With an impressive 35 charter members and a successful community project already completed, there was excitement in the air Thursday night as the Georgiana ACTION Civitan Club formally received its charter.

A number of the civic club’s district leaders were on hand for the special occasion.

Jacque Hawkins, president of the Enterprise Civitans, served as mistress of ceremonies at the event, which was moved from the fellowship hall to the sanctuary of Calvary Baptist Church to accommodate the crowd.

James Jones, owner of the Medicine Shoppe in Greenville and president-elect of the Alabama-West Florida District, provided the charter ceremony welcome, with Louis Stephens, vice-president of membership-leadership for Civitan International and Jim Smith, governor of the Alabama-West Florida District presiding over the installation of officers and initiation of charter members.

Georgiana city council member Byron Ward was installed as the Georgiana club’s first president, joined by J. Wendell Andrews as president-elect; Verlinda Dixon as secretary; Ernestine “Ernie” Scruggs, treasurer; Alan Ward, sergeant-at-arms; Douglas Golden, chaplain and James “Larson” Watts as Media/PR director.

Larry Creech, Joyce Herring, Debby Mayberry, Jessica Ward and Pam Ward will serve as board members.

“I would like to thank all of your for your commitment.When I talked with Mr. Stephens, he left no doubt in my mind that Civitan is what this community needed,” Ward said in his first address as charter president.

“In order to lead you must first be willing to serve and we have in our club some proven leaders in law enforcement, education, healthcare and more . . . with Civitan we can rock our world.”

Ward was presented by Hawkins with a special sign to be placed at the Georgiana city limits to let visitors know Civitan has a home in south Butler County.

Ward presented certified club builders from the Enterprise and Camellia City Civitan Clubs and Civitan International with their own individual City of Georgiana flags, explaining the orginal flag was now flying over local troops stationed in the Middle East.

Civitan Andrews was also honored with a plaque in recognition of 50 years of service to Civitan.

Following the charter ceremony, members and guests enjoyed a supper catered by J&D Country Dining.

The Georgiana ACTION Civitan Club will meet again Thursday, September 2 at 5:30 p.m. at its new location, the Masonic Hall on Jones Street in Georgiana. Regular club meetings will be held the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month.

After the success of their school supply drive, the club is already looking for their next community project, which Ward says will be chosen Thursday night.

“I feel like we are off to a really good start,” he said.