Reno 2018 CONVENTION RECAP
The Civitan International Research Center
THE PRIDE OF CIVITAN Get to know the new director of our Flagship program
Plus:
Celebrating Inclusiveness Approaching a Milestone birthday
From The President Hello Everyone The saying is true that time flies when you are having fun! As I sit here and write my last article as your Civitan president I am filled with many thoughts and emotions.
Kendyl Massey
International President 2017-18
In my last magazine article our Reno convention was right around the corner. From the feedback we received from the convention survey, our members appreciated all of the changes we made to the convention to make it more member focused, to cut the spending we previously had on ourselves to have more dollars go to our cause and to share and be more transparent on the state of the union and the resiliency of our organization. Thank you to the 150 Putt and Chip Fest Participants! This was the largest amount of participants we have ever had. We raised $52,000 gross and $46,000 net - which is double any previous year. We secured $7,000 in corporate sponsorships when in prior years we had not pursued any. Golf raised $225,000 and had a net of $214,000 to our cause. This is the lowest cost percentage we have had in many years!
I have had the chance to visit most districts and many clubs to see and hear all of the great things our members are doing to make a difference in their local communities. I tell everyone that’s the best part of this position. It keeps it in the forefront why I joined and why each of you joined our organization as well – to HELP others. When asked to describe this Civitan year I use the word “unique.” I say unique because it was unlike any previous year in several ways. We had a change in our staff leadership after 32 years, and reorganized the structure of our international staff to better serve our membership base. We have had significant changes in our income, changes to the way we spend and use all of our income, the way we manage clubs who need financial assistance, the way field directors were previously contracted and used and financials for all Civitan accounts have been shared and discussed. All of these things were absolutely necessary and many of them long overdue. They say in the fitness world “no pain, no gain.” Well this year we have had to make some decisions for the future that were not always easy (the “pain”) including combining Junior Civitan Dance-a-thon with the Junior Civitan International Convention, eliminating the in-person Governors’ Update meeting, trimming every internal budget line item, and reducing the Global Growth fund where we spent money on clubs outside of North America where we are not receiving membership dues. These changes were required if we wanted to continue to keep Civitan stable and viable (the “gain”). I feel good about the state of our union on all things financial as we wind down this Civitan year. We have a plan for our long term financial health, which is in writing and we are following. We have adjusted our budgets for the first time in 10 years to be based on realistic membership numbers and associated dues income. We have implemented the “Light the Way” program for our membership to also support our organization financially over the next 3 years. We created a cash reserve to be available for the first time in our history, we have our debt structured as it should be now according to all outside financial advice we received. In the upcoming year we will be seeking out a new Civitan International fundraiser that clubs can also participate in and reap some dollars for their treasuries, in addition to fruitcake and candy / coin boxes. Membership is not where I wanted it to be especially since I consider myself one of the biggest promoters for recruitment, club building and rebuilding of clubs. I have had to accept that with all of the changes implemented this year there has been an effect on growth this year to a certain degree as well. We must have a team effort that includes every single member in Civitan to help us share our love, passion and joy of our organization with others. It can’t just be elected international, district and club members who are recruiting and sharing – it takes A VILLAGE! Please try to recruit a new member this Civitan year, and the next Civitan year and every year to come. It’s not “my year” and “your year.” Every year belongs to each member to do our part to make Civitan be around for many years to come. To say that I have been honored to serve as the elected President of Civitan is a complete understatement. I represent some of the most giving, thoughtful and compassionate people that I have ever had the opportunity to meet and work with! I am humbled to be a part of this organization and what it does to help others who are less fortunate. Michael and I cannot possibly express our gratitude to each and every one of you for everything that you do! I have worked hard to represent Civitan to the best of my ability by being professional and respectful, by keeping my integrity and compassion for others always in mind. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Civitan President for 2018-2019.
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VOL. 98, No. 5 ISSN 0914-5785
Editor in Chief Terry Schrimscher Contributing Writers Terry Schrimscher Scarlet Thompson Bobby Farley Jenny Ely Mary Luck
2017-18 International Officers President: Kendyl Massey, Maryville, TN PresidentElect: Bob Jones, Concord, NC Immediate Past President: Duane Capps, Greensboro, NC International Directors: Barbara Holyfield, Meridian, MS; Lana Suggs, Jacksonville, FL; Tony Workman, Greensboro, NC; Patricia Jackowski, Middletown, CT; Bill Lawrence, Almonte, ON, Canada; Marta Ford, Eaton Rapids, MI; Fred Matthies, Lakewood, CO; Linda Colley, Altadena, CA; Michael Koneke, Beverstedt, Germany; Sae-11 Chun M.D., Republic of Korea Junior Civitan International President: Hadden Fulgham, Adel, Georgia; Executive Vice President: Scarlet Thompson, Birmingham, AL Civitan Magazine, like the organization it represents, is dedicated to service. The magazine will, at all times, emphasize the high ideals and purposes of the organization, disseminate ideas for greater service, and carry authorized announcements and notices regarding the activities of the organization. The magazine is an official Civitan International publication. Civitan International does not endorse or imply endorsement of any product and/or company by selling advertising space in this publication. Editorial opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Civitan International, its officers, or staff.
Telephone: (205) 591-8910 FAX: (205) 592-6307 Email: civitan@civitan.org Website: www.civitan.org
Mission Statement The mission of Civitan worldwide is to build good citizenship by providing a volunteer organization of clubs dedicated to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people with developmental disabilities.
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INSIDE SEPTEMBER 2018
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From the Editor
Board Report
What’s new in Civitan Magazine
News from the Board of Directors
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The Year in Review
Civitan Fest
President Massey’s year in pictures
The expanded event hit new milestones
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Seizing the Moment A recap of the 2018 Convention
BreakThru Golf
Civitan’s largest fundraiser
10 Exploring the Future
The new CIRC Director discusses the future of research
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Celebrating Inclusiveness Civitan’s oldest inclusive clubs approach a milestone birthday
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From the Editor What’s New in Civitan Magazine? Hello Fellow Civitans! It’s truly an honor to sit down and edit Civitan Magazine each issue. Magazines have always been one of my favorite forms of media. One of the most interesting aspects of working on a magazine, aside from writing articles, is something readers never see—demographic data. Recently, a Civitan member I enjoy working with asked me about the digital magazine and I shared some of the interesting information we get with each issue. I thought you might find it interesting as well. Our May issue was our most read issue since going online. 13,626 people, so far, have read it. Of those, 32% viewed the magazine with their phone. Why is this important to know? The cover was the most viewed and the feature articles on the balloon fiesta and the research center were the most read. With this info we can work harder to bring you the news you want to read about the organization you love. You can also buy a printed copy of each edition through the Civitan Supply House. These are fun to collect and very affordable. In this issue of Civitan Magazine, Dr. Powell shares his thoughts about the future of the research center and his first impressions since joining us officially. We also celebrate our two oldest inclusive clubs as they approach their 40th anniversaries. In this issue, we also have club updates, a convention recap, and a report from the last meeting of the board of directors. As we continue to grow and improve the content, please continue to send in great story ideas and photos. Also, with the launch of the new website, our feature stories will be available online to share with friends, family, and future Civitans. Please share them on your social media platform of choice. Thanks for spreading the word for Civitan. I hope you enjoy this issue. Terry Schrimscher Editor
Civitan Online Magazine and You Magazine Submissions
Civitan Magazine is distributed six times a year to club members around the world. We need your news stories, events, and pictures! Is your club finishing an exciting project, organizing an event in your community, or approaching a special milestone? Just email pr@civitan.org, call us, or mail your story to the address on the right and your club could be in the next issue of Civitan Magazine!
Civitan Magazine P.O. Box 130744 Birmingham, AL 35213-0744 1-800-CIVITAN, ext. 134
Please include as much information as you can – funds raised, how the event impacts your community and/or club, and any other important details. Pictures are always welcome, too. Please send in jpg format, sized 300 dpi or larger. We hope to hear from you soon!
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The Year in Review Civitan International presidents spend a lot of time on the road visiting clubs, speaking at districts, and inspiring members to take on new challenges, charter new clubs, and encourage members to recruit for the future. As the 101st year of Civitan comes to a close, here is a photo montage of some of President Massey’s experiences from the past year.
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CIRC Video Now Available Each year, the Civitan International Research Center produces a video update which is debuted for members at the International Convention. This year’s update provides great insight into the work being done by more than 100 scientists at the CIRC and features a video introduction of the center’s new director, Dr. Craig Powell. The 2018 video update is available for purchase through the research center and is a popular way for club leaders to share the important work being done by our flagship program in Birmingham, Alabama. This year's update follows research programs that are laying the groundwork for treatment of disorders such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's Disease, dementia, and more. You can order this video by emailing our PR department at PR@civitan.org. We will pass along your request to the research center. Videos cost $15 and are a great investment in the research center and a source of valuable information for new members and potential donors.
Do you shop online? Your amazon.com purchases can add up for Civitan! If you haven’t signed up for AmazonSmile, take a moment to visit www.smile.amazon.com and pick Civitan International as your preferred charity. Then, every time you start your shopping experience on smile.amazon.com, instead of amazon.com, Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase to our great cause. It’s that easy.
smile.amazon.com — Choose Civitan 6 Civitan Magazine
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The Board Report One of the traditional meetings that is held during the Civitan International Convention is the third and final International Board meeting of the Civitan year. The group discussed several major items, and also prepared to voice their support of a bylaw amendment change, which was later ratified by membership to extend board member terms to three years. Of all the items the board tackled during this July meeting, perhaps the biggest was a change to the Civitan In Good Standing policy. A portion related to good conduct was pulled from the Code of Ethics policy and included in this policy. Also, there was an additional section that guides clubs and particularly districts, when it comes to issues with members who seem in violation of the policy. Also, the board reviewed the report of an appointed adhoc committee which is auditing Civitan’s international clubs, where and how they exist, and their dues structure. The group requested 14 countries be pulled off the official list of Civitan nations, citing some were approved by the board before a club was built and never came to fruition while others had a handful clubs decades ago and have now ceased to exist. These countries include: United Kingdom, Moldova,
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By Scarlet Thompson, Executive Vice President
Malta, Sweden, The Netherlands, Ukraine, Slovakia, Egypt, Thailand, Turkey, Madagascar, Senegal, Tanzania, and Togo. The International Board approved this request. In other international club news, the board approved Malaysia as an official Civitan nation. That country’s first club chartered at the end of August. These actions mean the number of countries where Civitan exists currently stands at 36.
of membership more into the mission, and recognizes them from world headquarters. Lastly, a club expansion program pilot was approved by the board. This plan defines more clearly the roles of people on the club building team and asks that they stick with the club for two years.
This year’s growth and retention committee presented their ideas and new programs to the International board, which included expanding options for club building apparel. Besides blazers, jackets and polos will be offered. If you are already a club builder and would like some of this gear, contact your respective membership specialist. The board also approved a growth and retention committee proposal that expands the Golden Circle program to inclusive clubs. That means clubs with members who have intellectual and developmental disabilities qualify for project funds if they are in their first two years and have at least 30 members.
Membership voted to pass the following amendment at the convention in Reno:
A new recognition program called Three Cheers for Civitan will debut this fall that focuses on integrating members in their first three years
BYLAW AMENDMENT CHANGE
Change to International By-Laws Article IV Section 4.02 Composition and Term The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President of Civitan International, and a director from each region or division of Civitan International. The Executive Vice President and the Junior Civitan International President shall be ex officio, nonvoting, members of the Board. The term of the office for all elected Directors shall be three (3) Civitan years and each Director shall hold office until their successor is elected and qualified, or until death, resignation, or removal.
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Civitan Fest 2018 Civitans joined together in Reno, Nevada during the annual international convention in support of individuals and families impacted by intellectual and developmental disabilities, raising over $50,000 gross at the Civitan Putt-n-Chip Fest. This year’s Putt-nChip Fest, presented by I-Deal Tickets, benefitted the Civitan International Research Center. Those in attendance took part in the mini putt tradition, competed in the Civitan Awareness Chip Challenge, and engaged in fellowship across a variety of games and activities. We are proud of the event and all its accomplishments to aid doctors and researchers in their quest to find answers and perform life-changing treatment. Thank you to all those who participated, donated, sponsored, and supported this incredible event. Civitan International has exciting plans for the Civitan Putt-n-Chip Fest and wants to see you participate next year. If you will be attending the annual international convention in Greenville, South Carolina, make plans now to participate. Visit www.civitanfest.com for more information on how you can participate, donate, sponsor, or volunteer. Top fundraisers Erma Kuboushek, Lynn Leitch, Terry Hodge, Kendyl Massey Additional sponsors:
Spring Hill Farms
Volunteer Action Civitan Club
Kefauver
McCoy Behavior Analysis
Chattanooga Civitan Club
Bill Moore and the Chesapeake Crabs
Civitan Club of Idaho Falls
Miller and McPhail CPA
Capital City Civitan Club
Volunteer Mortgage
Durham Civitan Club
Lion’s Share Credit Union
Civitan Governors 2017-2018
Le’Space Motor Coach
Civitan Governors 2018-2019
CLUB NEWS The Midland Civitan Club of Canada District West has had a long-time commitment to Special Olympics Ontario (S.O.O.) by providing lunch for most of the S.O.O. tournaments held in the area. The most recent was a lunch for the Annual Central Ontario Baseball Invitational which is a tournament that brings teams together from across the area to “PLAY BALL. Eight teams participated in the event and the Midland Civitan Club served over 135 people with a lunch of hamburgers, hotdogs. salad, drinks and breakfast bars. The Midland Civitan Club was chartered on July 28, 1967 and was sponsored by the Barrie Civitan Club.
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Civitan BreakThru Golf 2018 Civitans from all over the United States and Canada golfed in support of intellectual and developmental disabilities research at the 25th Annual Civitan Breakthru Golf Benefit during the annual international convention in Reno, Nevada. The event raised over $220,000 gross in benefit of the Civitan International Research Center. Thank you to all those who participated, donated, sponsored, and supported this incredible event. We are especially grateful for the support of Exfluor Research Corporation which donated $25,000. The Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is being asked to match Exfluor’s donation.
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ANNUAL
JULY 23, 2018 SOMERSETT GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
If you are interested in golfing in the 26th Annual Breakthru in Greenville, South Carolina next July, visit www.civitanbreakthru.com for more information on how you can participate, donate, sponsor, or volunteer. Top Fundraisers: Joe O’Toole, Randy Eckhoff, Harold Connell, and Bill Buscher Additional sponsors: Montgomery Civitan Club (Alabama) Civitan Club of Pittsfield Civitan Club of Topeka Capital City Civitan Club Durham Civitan Club Business Electronics Bradley Law Firm The Health Shoppe
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Research Report Exploring the Future with Dr. Craig Powell By Terry Schrimscher
really where the rubber meets the road. How does that happen? How can we fix it? And does that help with the model systems and ultimately does that help families and their kids?”
When Civitan Magazine profiled Dr. Craig Powell in the May 2018 issue, it was the first opportunity for most Civitans to learn about the man who has been tapped to lead the Civitan International Research Center (CIRC).
About the future of research
Powell comes to Civitan from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics where he was a Distinguished Professor in Neurology. Now in his first month as Director of the CIRC, Dr. Powell recently visited Civitan headquarters to share his thoughts on the center and on the future of research.
Dr. Powell: “I think we are going to have medical drug therapies to treat intellectual and developmental disabilities, and autism. Not as one entity. I think we will have drugs that target specific pathways and specific causes.
About the Civitan International Research Center Civitan Magazine: Now that you are on board, what did you know about Civitan and the research center before? Dr. Powell: “I’d heard about the Civitan International Research Center previously in autism and intellectual disability research circles. It’s known around the world, especially to scientists and researchers. Also, I knew the work of Alan Percy in Rett syndrome. I was training right down the hall from Huda Zoghbi at Baylor College of Medicne where the gene was discovered. He and Huda Zoghbi worked together to discover the gene.” Civitan Magazine: The CIRC has earned much recognition because of Dr. Percy’s work in Rett syndrome. What is the primary focus of your own research? Dr. Powell: “My personal lab research is focused on autism and intellectual disabilities. What we are trying to find out is if you have 20,000 genes going from all sorts of traits and characteristics—from height to eye color and everything—how do you take one little piece of that gene and change the chemistry of it from one molecule to the other and how does that cause these major transformations in brain function. They don’t have a lot of obvious changes in what it looks like but subtle changes at the molecular level. That just fascinates me. We think one of the keys is disruptions between neurons in the brain. That’s
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Civitan Magazine: Where are we going? What excites you about the next 10 years in the field of research?
The other exciting avenue of research, that may be a little more than a decade away, is gene therapy. We, the research field, have now treated a neurological illness that happens in childhood that uniformly killed patients by the time they were five to 10 years old. The treatment has made them live beyond that age and walk, talk, interact and play and it’s nothing short of a miracle. It’s expensive and it has to be given into the spinal fluid but it’s a one or two time treatment and that’s it. If we can translate that kind of treatment into brain diseases that are genetically based, that would be transformative. With gene therapy, you are actually inserting DNA into the cell and it changes what is being made inside the cell. The trick is delivering it and getting it to the right place. It’s like going in and editing the words on a page after the book has already been printed. Imagine printing a row of stamps and some of the images are upside down. On a computer you can change an image. On Facebook you can flip it, download it and change it but on the paper you can’t. This is revolutionary.” Civitan Magazine: Civitan also funds work at the Sparks Clinics. Do you see yourself seeing patients in that setting? Dr. Powell: “It’s not like when I see patients in a hospital setting where I treat them and they get well and go home. That’s very satisfying. When you’re really treating patients in the clinic, they have needs every day of the week. You can’t just come in and out and go back to the lab.
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So, I’ve avoided seeing patients with autism and intellectual disabilities because what we do for them is so time intensive, and so difficult. You’re referring them to services, trying to manage their school programs, trying to integrate with a lot of different providers to come up with the best plan for behavioral therapy, planning how to transition these kids into the occupational world, teach them living skills, and that can’t be done with a simple prescription and hand it to the patient and they are on their way. It’s time intensive. I think it is better for me to focus on the lab but, I will say, we have started studying patients to try to see how different genetic causes of autism and intellectual disabilities differ from other causes. There are different mutations that cause different things and we call them all autism but they should be treated differently. About autism Civitan Magazine: There are so many different variations lumped into that spectrum of diagnosis. Do you think it is more prevalent now or just easier to recognize? Dr. Powell: “There’s no doubt that the increase in the prevalence of autism is due to expanding the diagnosis, expanding awareness, and education.
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And, if you have a diagnosis if autism you qualify for certain services and if you have a diagnosis of an intellectual disability you qualify for a different set of services. That accounts for most of it. There’s still a lot of debate about the rest of the increase. I don’t think we understand, fully, how significant that increase has been. There’s too many factors muddying the waters. What we used to know is 90% of kids with autism had intellectual disabilities. Now it is only 40%. Does that mean there is less intellectual disability in autism? No. It means we’re diagnosing more as autism than we used to. But, there is evidence that that pool of kids with intellectual disabilities is getting bigger. Are more being diagnosed in order to get different services or if there is more autism what is causing that? We know there is an association between autism and air polution and an association with certain pesticides. There are other associations that are very rare. There are kids with environmental factors. There is an association with infections during pregnancy and with premature births. It could be that medicine is allowing more premature babies to survive than before. There are a lot of complex factors— none of which explain this dramatic increase we have seen.
with others and improves seizures. About 30% of children with autism also have seizures. Parents should look for early signs, such as delayed speech development, lack of eye contact, playing more with things instead of people, and consult their doctor if they are worried. Early therapy is best. One problem is, there are not enough care providers. Civitan Magazine: What can we do, as Civitans, to increase awareness for these needs? Dr. Powell: “All of the Civitans and scientists in the world may not be able to solve that. But we need programs like the Civitan Sparks Lend program which is training the next generation of doctors, physical therapists, speech therapists, and all the different disciplines that need to come together to treat these kids. The hope for the future is research. Civitan International Research Center is providing that, disseminating that, as fast as the public will allow us to do so. But I think we have to be careful. It’s a long process and we don’t want to mislead people by appearing to say if you invest we will have a cure in a few months or in a few years. Research is a long term investment.
We now have drugs that can improve interaction
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SEIZING THE MOMENT 2018 Civitan International Convention • Grand Sierra Resort • Reno, Nevada
By Mary Luck Civitans gathered in Reno, Nevada to “Seize the Moment” during the Civitan International Convention in July. Regions Eight Civitans welcomed the attendees in true Civitan style. The schedule opened with a 1970s theme paying tribute to many of the iconic moments of the decade. A little Let’s Make a Deal parody, Hawaii 5-0 intro and Johnny Carson’s Carnac character all joined in the fun. Opening Ceremonies highlighted the many Civitan accomplishments throughout the previous nine months while continuing many of our traditions. International Board members and governors celebrated the theme in costumed attire for introductions. The session concluded with the announcements of the newest International Honor Key recognitions, Lyle Armstrong and Don Bergen. The following morning commenced with the First Business Session. Informative reports were presented by International President Kendyl Massey, DST, Executive Vice President Scarlet Thompson as well as the Finance Committee. Delegates were also introduced to the certified candidates campaigning for international board office vacancies. The rest of the morning and afternoon was filled with education and learning with many new workshop topics available. The schedule continued, on Tuesday, with the annual philanthropy program highlighting the many programs supporting Civitan’s humanitarian efforts. In addition to an update on the tremendous advancements of the UAB Civitan International Research Center, delegates were introduced to our Center’s new director, Craig Powell, M.D., Ph.D. The future looks bright with the many ideas Dr. Powell will bring to the Civitan Center. Voting on international officer vacancies followed as well as workshops and seminars which continued into the afternoon.
Tuesday afternoon also highlighted the many accomplishments of our competitive international awards program. From outstanding service to youth, community and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to outstanding communications through social media, website and newsletters, those recognized were honored. The session ended honoring the 2017-18 Centennial Distinguished Governors and the Shropshire Outstanding Club, the Uptown Civitan Club. Civitan Business continued for the beginning of the last day with the Elections Business Session. The newly elected board members were announced including 2019-20 International President Patsy Perkal of Colorado. Business continued with the floor discussion of the proposed international bylaw amendment extending an international director’s term to three-years. The results of ballots cast showed approval of the amendment. Reports were also heard about the upcoming changes to the Campus Civitan program as well as a report from the 2017-18 Junior Civitan International President Hadden Fulgham. Membership was the focus of the Extravaganza! Recognitions were presented for achievements in our 2017-18 centennial year and current year achievements were recognized. This high energy program concluded with 2018-19 International President Bob Jones introducing his team of governors followed by the slogan of “Civitan Hands Making a Difference in the World.” The convention concluded with the annual Closing Installation Banquet. Flowers of Fellowship honored individuals who have supported or are related to Civitan’s cause. District governors and international board members were installed. The attendees also received a keynote address by 2018-19 International President Bob Jones. Some stayed for a little dancing to end the night. Civitans truly seized the moment in Reno! Delegates caught up with old friends, met new Civitans and renewed their philanthropic goals in pursuing the Civitan mission. Special thanks to the Heart of the West and California districts for their tremendous job in hosting the delegation. We appreciate many other volunteers supporting this convention with their time and talents. Next year’s convention will be held in Greenville, South Carolina. The Hyatt Regency Downtown is the headquarters hotel with opening on Wednesday, July 3 and closing on Saturday, July 6. Hotel reservations and registration information will be available soon. Plan to join Civitans as we Go Green in 2019!
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CELEBRATING INCLUSIVENESS: Civitan’s first two inclusive clubs approach 40 By Terry Schrimscher
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n 1956, Civitan officially dedicated itself to the cause of serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The decision transformed the mission of the organization and inspired service to the Special Olympics, The Children’s Miracle Network, and ultimately the creation of the Civitan International Research Center. Another milestone in the history of Civitan was the creation of inclusive clubs—clubs comprised of and led by members with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The first two inclusive clubs, the Phoenix Bird Civitan Club and the Phil Schlesinger Civitan Club, were chartered months apart in 1979 and 1980, respectively.
“A lot of people doubted it would work,” said Lyn Barefoot. “But we have now probably been active longer than most current clubs.” Barefoot is the club facilitator for the Phil Schlesinger club, where her son Ian is also a member. When Civitan members are asked to tell their story, they often cite fellowship with one another and service to others as the ties that bind clubs together. The desire to serve others—a servant’s heart—is a uniting force within the organization. Members of Civitan’s first two inclusive clubs echo the sentiment and attribute their success and longevity to these two simple truths.
The Phoenix Bird Civitan Club was the idea of Joyce Ridge who used her experience as a Civitan, and her professional training as an advocate for people with disabilities, to start the club. The new club chartered in 1979 and immediately set to work with community projects including painting the house of a widow in their community and organizing a walk-a-thon to raise funds. Many of the members came from housing communities established in Phoenix, Arizona for citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Our Civitan group is all about working together and helping each other and most of all fellowship,” says Lantz Kleckner. “Civitan is all about being a great role model and serving each other in our community.” Kleckner serves as secretary for the Phoenix Birds.
A few months later, Phil Schlesinger, of the Roadrunner Civitan Club in Tuscon, Arizona, learned of the new club in Phoenix and proposed sponsoring a similar club in Tuscon. Despite early skepticism from some members of their communities, both inclusive clubs enthusiastically moved forward.
“Our members tend to join and stay for life,” added Barefoot. “Many of the members met in school, at Sahauro High School, and the club allows them to stay in touch and remain social with each other.” The Phil Schlesinger Club has members ranging in age from 87 years old to the
Members of the Phoenix Bird Civitan Club
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“My other favorite part of being a Civitan is learning how to work with others and I always participate in everything,” he says. The Phoenix Bird Civitan Club chartered with 36 members and presently has 39 active members.
Members of the Phoenix Bird Civitan Club at the 2018 convention in Reno Nevada.
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Lantz Kleckner of the Phoenix Bird Civitan Club poses in front of the wall of flags at Civitan International headquarters in Birmingham. youngest, who is 43. Currently, the club has 30 members. Inclusive clubs offer members an opportunity to build self-confidence, to take on leadership roles and responsibilities and a social network that can Ian Barefoot challenged Louis Stephens to a bowling match while at the convention in Reno. be difficult to find for many members otherwise. “We used to go to summer camp each year,” says Barefoot, “but our she founded for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities members wanted to do something different to get more involved in Civi- was renamed The Joyce Ridge Civitan House in 2009. She passed away tan. When Mark Eisinger was campaigning for International President, he in 2013. spoke at our club and asked for our support.”
The club voted to skip camp and pool their money and go to the convention that year, which was a cruise convention leaving out of New York. They even had t-shirts made to support Eisinger that read “PS4ME” which stands for Phil Schlesinger for Mark Eisinger. Eisinger won the election that year and the club has made it a point to attend almost every convention since. Both clubs are very active in Civitan, attending district meetings and the international conventions whenever possible—including the most recent convention in Reno, Nevada. Both clubs remain very active in their communities also. The Phoenix Birds organize an annual Walk-a-thon in the fall and a Civitan Boutique as fundraisers for the club. They also participate in service projects such as building ramps for people with wheelchairs, according to Kleckner.
The Phil Schlesinger club, known as “PS” among the members, also conducts a walk-a-thon and has recently added a bowling team and a bowla-thon event to their schedule. Members are also very active in events for Special Olympics and assist with the Bocce competition for the state games. Club members sponsor local kindergarten classes by providing school supplies in the Fall and gift cards at Christmas for families in need of assistance. Inclusive clubs have become an integral part of the larger Civitan organization and their dedication to fellowship and service should be an inspiration for members everywhere. “The reason why I love being a Civitan,” says Kleckner, “is because it’s like having another family.”
“The members choose their own programs,” says Max McQueen, long-time facilitator of the club. “They also pick three nonprofits to donate to with the money they raise. A lot of people hear our name and think we are a group of bird watchers but we are named after the bird that rises up out of the ashes.” The mythical bird is an inspiration to the club. It is a symbol of longevity and renewal. Ridge was made a Civitan Research Fellow in 2010 and the home Members of the “PS Civitans” enjoying fellowship at the convention in Reno. Named for Phil Schlesinger, the club is the only Civitan club named after a person.
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International Honor Key Recipients The Civitan International Honor Key is the most prestigious honor given in our organization. It is only given to those who have made truly outstanding contributions to Civitan in the areas of recruitment, club building, service at the International level, and projects that increase the overall awareness of Civitan in the community. It is presented each year at the international convention. The following Civitans were recognized with the Civitan International Honor Key In Reno this summer. Please join us in congratulating them for their great achievements.
Lyle Armstrong
Donald Bergen
Lyle Armstrong was presented with an International Honor Key in recognition of 27 years of Civitan membership. He has earned the status Distinguished Club President at the local level. Lyle has also served Civitan International as a District Governor, an Area Director, and as an International Director. He has actively recruited members into Civitan, earning Certified Club Builder status. Lyle has also earned Honor Keys at the club and district levels.
Donald Bergen was presented with an International Honor Key in recognition of 44 years of Civitan membership. He has served as a District Governor, Club President, Charter member and Club Board member. Don has chartered three clubs for Civitan. He has served as a volunteer for Special Olympics and was honored by President Obama with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Voluntarism.
2018 Distinguished Governors 2016-17 Quality Achievement Award Districts & Distinguished Governors Canada True North Trish McConnell, Governor
Magnolia Albert F. Young, Governor
Chesapeake Denise D. Phelps, Governor
North Carolina West Donna Jackson, Governor
Florida Gayle Kanak, Governor Heartland Frank Kelley, Governor
North Central Susan Bradshaw, Governor South Carolina Doug McKenzie, Governor
A Civitan district earns the Quality Achievement Award by earning points throughout the year for achievements such as fundraising, training, and attendance. The Governor of the district is named a Distiguished Governor for Civitan in recognition of leading their respective district to achieve the quality points.
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CLUB NEWS The Piedmont Civitan Club of WinstonSalem, NC completed its Sixth Annual Backpacks for Kids project on August 21, 2018. Club members prepared Back Packs for this year’s school of need, Bolton Elementary School. The 10 backpacks were filled with the school prescribed supplies, such as crayons, markers, glue sticks, pencils, folders, hand sanitizer, and tissues. Five of these backpacks were prepared for Kindergarteners and five were for 1st Graders. The backpacks were delivered to the school and were accepted by the principal, Cheryl Frazier. Club members search each year for a school that is a Title I School, meaning that more than 85% of those students are on free or reduced lunch. As long as there are students in need, we will continue this project. The
backpacks were accepted by school
principal
Frazier.
Background Check Program Now Available A Civitan International Policy requires background checks for specific volunteers who work with our Junior Civitan program. The world headquarters has recently formed a partnership with KnowMyHire, a background check company that carries out such reviews for other non-profits and city governments. Those who wish to get their background checks through this service are charged $18 each, and are screened for the various items outlined in the policy. A report comes back to International and passed along to the respective district, with only a pass/fail notification, and not details of the check. For more information on how you, your club or district can use this service, contact Emily Kicker at emily@civitan.org or call 1-800-CIVITAN ext. 131.
SHOP the CIVITAN SUPPLY HOUSE Whether you are looking for the perfect speaker gift, a present for your favorite Civitan, or tailgating supplies to show off your status as a “Champion of Service,” the Civitan Supply House is the place to go! Simply visit Civitan.org and click on Supply House in the menu.
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CIVITAN FELLOWS A Civitan Fellow is a way to honor a fellow Civitan with a donation to Civitan International. Each recipient has his or her name added to the Fellows wall in headquarters. Foundation Shropshire Fellow - $1200 Donation Lura S. Boggs - South Carolina District Research Center Fellows - $1200 Donation Ron Leaf - California District Bill Jacobson - California District Lynn Leitch - Chesapeake District Lura S. Boggs - South Carolina District Karen Hubbard - California District Sustaining Research Center Fellows - $2500 Donation Patricia J. Koepsel - Chesapeake District Charles Pacheco - Great Southwest District
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“Hope is being able to see there is light among all the darkness.” -Desmond Tutu As Civitans, we are the light in our communities. Every day, somewhere around the globe, there is a Civitan club changing lives among all the darkness of this world. Our mission is simple - to serve others who need us. Now is our time to Light the Way. The Civitan “Light the Way” campaign was rolled out at this year’s convention. This bold initiative will help ensure Civitan is viable into its second century of service. Never before has the organization had a true “rainy day” fund like typical non-profits, and it’s time to put that in place considering an ever-changing world where the challenges are great. We anticipate this effort to last over the next three years. This campaign gives potential donors, for the first time, flexibility in pledging a gift that is meaningful to them. Gifts can be one time, annual, or monthly. We want our donors to give in a way that’s comfortable for them. We will work closely with our donors to keep them informed about how these funds are being used and how the campaign is progressing. In addition, there is a club component to this campaign that will better connect your dedicated group of Civitans more to what’s going at world headquarters and our flagship project. We will promote Light the Way district conventions this Fall. We also have a great video on our website that shows the importance of the campaign. If you or your club are considering a gift or have questions about how to give, please reach out to Jenny Ely at Jenny@civitan.org or 1-800-258-4826 ext. 109. We want to thank all our donors who have already supported this important initiative. Will you light the way for others who come after you? Civitan and those we serve would be forever thankful.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Gene Kerlin Prattville, Alabama October 1st marks the beginning of the new Civitan year, but also a big anniversary for Gene Kerlin. He’ll celebrate 63 years of being a Civitan. Kerlin joined the organization a week or so before the Prattville Civitan Club chartered on October 13, 1955. He has been president at least twice of the group, which serves communities just north of Alabama’s capital city of Montgomery. The club’s service projects include: support for the Louise M Smith Developmental Center—for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities—with funds year-round and parties for the clients; a wheelchair ramp; help for families in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas; the Army National Guard and the Autauga Sheriff’s Department drug turn in day; sponsorship of a Junior Civitan Club at Prattville High School; and sending students to the McKinney Leadership forum at Harding University. The club also had its first ever Bass Fishing tournament and Gene was there-working not fishing. Gene is front and center with all of these activities. Kerlin has been integral in the club’s candy box program, and has sponsored 11 members over the past six decades. The club also recently awarded Kerlin with a Civitan International Research Fellow. One of Kerlin’s favorite things about Civitan is its creed. After reciting it recently at the Alabama West Florida District Convention, Kerlin remarked, “For me, it’s like a prayer. I say amen each time afterward.”
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DONATE YOUR CHANGE! Change by Softgiving enables you to round up your change from everyday purchases and donate it directly to Civitan International. TM
HOW TO GIVE CHANGE? Connect the debit or credit card you use for your everyday purchases. Spend like normal. We'll round up your purchase to the nearest dollar. Watch your impact grow as you donate to Civitan International.
All donations are tax deductible. You can set monthly limits and cancel at anytime. Feel safe knowing we have the same security as your bank.
Visit WWW.CIVITAN.ORG to donate your change! Your donation helps volunteer service clubs around the world, dedicated to helping people in their own communities.
Alternative Recurring Fundraising . SOFTGIVING.COM