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The Robinsons of Perth, Ontario 2013-14 Civitan International President and First Lady

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Page 1: The Robinsons of Perth, Ontario - Civitan International · honored to meet the wonderful individuals who make up our fantastic organization. They are, in most cases, ... The Robinsons

The Robinsons of Perth, Ontario2013-14 Civitan International President and First Lady

Page 2: The Robinsons of Perth, Ontario - Civitan International · honored to meet the wonderful individuals who make up our fantastic organization. They are, in most cases, ... The Robinsons

Nov

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r 201

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I N S I D E

IN EVERY ISSUEDisability News 7

Club Showcase 10

7 10 13

VOL. 93, No. 1ISSN 0914-5785

Graphic ArtistTonya Duckett

PR and Communications DirectorLuke Anthony

Contributing WritersW. John Rynearson, CAE

Mary LuckLouis Stephens

International OfficersPresident: Robert A. “Bob” Robinson, Perth, Ontario; President-Elect: Jay Albertia, Clarksville, TN Immediate Past President: Joe G. Parker, Durham, North Carolina International Directors: Kearney “Dee” Hutsler, Birmingham, AL; Faye E. Evans, Fayetteville, GA; Robert Jones, Concord, NC; Jo Ann O’Toole, Waynesboro, PA; Peter Guthrie, Almonte, Ontario; Kendyl Massey, Maryville, TN; Frank Kelley, Fort Worth, TX; Teresa Wakeman, Pocatello, ID; John Kjørkleiv, Vanse, Norway; Junior Civitan International President: Ankur Kumar, Charleston, WV; Executive Vice President: W. John Rynearson, CAE, Birmingham, AL

Civitan Magazine, like the organization it rep-resents, 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 publica-tion. 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: [email protected] Website: www.civitan.org

Mission StatementThe 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 develop-mental disabilities.

Civitan Hometown Heroes

Bob Robinson 2013-14

InternationalPresident

Greetings, Civitans! The first thing I must do in this column is congratulate Immediate Past President Joe Parker for his efforts in leading our organization last year. Joe, his terrific team of Governors, and indeed all Civitans put their passion into action by growing this organiza-tion for the first time in several years. Thank you so very much.

As we move forward into a new Civitan year we must all continue put the passion we exhib-ited last year into action as we evolve into Hometown Heroes.

Civitan – Hometown Heroes is a theme that I am very proud of and excited about. I believe that it captures the true essence of our great organization. These three simple words speak volumes about the efforts of individual Civitans, working in their communities to make them better places to live. No one joins Civitan to be a hero, and most Civitans would not even declare themselves to be heroes. But the people whose lives they touch have a different outlook. Civitans have made their lives easier, in one way or another, and as a result these Civitans are their heroes.

Throughout the months of August and September, Wendy and I have travelled extensively, installing district officers, spreading the word of the 2013-2014 theme (and my thoughts behind it) and speaking about the necessity for change. We have been received very graciously wherever we have been and have enjoyed our travels immensely. We have been greatly honored to meet the wonderful individuals who make up our fantastic organization. They are, in most cases, ordinary people who do extraordinary things through their membership in Civitan. We have had the opportunity to reunite with many long time friends and have made many new ones. These friendships will last a lifetime. We are looking forward to visiting all of the Civitan districts during the course of the 2013-14 year and meeting many more of the folks who comprise this organization of Hometown Heroes.

In conclusion, I would just like to tell you that I am very much looking forward to the next year as your International President. I have an amazingly talented group of governors, who will lead Civitan to previously unseen heights. Please work with them to meet our goals for the year.

Fellow Civitans, I encourage you to be a hero to someone in your community today... be a Civitan Hometown Hero.

Bob Robinson2013-14 International President

FEATURES 6 New Club Charters!

7 Caribbean Ports are Calling!

8 Club Anniversaries

Bob RobinsonGetting to Know Your International President

4Bob and Wendy Robinson of Perth, Ontario, are the new Civitan International president and first lady. Learn more about them on page 4.

Photo: Bob Burch

On the Cover

Civitan Countries

United States1917

Canada1925

Norway1969

Germany1970

Sweden1970

South Korea1974

Japan1975

Bangladesh1990

Denmark1991

Jordan1992

India1992

Hungary1991

Russia1992

Ukraine1992

Romania1992

Nepal1993

Estonia1993

Slovakia1994

Sierra Leone1994

Nigeria1997

Ghana1997

Pakistan1999

Philippines2001

Netherlands2002

Thailand2007

Liberia2008

Taiwan2008

United Kingdom

2008

Cote d’Ivoire2008

Senegal2009

Cameroon2010

Mexico2010

China2011

Tanzania2011

Egypt2012

Italy2012

Haiti2012

Kenya2011

The Robinsons of Perth, Ontario2013-14 Civitan International President and First Lady

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4 Civitan Magazine WWW.CIVITAN.ORG November 2013 51.800.CIVITAN

Bob, you joined the Perth Civitan Club back in 1991. What led you to Civitan?

I had previously been a member of another service organization in Perth. After a while, I realized that it had become more of a social organization than a service organization. I'd attended several events at the Perth Civitan Hall, but wasn't really aware of what the organization did. My cousin, Jack Gamble, was a Civitan, so I approached him with some questions. Rather than try to explain it, Jack invited me to the next club meeting. I was so impressed with the club's history and projects that I filled out an application immediately.

Since joining, what are some of your favorite projects to take part in with your club?

There are several projects that have been my favorites over the years. The first that comes to mind is the Special Olympics Winter Games. For many years, our club has hosted the snowshoeing and cross-country skiing events on our grounds near Highway 43. I have volunteered as a starter every year. Working outside in sub-freezing temperatures isn't the most fun, but the smiles on the competitors' faces as they finish makes it all worthwhile. The same athletes return year after year, so it's been great getting to know them on a first-name basis.

The most memorable project that comes to mind, though, and the most rewarding, happened in January 1998. All of eastern Ontario was ravaged by an ice storm, and temperatures dropped well below zero. The storm knocked out power in a widespread area, and people had no heat or hydro for several days. Our club managed to open the Perth Civitan Hall as a shelter, after getting power from the Canadian Army and their 30-kilowatt generator. We ran the shelter for twelve days, feeding and sheltering thousands of people. People still remember that winter, and remember how Civitans stepped up when they were in need.

Looking out beyond North America - Civitan has expanded rapidly in the international community. We are now in 38 countries around the world. What do you think this means for the organization?

I believe very strongly that uninterrupted growth is essential to our viability in the future. We must remain vigilant in our search for new clubs as we seek to meet needs worldwide. While developing clubs outside North America is vital to our success, there are huge expanses of the United States and Canada that are totally undeveloped. There are eight Canadian provinces and thirteen states in the USA with no Civitan clubs whatsoever. I believe Civitan would be well-served by focusing our energy and resources on those areas.

You spoke about your presidential theme, "Civitan: Hometown Heroes" at the Denver convention. Can you share a little more about that?

I thought long and hard about what Civitan really is, and what we really do, as I was trying to develop a theme for the 2013-2014 year. I wanted a message that was short and simple, but meaningful. I wanted to speak to the heart and soul of every Civitan working to improve the lives of people in their community.

Everyone has a different idea of what makes a hero, but I believe that every Civitan is a hero to at least one other person through their volunteer work. Civitan service projects, such as volunteering to help people with special needs, wheelchair ramp construction, medical lending banks, soup kitchens, Christmas time benevolence, and countless other projects, make a huge different in people's lives. That's real, everyday heroism.

I believe that this short quote from an unknown author captures the essence of what makes a hero. "There are plenty of heroes and heroines everywhere you look. They are not famous people. They are generally obscure and modest people doing useful work, keeping their families together, taking an active part in the health of their communities, opposing what is evil (in one way or another) and defending what is good." This is what makes all Civitans true Hometown Heroes.

Robert A. "Bob" Robinson of Perth, Ontario, was installed in July as the 93rd President of Civitan International.

Recently, we had the chance to talk with him about what brought him to Civitan, where our organization is going, and

just what makes a hero.

What do you think about the new "YP" (Young Professional) clubs popping up in Civitan?

I think that Young Professional clubs will be a great benefit, both for their communities and for Civitan. These clubs are simply another continuation of Civitan's core tenets. The twenty-somethings and early thirty-somethings of today are not that different from people of my generation. They want to help those less fortunate. They want to spend time with and work with people their own age, and develop new social and business contacts. They are raising young families and establishing their careers. I truly believe that these new YP clubs will help secure the future of our organization, and provide a bridge between our traditional clubs and the younger generation.

Is there anything you would like to say in closing?

I would just like to say how honored and privileged I feel to have been selected as the 93rd president of Civitan International. I am incredibly blessed to have such a great team of governors ot work with me. Lastly, I am very thankful to my wife, Wendy, for the unending support and assistance she gives me. It's going to be a great year!

Q & A with New International President Bob Robinson

Top: Bob Robinson (center) is installed at the 2013 In-ternational Convention. Also pictured are President-Elect Jay Albertia (left), Past International President Joe Parker (rear) and Bob's wife, Wendy.

Middle left: Bob receives the International Honor Key in 2009 from Past International President Mike Brown.

Bottom center: Bob at this year's Annual Golf Benefit.

Bottom left: Bob and fellow Perth Civitan Rob Killeen (deceased), volunteering at the club's Breakfast with Santa event.

Above, left to right: Civitan Marie Pickett, International President Bob Robinson, and his wife, Wendy

Below: The Perth Civitan Hall, where hundreds of local residents found shelter during an ice storm in 1998.

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November 2013 7WWW.CIVITAN.ORG1.800.CIVITAN6 Civitan Magazine

Eaton Rapids Civitan Club North Central District - September 4

LGBT Lanark County Civitan Club Canadian District East - September 16

Triangle YP Civitan Club North Carolina District East - September 25

Crestview Civitan Club Alabama-West Florida District - September 26

West County Civitan Club Heartland District - September 28

DISABILITYRoth and his colleagues compared data on 3,503 family caregivers to that of 3,503 non-caregivers. All of those studied were over age 45 and the two groups were matched based on demographics, health history, health behaviors and other factors.

After six years, “significantly fewer” caregivers had died compared to the non-caregivers, the study found, with caregivers experiencing “an 18 percent reduced rate of death.”

The researchers did not find any groups of caregivers who failed to see greater longevity, but they acknowledged that their results may not extend to all types of caregivers.

“If highly stressful situations can be avoided or managed effectively, caregiving may actually offer some health benefits for both the care recipients and the caregivers, including reduced risk of death for those providing care,” Roth said. “Public discussions of caregiving should more accurately balance the potential risks and gains of this

universal family role.”by Shaun Heasley, DisabilityScoop.com

Study Finds that Caregivers Live LongerContrary to popular belief, a new study suggests that being a caregiver for a family member with a disability may lead to a longer life.

In a study looking at data on more than 7,000 people — about half of whom were caring for a loved one with a disability or chronic illness — researchers found that caregivers saw a nine-month increase in life expectancy.

“Taking care of a chronically ill person in your family is often associated with stress, and caregiving has been previously linked to increased mortality rates,” said David Roth, director of the Johns Hopkins University Center on Aging and Health and first author of the study published this month in the American Journal of Epidemiology. “We did not find any subgroup of caregivers in the (study) sample that appeared to be vulnerable to increased mortality risks.”

Join the Civitan family next summer for our fourth international cruise convention. Visit www.civitan.org/convention for more details, to print a Cabin Reservation Form, and to register for the convention. Cruise information is updated regularly, so check back often! See you next summer!

Caribbean Ports are Calling2014 International Cruise Convention • August 11 – 16

Grand Cayman, Cayman IslandsTake a tour through the charming city of George Town, the capital of the Cayman Islands. Experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Grand Cayman: snorkeling with stingrays at the Stingray City Sandbar! These tame, friendly creatures will glide all around you! Visit the Turtle Farm, an interactive sea turtle nursery. Explore the magnificent coastline at Grand Cayman's world-famous Seven-Mile Beach. And for the professional shoppers, great bargains abound on jewelry, fine china, crystal, perfumes, rum cakes, and more. Visit local retail shops for one-of-a-kind crafts and treasure coins!

Ocho Rios, JamaicaJust west of downtown Ocho Rios, you'll discover Jamaica's most famous Dunn's River Falls. The cool mountain waters plunge 600 feet to smooth limestone beds. Whether you climb the falls or swim in the ocean-side eddies, you're sure to remember this place. Or take a raft tour down the winding tropical river underneath lush Jamaican foliage. Experience an invigorating river-tubing safari down the White River, or soak up some rays on the beach. And shop for the perfect souvenir in more than 100 duty-free stores, or sample the world-famous Jamaican jerk pork and chicken. You'll crave these deliciously traditional flavors for years to come.

Civitan sets sail next summer for our annual international convention!

Sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the Caribbean itinerary includes

visits to George Town, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Join

us as we care of the business of Civitan while sailing the high seas!

Scan with your smart phone to visit the Civitan Convention page now!

YP, or Young Professional, is an exciting new initiative by Civitan International, designed to build clubs specifically for young professionals between the ages of 21 and 35. There are hundreds of thousands of young adults out there who are interested in getting involved in their local community, building leadership skills, and making a difference - with people in their own age group.

A handful of YP clubs have already been chartered! For more information on building a YP Civitan club in your area, please contact International Headquarters at [email protected], or call 1-800-Civitan, extension 131.

Downtown Shannon Civitan Club Mississippi North District - September 28

Achievers Civitan Club Philippines District - September 30

Jolly Readers Civitan Club Philippines District - September 30

Pine Civitan Club Philippines District - September 30

YP Knoxville Civitan Club Appalachian District - September 30

13 New Clubs in September and October!The new turn of the Civitan year brought a burst of new clubs to Civitan International! Please join us in congratulating the following districts, and welcoming these new clubs to the Civitan family.

Care and Share Civitan Club Alabama District North - September 30

Greater Lafayette Area Civitan Club North Central District - September 30

Civitan Orchids Heartland District - October 10

young pro•fes•sion•aladjective

1 a : being in the age range of 21-35

b : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of youth or a young person

2 a : career-oriented individuals generally located in urban areas

b : bring energy to organize themselves and shape communities

c (1) : motivated by networking, serving and learning (2) : go-getter [join us]

Officers of the YP Civitan Club of Chattanooga with then - International President Joe Parker

(left) at their charter ceremony.

Page 5: The Robinsons of Perth, Ontario - Civitan International · honored to meet the wonderful individuals who make up our fantastic organization. They are, in most cases, ... The Robinsons

David Davidson (center), a longtime member of the Columbia, TN Civitan Club, was honored by being made a Fellow at the club's 60th anniversary celebration this year.

8 Civitan Magazine November 2013 9WWW.CIVITAN.ORG1.800.CIVITAN

10 yearsPasadena Special Friends, CAPeople First - Little Rock, ARNorthern Oklahoma College - Enid, OKBatangas, PhilippinesMieul Chungju, South KoreaGermantown, TNOwensboro, KYKunta Kinteh - Banjul, The GambiaPremier - Accra, GhanaCedar Bluff, ALDuluth, GACamp Big Heart, Atlanta GA

20 yearsPerimeter - Birmingham ALJoelton, TNKathmandu, NepalRakke, EstoniaEufaula, ALChittagong, BangladeshMississippi College Campus - Alachua, FLLBW

25 yearsGreater Petawawa, ONBad Münder, GermanyHedda, Norway

30 yearsFlekkefjord, NorwayRed Cross Inc, Franklinville, NCGyda - Holmestrand, NorwayCastle Rock, COOceanside, CAUptown - Jacksonville, FL

35 yearsBannock - Pocatello, IDFarsund, NorwayWestland Inc, MISocorro, NMFirst Ladies Jackson Inc - Brandon, MS

Club AnniversariesSince Civitan’s founding in 1917, clubs have been working to give back to their communities. We thank

them for their continuous work to help those in need. Congratulations to all the clubs below that celebrated milestone anniversaries this year!

40 yearsKingston & District, ONBærum, NorwayFour Oaks, NCMerrillville, INLanark & District, OntLake City - Guntersville, ALCommunity Boaz - Boaz, ALRoadrunner - Tucson, AZ

45 yearsClinton, MSHilldale - Clarksville, TNLinn County - Cedar Rapids, IABurlington, ONFort Dodge, IA

50 yearsJonesboro, ARSoutheast Guilford - Greensboro, NCSouth Carthage, TNSpringfield, TNLakeview - Burlington, NCParagould, AR

55 yearsMuscogee - Columbus, GAPulaski, TNCentral - Cunningham, TNIdaho Falls, IDLafayette, LAStarkville, MSHendersonville, NCWest Columbus, OHFarmington, NMBatesville, MSAurora, CO

60 yearsColumbia, TNDon Mills - Toronto, ONUnion City, TNSimsbury & the Farmington Valley, CTCorpus Christi, TX

St. Bethlehem - Clarksville, TNLamar, SCDyersburg, TNDruid Hills - Atlanta, GA

65 yearsMidland, MIAuburndale, FLNorthside Chattanooga, TNBurlington, NCAbingdon, VARoanoke, VABluefield, WV

75 yearsDurham, NCWhiteville, NCRockwell, NCWilmington, NC

90 yearsRockingham, NCGreater Richmond, VAWadesboro, NC

More exciting incentives to come!

1st Quarter

Welcome to an exciting new year!

Exclusive 1st Quarter Incentives...

Throughout 2013-14...

Club Incentive: When a club reaches a two member net gain, it earns coupons for each new member. Then, in the second quarter, the coupons can be redeemed, waiving initiation fees for second quarter new members. No limit on how many can be earned! (Please note, the club must have a net gain of at least 2 mem-bers to receive the first two coupons. Coupons MUST be used for new members of the same club in the second quarter.)

Member Incentive: During the first quarter (October 1-Dec 31st), each Civitan will receive their official 1st quarter "Hero Pin" when sponsoring a new member!

member pin issued to all Civitans who sponsor their 1st new member.

issued to Civitans who sponsor 4 or more members during 2013-14.

With the 2012-2013 Civitan year now behind us, applications for the next round of international awards are now being accepted! Civitan honors our top clubs and districts with several International Awards. If your club had an outstanding community service project, newsletter, awareness project, or other program last year, visit the Civitan website to download an application. Just go to www.Civitan.org and look under the Awards tab. See your club honored at the next Civitan International Convention!

Awards applications MUST be postmarked by December 1st, 2013, so send in your applications soon! To the right is a list of awards up for grabs. Send in your application, and see your club recognized at the international level!

Awards Deadline Fast Approaching!

Outstanding New Civitan Club is just one of the many awards presented at the International Convention - our latest winner, the Millbrook Civitan Club, is pictured above.

Page 6: The Robinsons of Perth, Ontario - Civitan International · honored to meet the wonderful individuals who make up our fantastic organization. They are, in most cases, ... The Robinsons

Friendly City Shows Their AppreciationThe Friendly City Civitan Club in Durham, NC held its 7th Annual Veterans' Appreciation Luncheon on Monday, September 16, at their clubhouse. The event was attended by 43 World War II, Korean War and Vietnam veterans.

Attendees were treated to pork loin, fried chicken, new potatoes, string beans, yeast rolls, and a dessert of chocolate cake. Civitan Steve Brosnan, who started the annual event seven years ago, passed away last fall. Club President Ray Eason announced that the event has since been renamed the Steve Brosnan Veterans' Appreciation Luncheon, and will be held each year on the third Monday in September.

Bill Richardson, outgoing North Carolina District East Governor and a decorated, retired Army Infantry Colonel, served as the military speaker for the luncheon. Marlene Jewell, District Governor-Elect at the time, spoke as well, telling the assembled veterans that part of the Civitan creed is to make the world a better place. "The world is a better place because of you guys," she continued.

Todd Parrott, professional harmonica player and representative of the Hohner Harmonica Company, provided entertainment for the luncheon. Veterans joined in singing along to "Amazing Grace" and "God Bless America." Each veteran also received a special gift, in the form of harmonica donated by Hohner. Five $50.00 door prizes were also given to a veterans-only drawing.

Battlefield Parkside PromFort Oglethorpe, GA - In September, the Battlefield Civitan Club hosted its 6th annual senior adult prom at Parkside Nursing Home. The event is always an unforgettable celebration for the residents, and this year was no different. Battlefield Civitans were joined by members of the newly chartered YP Civitan Club of Chattanooga, who lent an enthusiastic hand.

The theme of this year's event was "A Hollywood Premiere," and residents were escorted down the red carpet by dates or family members. As they entered the main room, a harpist played elegant music, and each of them was announced as a "star" for the evening. Volunteers cheered loudly for each resident as they had their photo made upon arrival.

Food was served to residents and their families, and everyone danced the night away. Residents took a shine to the YP Civitans, and the younger Civitans saw firsthand the difference they can make in people's lives. Approximately 300 residents and family members attended this year's event, and a fantastic time was had by all. Congratulations to these two clubs for a wonderful event!

10 Civitan Magazine November 2013 11WWW.CIVITAN.ORG1.800.CIVITAN

CLUB SHOWCASECLUB SHOWCASE

A Peaceful PlaceChateauguay, QC - Students with autism are often overwhelmed by loud or crowded social situations. In public schools, this is often most pronounced at a time when other students relax - lunch. A loud, bustling cafeteria can be stressful, or even traumatic for students with autism spectrum disorders. Even students who perform well in classes alongside neurotypical children often dread lunchtime.

In Quebec, the Chateauguay Civitan Club decided to do something about that. Under the leadership of club president Louise Kinney, they made a donation to the New Frontiers School Board, so that a room could be reserved for students with autism during lunchtime. The Howard S. Billings High School received the funds, and went straight to work. Two students (one of whom has autism) painted a beautiful mural on the classroom wall. The classroom was equipped with puzzles, comfortable chairs, crafting supplies, and more.

The newly named Civitan Creative Room brought warm smiles to many students' faces as they spent the first of many lunch hours in the room. A teacher at the school said, "This is a place for the kids to come have lunch, be creative, and feel safe. Thanks for the donation from the Chateauguay Civitan Club... also thanks to teacher Judy Markhauser and Ms. Rowe for their help and dedication."

One student chimed in that finally, "Now I have somewhere I can go for lunch." That's what it's all about.The mural was painted by two girls, one a current student and one a former student.

Lake City Pumpkin PatchGuntersville, AL - The Lake City Civitan Club has officially opened their pumpkin patch for 2013. It will remain open, seven days a week, through Halloween (as of press time).

They have had 4,000 pumpkins delivered, thus far, from the New Mexico Navajo Indian reservation. The pumpkins were unloaded by inmates from the local sheriff's department, who also helped decorated the pumpkin patch.

This is the club's largest fund raiser of the year. Last year, Lake City Civitans cleared over $6,000 from pumpkin sales. The funds were used to support local scholarships, as well as a $1,000 donation to the new Marshall County Cancer Center. Best of luck to the Lake City Civitans in another spooky, successful year!

Randa Smith and Steve Divens went over the edge.

Members of the Battlefield Civitan Club and YP Civitan Club of Chattanooga turned out for a smashing first joint project!

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12 Civitan Magazine November 2013 13WWW.CIVITAN.ORG1.800.CIVITAN

CLUB SHOWCASECLUB SHOWCASECLUB SHOWCASE

Wilmington Goes BowlingWilmington, NC - In October, the Wilmington Civitan Club teamed up with the Laney High School Junior Civitan Club to volunteer at the New Hanover County Special Olympics Bowling Tournament. Wilmington Civitans helped the Special Olympics athletes with their bowling needs, while Junior Civitans assisted with score keeping. Both clubs had a fantastic time at the event, with plenty of great food and enthusiastic cheers.

This is the third year both clubs have volunteered at the event, and everyone is looking forward to taking over the lanes next year!

Pensacola Ramp # 346 Pensacola, FL - This September, the Pensacola Civitan Club built their latest wheelchair ramp to help out a local resident with a disability. Dale Damron of Milton, FL is 76 years old, and uses a walker and wheelchair due to a back injury. Pensacola Civitans found out about his need for a wheelchair ramp, and sprang into action!

Ramp materials were donated by Modern Woodmen of the World and the Goodwill

Easter Seals. No stranger to this kind of service project, the club build Mr. Damron's ramp in a swift four hours.

The club participated in 40 ramp projects during the 2012-2013 Civitan year, installing a total of 897 feet of ramps in their community! This project has been ongoing since 1995. Thanks to the Pensacola Civitan Club making such a powerful impact on their community.

Ramseur Book donationRamseur, NC - This October, the Ramseur Civitan Club was able to give a very special gift to their guest speaker.

Amanda Ratliff of the Franklinville and Ramseur Elementary schools, who works with children up to five years of age, spoke on the importance of literacy and reading for young children. She passed out literature on various assistance programs for all children (such as Smart Start), especially those with disabilities. During the talk, Ratliff described how local groups collect children's books for distribution at Christmas parades around town.

After the meeting, Ramseur Civitans were able to secure a book donation from Causekeepers, Inc., of Franklinville. They made a surprise delivery of 160 Winnie the Pooh books (a $4,800 value donation) to the Randolph County Partnership for Children, courtesy of Amanda Ratliff. "Thank you! We can always use books and will gladly distribute them at the parades, " said Ratliff. "Books are ALWAYS a good thing! Thank you all for thinking of this program!"

Left to right: Mrs. and Mr. Dale Damron, along with Civitans Jack Peterson, Cheryl Edwards, Cindy Barrington, Theresa Guy, Fred Knodel, and Chris Massey.Amanda Ratliff of Franklinville & Ramseur Elementary Schools, with one of the donated books.

Greater Charleston Golf TournamentCharleston, SC - The morning of September 9th came early for the Greater Charleston Civitan Club. It was the morning of the annual Golf for Friends Tour-nament. The event was started just last year, as a fundraiser for local disability assistance programs.

Club members were hanging banners at 8:00 in the morning for their platinum sponsors (Charles Schwab Investments, ATT Pioneers, ProGolf of Charleston, The McDaniel Family Foundation, Eye Productions, and Omnicare of Charleston).

Civitan volunteers manned the registration desk, directed golfers, and handled the many questions of the day. The club also enlisted the help of two members of the ATT Pioneers, who provided access (for a donation) to mulligans, which ev-ery golfer knows are a necessity at these tournaments! A silent auction was also held at the restaurant for free rounds of golf at local courses, a private carriage ride in Charleston, restaurant gift certificates, and even a Nexus smartphone.

After hitting a few range balls, golfers were given last-minute instructions and the shotgun start commenced. Racing across the course in their golf carts, play-

ers hit the course and the competition was fierce.

By the end of the day, golfers were exhausted, and the Greater Charleston club had raised hundreds of dollars for the local disabilities boards. Some of them even participated in the tournament - and were on the course at the end of the day, already getting in shape for next year's event!

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Starlight Delivers ReliefHouma, LA / Moore, OK - On May 20, 2013, the Moore area near Oklahoma City was struck by an F-5 tornado. Oklahomans in many surrounding areas were impacted. Help and relief was sent to Moore, Oklahoma from all over the US.

The Houma Civitan Club in Houma, Louisiana, contacted Civitan International wanting to help the tornado victims in Oklahoma. The president of the club, Randa Smith stated, “We in Louisiana know devastation.”

Civitan International put Randa in touch with Dale deReign with the Starlight Civitan Club in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The Houma Civitan club sent the Starlight Civitan Club a check for $800.

Starlight President, Louise Cerar and President-Elect Mary Ann Rader made many phone calls to various agencies and churches surrounding the Moore area. They found the area near McLoud, Oklahoma had a need, and they were very receptive to our help.

On Saturday, August 24, eight members from the Starlight Civitan Club drove to Emmanuel Baptist Church in McLoud. Jeff Cockcroft and his wife Julie, volunteer leaders, gave a tour of their church. The room where they have Sunday school classes, is used as a food bank on movable racks for tornado victims the rest of the week.

After telling about Civitan organization and the Houma club, Civitans presented the church with a check for $1,050 to use for food and other supplies for tornado victims. They helped move the food racks in preparation for Sunday school, and also moved tables, books and stuffed animals for the children's Sunday school class.

There were over 500 homes that were destroyed in the McLoud area, and this church has helped most of these families. Civitans stopped and had lunch at Cracker Barrel on the return trip to Tulsa. Everyone was incredibly proud of how the Houma and Starlight Civitan Clubs made Civitan Passion speak with action!

14 Civitan Magazine November 2013 15WWW.CIVITAN.ORG1.800.CIVITAN

CLUB SHOWCASE

Civitan Magazine and YouMagazine SubmissionsCivitan Magazine is published 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 [email protected], call us, or mail your story to the address on the right and your club could be in the next issue of Civitan Magazine! 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!

Address Updates / Removing Duplicate DeliveriesIf you have moved recently or changed email addresses, you can update your information by contacting Beth Towns in the Membership-Leadership Department via email, telephone, or mail to the address on the right.

Many Civitans have a spouse or partner who is also a member, but only wish to receive one issue of Civitan Magazine at a time. Beth can also help you remove any unwanted duplicate deliveries.

Civitan MagazineP.O. Box 130744Birmingham, AL 35213-0744 1-800-CIVITAN, ext. 134 [email protected]

Membership-Leadership Dept.Attn: Beth TownsP.O. Box 130744Birmingham, AL 35213-0744 1-800-CIVITAN, ext. 111 [email protected]

2013-2014International Board

Robert A. “Bob” RobinsonPresident

Perth, Ontario, Canada

Kearney “Dee” HutslerDirector, Region 1, 2012-2014

Senior Director, 2013-2014Birmingham, Alabama

Peter GuthrieDirector, Region 5, 2013-2015

Almonte, Ontario, Canada

John KjørkleivDirector

European Division, 2012-2014Vanse, Norway

Jay AlbertiaPresident-Elect

Clarksville, Tennessee

Faye E. EvansDirector, Region 2, 2012-2014

Fayetteville, Georgia

Kendyl MasseyDirector, Region 6, 2013-2015

Maryville, Tennessee

Joe G. ParkerImmediate Past PresidentDurham, North Carolina

Robert JonesDirector, Region 3, 2013-2015

Concord, North Carolina

Frank KelleyDirector, Region 7, 2013-2015

Fort Worth, Texas

W. John Rynearson, CAEExecutive Vice President

Birmingham, AL

Ankur KumarJunior Civitan International President

Charleston, West Virginia

Jo Ann O’TooleDirector, Region 4, 2012-2014

Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Teresa WakemanDirector, Region 8, 2012-2014

Pocatello, Idaho

Page 9: The Robinsons of Perth, Ontario - Civitan International · honored to meet the wonderful individuals who make up our fantastic organization. They are, in most cases, ... The Robinsons

To find out how you can support Civitan International and the Civitan International Research Center through planned giving with your will, living trust, or life insurance policy, please contact the Planned Giving Department at

1-800-CIVITAN, extension 105, or email us at [email protected].

To find out how you can support Civitan International and the Civitan International Research Center through planned giving with your will, living trust, or life insurance policy, please contact the Planned Giving Department at

1-800-CIVITAN, extension 105, or email us at [email protected].

“We donated to the

Civitan Legacy Society

because we wanted to

leave something that

would increase in value

and support our beloved

Civitan International

Research Center.

– Jackie and Jo West Taylor Davis