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West Point Luncheon Civitan marks 50 years |
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Thursday, 03 December 2009 |
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 By Jeannetta Edwards
In December 1959, 31 men chartered the West Point Civitan Club and were challenged to “accept the responsibilities of good citizenship” by Dr. L Gordon Sansing, chaplain of the Mississippi District.
“No one is self-made in the strict sense of the word,” Sansing admonished the club. “We all have our friends who have helped make our accomplishments possible. We must assume the conviction, dedication and devotion necessary to make our wok in this organization a success.”
The charter meeting was attended by more than 100 people, including Pippen's wife, Esther. Although not a member in 1959, Esther Pippen join the club after retiring and remains an active and vital part of the organization today.
At the charter meeting, West Point's Mayor R.B. Marshall welcomed the group. Wednesday, Mayor Scott Ross presented a proclamation declaring December “West Point Luncheon Civitan Club” Month. Ross said he was honored to recognize the 50 years of service to community the club has provided and continues to provide by supporting the Catherine Bryan Preschool, being a Bright Horizon partner with South Side Elementary School and many other charitable projects. The club also sponsors the Fifth Street Junior Civitan Club.
Present at the charter meeting were the Tupelo chapter director and secretary-treasurer of the Mississippi District Charles Mullinix, who served aa master of ceremonies. Mullinix described Civitan as the “fastest growing of all civic organizations,” citing the awarding of scholarships and other aids to students as typical examples of the organization's activities. The West Point club's officers, in addition to Pippen, were Woodrow Dowdle, first vice president, Tommy Ramsey, second vice president, Gail Bean, secretary-treasurer, the Rev. Gavin H. Middleton, chaplain, and directors Henry C. “Pete” Robinson, Jasper E. Williams, James L. Mize JR. G.O. Hooper and Euland J. Andrews. Charles Eubanks was a founding member.
At one time there were four Civitan Clubs in Clay County, recalls Lee Morris Williams, treasurer.
“There was a club in Siloam, a breakfast club, a luncheon club, an evening club and a ladies' club,” said Williams, who point out the current club is a diversified club with men and women as members. “We have old, young, married couples, singles, men and women.”
The West Point Ladies Civitan Club chartered in August 1997 with 65 members. Their officers were Betty Burtin, secretary, Barbara Hood, vice president, Dianne Marnell, president and Yevonne Prewitt, chaplain.
Civitan International was founded in 1917 by a medical doctor in Birmingham, Ala. The took their name “Civitan” from the organization's motto: Builders of good citizenship.” Today, the international organization has more than 40,000 members in 1,000 clubs around the world.
While individual clubs are free to pursue their own projects, on an international level Civitan is focused on service to the developmentally disabled. This emphasis was adopted in 1956,with Civitans becoming some of the first to provide special training for teachers of developmentally disabled children.
Civitan continues to focus on assisting those with developmental disabilities. In 1990, the Civitan International Research Center was established on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a $20,000,000 grant from the Civitan International Foundation.
The Civitan International Research Center was the first institution of its kind in the United States to be focused solely on the research of developmental disabilities. Medical professionals from all over the world also come to the center for training on developmental disabilities.
One of Civitan’s signature fundraisers began in 1951. Civitan Earl Carver stopped by a small bakery in Claxton, Ga. He purchased a loaf of the bakery's fruit cake. It was so good that he purchased others to take home to Florida. He suggested that his club sell the cake to raise money for projects. His club liked the idea—and the sample cakes. Since then, Civitan and Claxton Fruit Cake have become synonymous during the holiday season. The West Point Luncheon Civitan Club has Claxton Fruitcakes for sale now. To purchase fruitcakes, contact any club member.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 04 December 2009 )
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