Over forty members of the Line Creek Civitan Club recently gathered at the First Presbyterian Church on Willow Bend Road in Peachtree City for the club's 2006-07 Officers and Directors Installation Banquet. Julia Ivey, outgoing club president, presided over this prestigious occasion as the Master of Ceremonies. Following the customary welcome remarks by Ivey, Bo Mullins led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to our Nation’s Flag and the Civitan Creed. Wayne Howell then gave the invocation before everyone present settled in to enjoy dinner catered by a "Touch of Elegance" from the nearby community of Sharpsburg.

At the conclusion of the dinner meal, Steve Kiser, immediate past president, introduced David Bledsoe, the director of communications and public relations from Civitan International Headquarters, located in Birmingham, Ala. Bledsoe thanked the members of the Line Creek Civitan Club for its increased membership and philanthropic endeavors over the first two years of its existence. He also stated that the Line Creek Civitan Club was one of the "fastest growing and most productive Civitan organizations in the entire country."

Bledsoe went on to praise the club members who made the journey to Birmingham this past April to view the progress being made by the Civitan International Research Center and the Civitan-Sparks Clinic. Both of these facilities are located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and are sustained through private donations to assist children and adults with developmental disabilities. Over $1,000,000 is donated each year from across the country to fund these two vital Civitan research and treatment facilities.

At the conclusion of Bledsoe's address, Ivey presented him with a check for $5,300 which, following matching gifts, special gifts from individuals, and donations primarily from local Civitan donation boxes, holiday pecan and fruit cake sales and the proceeds from the 2005 Great Chili Challenge and golf cart/airline tickets raffle, will cause the Line Creek Civitan Club to initially donate over $10,000 to the Civitan International Research Center. Following the installation ceremony, the club was able to raise another $2,500, which will receive an equal Civitan matching gift and increase the total contribution to more than $15,000 for the 2005-06 campaign year.

Ivey followed the presentation of this gift to Civitan International with a series of special gifts to the various outgoing 2005-06 Line Creek Civitan Club officers and directors and other contributing club members. These individuals included Steve Kiser, Wayne Howell, Nell Howell, Ed O’Bar, Lori O’Bar, Al Saunders, Faye Evans, Karen Bradley, Page Fritts, Bill Grist, Keely Haynie, Jane Gottardi, Nancy Joslin, David Joslin, Ray Marden, Phil Coe, Lisa Inagawa, Doug Ivey, Mary Skene, Warren Pincombe, Darryl Douglas, David Tolbert, Cheryl Crouch, Bo Mullins, Bill Sanders, Janet Smola, Janet Hortman and Ryan Duffy.

In addition, the club's 2005-06 Civitan Lighthouse Award was presented to Pete Fritts, Sr. for his "Exemplary Vision and Dedicated Service" to the Civitan Creed and Mission. Steve Kiser was also presented with an engraved clock for his outstanding performance as a “Distinguished President” during his 2004-2005 term as president.

The formal installation of officers and directors for 2006-07 was conducted by the Georgia District Civitan Governor Wayne Howell. The slate of officers and directors that were installed are president Mary Skene; president elect Warren Pincombe; immediate past president Julia Ivey; secretary Nancy Joslin; treasurer Karen Bradley; chaplain Darryl Douglas; co-sergeants at arms Steve Kiser and Doug Ivey; directors Steve Kiser, Keely Haynie, Bill Grist and Phil Coe. The commissioning of these new officers and directors was then customarily performed by incoming president Skene.

The evening's festivities concluded with the official "Passing of the Gavel' from Ivey to Skene and a pledge from Skene to "uphold the honor and pursue the mission of Civitan to best of her ability and determination."

Members of the Peachtree City, Fayetteville and Newnan communities who are interested in learning more about the local Civitan clubs in their specific areas, are encouraged to contact Mary Skene, Line Creek club, at maryskene@skenelaw.com or David Tolbert, Fayetteville club, at hdtatfay@bellsouth.net. It should be noted that the Line Creek Civitan Club is a totally non-profit organization with all of its funds and efforts going to local Civitan charities and the research and treatment of children and adults with developmental disabilities.

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