2014
Chuck Rice Finds Civitan Bell
Chuck Rice, a relative newcomer to Civitan,
captured a piece of Civitan history recently.
Having developed a passion for Civitan in his
four short years as a member of the
Montgomery Civitan Club, Chuck has been
searching various sources for Civitan
memorabilia and history. His efforts have
resulted in several finds of interest. Recently,
while combing eBay, he came across and
acquired his most significant find to date.
Jacque Hawkins (left) was presented with a
certificate and pin from Civitan International
"for superior recruitment skills resulting in the
sponsorship of twenty new members into
Civitan." Pat Goodson, President of the
Enterprise
Civitan
Club,
made
the
presentation.
James Hopkins (left) was presented with a
Sales Merit Award from the Claxton Fruit Cake
Company for "outstanding performance in the
Civitan sales of Claxton Fruit Cake."
This four year member now owns the Civitan
bell presented to C. T. Marshall at the 6th
Annual Convention of Civitan International held
in Philadelphia in 1926. Judge Marshall was
the 5th President of Civitan International,
serving from 1925 to 1926. He was also an
Ohio Supreme Court Justice as well as one of
the judges that presided over the Nuremburg
trials after World War II. This piece of Civitan
history now has a new home where it couldn’t
be more appreciated.
Monroeville Civitans Sold
6,000 pounds of Onions
The Monroeville Civitan Club ordered 600 bags
of Vidalia Onions and sold them from Governor
Jack Groves' garage!
Chuck shows
Civitan bell
at District
Meeting in
Greenville
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Our District Website and Facebook Page
Monroeville Civitan Club Sponsored Five
Students to the National Leadership Forum
The Alabama-West Florida District Website
has been down the last few months and is
having to be rebuilt. It's hoped that the site will
be back up and running in the next few weeks.
Monroeville Civitan Club Officers Ray Pezent
and Margaret and Jack Groves welcomed
National Leadership Forum attendees to their
Club meeting in June: Sydney Raybon, Ansley
Laurie, Irma Moncus, and Anna Laurie
Kirchharr. Not pictured: Ivey Labella.
In the meantime, the Alabama-West Florida
District Facebook page is alive and waiting for
your stories about what's happening at your
club. Anyone can post a story with or without
photos (preferably with)!
Meet Our Jr. Civitan District Chair
Liz Borders
June 24, 2014
If you would prefer that the page administrator
post them, please email your article and
pictures to [email protected]
Liz Borders (center), a new member of the
Enterprise Civitan Club and the Boll Weevil
Civitan Club, is now serving as the AlabamaWest Florida District Jr. Civitan Chair!
A word from the Civiscope Editor
This is the last Civiscope for our 2013-2014
Civitan year. Governor Jack Groves will soon
turn over the District Bell and Gavel to Penny
Nichols from the Millbrook Civitan Club. She
will be installed as our 2014-2015 District
Governor at the Convention in August.
A BIG thank you to all the Clubs
who have been so diligent in
providing me with great articles
and pictures highlighting your
Club's projects and fundraisers.
Liz is standing between Jeremy Cruz and Sami
Barazanji, who attended this year's National
Leadership Forum in Arkansas. They were
sponsored by the Enterprise Civitan Club!
Cindy Barrington
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