The Civitans are coming to south Butler County and they would like you to join them. The Enterprise Civitans are working with Georgiana citizens to establish a new chapter of the international service organization in the city.

“Byron Ward contacted us in reference to starting a club in Georgiana,” said Tami Awe, president-elect of the Enterprise Civitan Club. “We are in the process of holding planning and recruiting meetings at Calvary Baptist Church each Thursday night and we are looking for others who want to join us for this exciting opportunity for the city of Georgiana.”

Eleven individuals became charter members at the first meeting on July 15.

The group’s second meeting is set for Thursday, July 22 at Calvary Baptist Church on Highway 106. Networking/socializing with refreshments begins at 5:30; the meeting gets underway at 5:45 p.m. According to Awe, an informational presentation on Civitan and the impact it can make in the Georgiana area will be shared during the meeting.

“We’ll continue with more information about Civitan with a media presentation by Merrily Serota, who is field director for Civitan. Civitans are actively involved in making their communities better places through an organized way of tackling community problems,” Awe said.

Examples of some of the types of projects undertaken by new Civitan groups, says Awe, include putting handicapped-accessible playground equipment in a city park; building wheelchair ramps; holding a Christmas festival; sponsoring a winter coat drive and a canned food drive. While the emphasis of Civitan is helping people with developmental disabilities, Awe says there are many opportunities in which the service organization can benefit its local community.

Additional organizational meetings are set for July 29, and August 5, 12 and 19, all at 5:30 p.m. A banquet is scheduled for Thursday, August 26, with charter ceremonies planned that evening. After being chartered, the Georgiana Civitan Club will meet every first and third Thursday each month at Calvary Baptist Church.

“We want to extend a special invitation to the southern part of the county to become a charter member of the Georgiana Civitan Club. It’s a great opportunity to become part of something new and special.

Charter membership is only extended to those who join during the organizational period,” said Awe.

“Years from now, a charter member will be able to say he or she was a force that helped shape the culture and destiny of the Georgiana Civitan Club.”

For more information, contact Byron Ward at 334-453-0047, Jimmy Russell at 334-382-2352, Tami Awe, 334-470-7094 or Merrily Serota at 205-541-4427.