ECHO Alabama District North Civitan

Inside this issue

Past Governor’s Notes …………….2

Governor-Elect Message…………..3

Vidalia Onion Sales .....................4

CIRC Go-Fund-Me ........................4

Youth Leadership—Searcy ..........5

Pisgah Civitans ............................5

Spring District Meeting ...............6

Special points of interest

April Meeting District Project

Vidalia Onion Sales

Clubs Serve and Celebrate

Spring District Meeting Regis-tration

Governor’s Corner For the ones of you that attended the January meeting in Guntersville, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. The skit was GREAT and thanks so much to all of you that participated. As you know we had a called convention at the meeting. I am proud to say that Paul Emerson is our Governor Elect for 2016-2017. The poli-cies and procedures vote passed and we now have Bylaws and standing rules. They are available on the district website. Also, the voting delegates voted to continue district support of the Essay Con-test. With such overwhelming support to keep the Essay Contest, I hope that your club will actively participate. We also held the Blan-kets for the Homeless and Needy project at the January meeting. Alabama North Civitans graciously donated 152 blankets! The blan-kets were distributed to over twelve homeless shelters, and different organizations throughout North Alabama. Thank you Civitans! Your generosity was greatly appreciated by all of the recipients. Our next district meeting is on April 15th. Please see the reg-istration form in this issue of the Echo. The proposed Easter Egg Hunt project turned out to not be feasible. We will have a Baby Items collection for the district project. Please see the notice in this issue describing the project. Again I would like to encourage you to recruit new members. Our district has added 44 new members in 23 clubs so far this year! Thank you to all of the members that have recruited. For the rest of us, let’s share the joy of service and recruit someone. We have had a lot of deletions, but there is still time for your club to finish the year with an increase. If I can help you or your club in any way, please do not hesi-tate to get in touch. donnahg@otelco.net If you would like for me to attend your club, please give me a call. Home Phone 256-586-0389 4736 Mat Morrow Road Arab, AL 35016 Yours in ser- vice Donna Hill Grice

April Meeting District Project At our April meeting, I encourage you to bring baby items to the meeting to be donated to the Best Start Maternity Care Program. This program covers all of North Alabama, so your donations will be available to the mothers in your home hospital. NO PERISHABLE ITEMS PLEASE! No food or for-mula. Best Start sees all Medicaid eligible Moms-to-be. They seek a healthy start for babies by providing needed resources. Clients do not have the financial support needed for baby items. Donated baby items will be appreciated and put to good use. Clients can use baby clothes (onesies, sleepers, socks—0-6 month sizes), receiving blankets, bottles, nipples and pacifiers, diaper bags, etc. Please help!

March 2017 Volume 1, Issue 3

Notes from the Governor-Elect,, Paul Emerson

2 2

Paul Emerson

served as

Governor, 2007

-08 and has

agreed to serve

again upon the

resignation of

Willie Hamblen.

Paul was

elected to this

position at the

Alabama

District North

called

convention in

January at the

Guntersville

Recreation

Center.

Welcome

Paul

Emerson

Paul is our

new Governor

Elect for

ALDN

The Growing season is here so let us make this year the best ever.

Here we are in March, 2017 and it will not be long before a new year of growing

will be on the way. Spring is in the air. The grass has started growing. The trees are starting

to put on their new leaves for the growing season and the growing season is what I would

like to talk about but what I want to grow is Civitan, The Alabama North District Civitan.

I encourage each member of Alabama District North to do your very best to spon-sor one member this Civitan year. If everyone would sponsor just one member that would double the District membership. One member doesn’t sound like much but if we could/would do just that small thing what a huge difference in the District. Each member can

help GROW Civitan into the next hundred years. Building a new Civitan Club in your area or surrounding area would also make a

great improvement in that community. There are many areas in the District that have no

Club and the entire Community would benefit from a Civitan Club. Also, get the young

people involved from age 11 years to 18 years by building a Junior Civitan Club.

As spring approaches and the temperatures changes rapidly from day to day and

there is always a good chance of a tornado in this area at this time of year so make sure

you have new batteries in your weather radio. I live in Hackleburg and the storm that hit

here in 2011 is still strong on our minds.

Have any of you have had problems ordering or receiving Civitan logo merchandise

from the City Paper Company please let me know. The City Paper Company is now where

we purchase supplies we once ordered from the Civitan Supply House. We had some chal-

lenges at the beginning of the switch over from Civitan Supply House to the City Paper

Company, but I understand things are much better now.

Civitan International Convention is starting June 24th through June 27th in Birming-

ham if you have not registered yet you need to do so soon. With the Convention being

this close to home this could be a once in a life time to attend an International function.

From all information I have received this Convention is going to be one of the best in

years. I’m sure everyone would like to see the newly renovated International Headquar-

ters. (Hope to see you there.)

Let us not to forget the Alabama District North Convention on August 18th and 19th

at the Double Tree Hotel (by Hilton) In Decatur Al.

It is always a good time at the Conventions with old friends and make new friend-

ships that last a lifetime.

Paul Emerson

Governor Elect

Each member can

help GROW Civitan

into the next hundred

years.

Notes from the Immediate Past Governor Walt Floyd

As your Civitan International Foundation District Liaison, I will continue to provide infor-mation on Civitan Interna-tional Fund Raising Projects. Last quarter, the information focused on the Civitan-at-the-Helm Program. This program

supports our Flagship Project – The Civitan Interna-tional Research Center in Birmingham and, in my opinion is of utmost importance. There are three additional programs that I would like to provide more information on in this edition of the ECHO. These are: The Presidents Council, The Legacy Soci-ety and the Fellows Programs. Since 1991, Civitan members and community leaders have provided support to the President’s Council. President Council Contributions are controlled by Civitan International board police and are first used to underwrite planned giving initiatives. Any excess is then used to increase the President’s Council en-dowment and supplement other charitable program needs. All President Council members receive special recognitions. These include; a distinctive label pin identifying them as a member of the President’s Council; Member’s names are prominently displayed in the foyer of the Civitan International World Head-quarters in Birmingham; and each member receives an invitation to one of Civitan’ s most notable social events: The President’s Council Reception held each year during at the annual international convention. There are four levels of recognitions: Council, Senior, Advisor and Cabinet. There is a fee for First Member of a family and a discounted fee for additional mem-bers. The annual fee for a First Member Council member is $10.00 per month and Additional Mem-bers is $7.50 per month. Senior Members level fees are $20.00/$15.00 (Additional member) per month; Advisor Members level fees are $35.00/$25.00 (Additional member) per month and Cabinet Mem-bers level fees are $75.00/$65.00 (Additional Mem-ber) per month. Payment options including Elec-tronic Funds Transfer are available. All contributions are tax deductible. The Civitan International Fellows Program is a great way to recognize Civitan and community leaders for

their outstanding volunteer efforts. Distinctive awards and label pins have been designed for pres-entation to the honoree. There are four Fellow des-ignations:

Sustaining Research Center Fellow – Contributions are deposited into an endowed fund with accrued interest used to sponsor scholarships, fellow-ships and grant for scientist at the Civitan International Research Cen-ter. ($2500 minimum required).

Foundation Shropshire Fellow – Annu-ally, interest from this endowed fund is used to sponsor Civitan scholarships. ($1200 minimum re-quired).

Research Center Fellow – – Contribu-tions are deposited into an endowed fund with accrued interest used to sponsor scholarships, fellowships and grant for scientist at the Civitan International Research Center. ($1200 minimum required).

Freedom Fellow – A Freedom Fellow helps support the General Fund of Civitan International and is the only designation among this group that is not retained in an endowed account. ($1200 minimum required).

Junior Civitan International Fellows are also avail-able. The Junior Research Center Fellow has a mini-mum of $600 and the Junior Fellow has a minimum of $300. An individual Fellow fund can be started with as little as $100 and the account will remain open until the required minimum is collected. I will provide information on the Legacy Society in the next ECHO issue. I encourage all members and Clubs in the District to

support these programs. Contributions should be

made by checks to Civitan International, P. O. Box

130744, Birmingham, AL 35213-0744.

I hope this information has been helpful in getting a better understanding to these two programs. Let me know if you have any questions. waltfloyd@aol.com

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??How do I Sell MORE Onions??

Your club may be one that regularly

sells 500 bags of Vidalia Onions.

Or…….not?

Do you want to sell more onions to

raise money for club projects?

ADVERTISE - ADVERTISE

1. Call all the people that have

purchased onions from you in

the past and let them know

that the sale has started.

2. Post on your personal Face-

book page that you are selling

onions and ask all those

friends that are following you

to buy their onions from you

to help support your Civitan

Club’s worthwhile community

projects and activities. Re-

mind them that we are work-

ing “to make the world a

better place!”

3. Put posters and/or flyers on

community bulletin boards at

local businesses such as gro-

cery stores, beauty shops,

community centers, etc.

4. Put an article in the commu-

nity section of the local paper.

5. Post the sale on the marquee

at the town hall, bank, or

other places that have elec-

tronic notice boards.

6. Call friends and relatives up on

the phone and ask them to

buy onions from you.

Remember, all orders must be PRE-

PAID—so collect money ahead of

time. GOOD LUCK AS WE EARN

TO “MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER

PLACE.”

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Vidalia Onions Sale

Hello Fellow Civitan Members,

I am Michael Rea this year’s Onion Chair. By now you should be in full force

for orders on Vidalia onions. The cost is $5.25 per bag same as last year. You

will sell the onions for $10.00 per 10 lb. bag. Your club profit is $4.75 per 10 lb.

bag.

All your orders need to be phoned in or emailed in by the April 15th

deadline. As it looks now our delivery date should be the 2nd week of May.

I will need to have a check for $5.25 for each 10 lb. bag you order no later

than April 15th. NO CHECK NO ONIONS. Checks should be made payable to:

ALABAMA DISTRICT NORTH CIVITAN

Please mail your check with your order request to the address below;

SOMERVILLE CIVITAN CLUB

Attn: Onion Sales Chair

P. O. Box 413

Somerville, Alabama 35670

PLEASE DO NOT MAIL TO ALABAMA DISTRICT NORTH. My contact information is:

Home number (256) 778-9853

Cell phone: (256) 227-6929

My email address is

mrea0901@bellsouth.net.

SUPPORT CIRC — RETIRE the $20 Million COMMITMENT Recently, the Civitan International Board voted to set up a “Go Fund Me”

page for the Civitan International Research Center. There are no Civitan

International Administration fees taken from the funds donated—ALL

money donated will go directly toward to retiring our $20 million com-

mitment to CIRC. You may donate online with a credit card. Donations

may be from individuals or clubs. This is a great way to celebrate Civi-

tan’s Centennial year by making a personal donation!

The secure website link to make your donation is:

https://www.gofundme.com/civitan-international-for-the-circ

61st ANNUAL NATIONAL LEADERSHIP

FORUM FOR YOUTH Harding University in

Searcy, ARK. June 4-9, 2017 (Sun.

through Fri.)

North Alabama Civitans have always sponsored stu-dents from North District Alabama Clubs,

either students in the club’s own area or clubs sponsor students in other clubs’ areas if clubs are unable to

select a student to attend. Last year- 2016, 39 students attended.

Sponsorship per student is $250

Students do not have to pay for anything – except for spending money.

Students do not have to be Junior Civitans but pre-fer Juniors, if in local club area.

Through labs, lectures, films and discussion, participat-ing youth will become more prepared and confident and equipped with the necessary tools to preserve the traditions and ideals upon which America was founded. A wide variety of speakers will present lectures and then allow for question-and-answer periods and follow up labs.

Participants (Student Leaders selected) should be entering either the 9th, 10th,

11th or 12th grades in Fall of 2017. Students should have excellent charac-ter and demonstrate leadership ability.

This year we would like for students to be selected earlier so the students do

not have any conflicts with other activi-ties during this time-June 4-9, 2017

Please select students as soon as pos-sible and contact me with names.

Harding University has new director and wants registration forms by May 1, 2017

Please contact me if you have any ques-tions. Sincerely, Frankie Trammell Chair of Youth National Leadership Fo-rum 2017 North Alabama Civitans 675 County Road 449 Centre, AL 35960 (256) 490-7652 – cell phone Email: frankiet@tds.net

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PISGAH CIVITAN CLUB Pisgah Alabama

As a part of club activities Pisgah Civitan Club elected

to send fruit cakes to some of our troops overseas for

Christmas. With troops away from home, it was our

way of saying thank you and come home safe. Claxton

Bakery helped in the effort by selling the Club an extra

case above our order and USPS provided a flat-rate box

to expedite the process. Included in the shipment were

Ziploc bags so the cakes could be divided among more

soldiers.

JUNIOR CIVITANS

Announcing a New Junior Civitan Club! Civitan International, Alabama North District Governor Donna Hill Grice, Junior Civitan Governor Nathan Ford, Junior Civitan Chairs Dr. Nancy Horton and Kathy Blades and Scottsboro Civitan Club President Joel Hallman are happy to announce a new club: Scottsboro High School Junior Civitan Club Charter Number 2766

Charter Date: March 9, 2017 Please send congratulatory messages and donations to: Bailey Lakin, President Scottsboro High School Junior Civitan Club 367 Berry Road Scottsboro, Alabama 35769

baileylakin17@gmail.com

Joel Hallman, President Scottsboro Civitan Club PO Box 932 Scottsboro, Alabama 35768

joelhallmanrealtor@yahoo.com

The Scottsboro Civitan Club is sponsoring this enthusiastic new club. The club builders are Rhonda Hallman and Sarah Precise.

Junior Civitan Governors and chaperones from all

over the U.S. and Canada gathered in Barrie, On-

tario for Junior Civitan Sno-Do 2017. After a visit

to Niagara Falls they had a great time learning

about Civitan and gaining leadership skills. Ala-

bama North Junior Civitan Governor, Nathan Ford

represented the Junior Civitans of the District. Dr.

Nancy Horton, ALDN Junior Associate Chair and

Julia Floyd participated as chaperones.

7

Alabama District North Civitans

Huntsville, Lakewood, Madison, South Huntsville Civitans

and

Governor Donna Hill Grice

Invite you to the

2017 Spring District Meeting

April 15, 2017

Mayfair Church of Christ

1095 Carl T. Jones Drive SE

Huntsville, AL 35802

Registration: $20.00 by April 5th

Club Name _________________________________________________________

(Reminder: ALDN Bylaws state that each club is responsible for one registration)

Attendees(s)

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Total Number registered this form: __________ @ $20.00 each

Amount Enclosed: $____________________

Make Checks to: ALDN CIVITAN Mail Registration form and payment to:

Barbara Burhans

2414 Henry Street, SW

Huntsville, AL 35801

barbaraburhans@comcast.net

Tel. 256-533-2389

Registration will open at 8:30 am ~ Opening ceremony will be at 10:00 am