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2018-19 International President BOB JONES What inspires him to serve? Plus: Honoring Those Who Served Civitan’s Connection to Veterans Day From The President Hello Civitans, VOL. 98, No. 6 ISSN 0914-5785 As I write this first article for our magazine, I stop and think how grateful and humble I am to serve as your International President. It is truly an honor that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I am here to serve you the membership. Editor in Chief As we enter a new Civitan year we need to look back at the previous year and reflect on the changes Terry Schrimscher that have taken place. I believe that every change that has been made will strengthen our organization for the future. As we move ahead I strongly feel that as an organization we have the ship heading in the Contributing Writers right direction. We as members need to put our oars in the water and pull together to move us forward. Terry Schrimscher Bob Jones Scarlet Thompson International Each of us understands to remain a strong organization, we need new members and clubs. With Megan Mindel President new members come new ideas for projects but also fundraising ideas. No project is too small for clubs to Emily Kicker 2018-19 consider. Keeping your members engaged, active, and involved is important to the life of the club. People Mary Luck join Civitan to be involved. We add new members each month but also we lose members. Retention is also a major hurdle 2017-18 International Officers we must overcome. The majority of our attrition occurs within the first three years. We all need to step back, look and ask President: Bob Jones, Concord, NC President- ourselves “WHY”. What could we have done different to help that member remain with us? I encourage your club to utilize your Elect: Patsy Perkal, Aurora, CO Immediate membership specialist to help you with your club needs and concerns. They are there to help you. Past President: Kendyl Massey, Maryville, TN As we approach the holiday season it is an excellent time for your club to give back. It is a great time for our “Civitan Hands International Directors: Julia Floyd, Cullman, AL; to Help Make A Difference In The World.” Dianne Hansard, Cumming, GA; Tony Workman, Greensboro, NC; Carol Wolters, Columbus, OH; Judy and I would like to wish each and every one of you a joyous holiday season. Bill Lawrence, Almonte, Ontario, CA; Marta Ford, Eaton Rapids, MI; Fred Matthies, Franktown, CO; Ann McCarty, Pocatello, ID; Mogens Brun, Ålbæk, Denmark Junior Civitan International President: Danni Jo Grider Huntsville, AL; Executive Vice President: Scarlet Thompson, Birmingham, AL Bob Jones Civitan Magazine, like the organization it represents, is dedicated to service. The magazine will, at all times, emphasize the high ideals and purposes of the orga- nization, disseminate ideas for greater service, and carry authorized announcements and notices regard- ing the activities of the organization. The magazine is an official Civitan International publication. Civitan International does not endorse or imply endorsement of any product and/or company by selling advertising space in this publication. Editorial opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Civitan Internation- al, its officers, or staff. Telephone: (205) 591-8910 FAX: (205) 592-6307 Email: [email protected] Website: www.civitan.org Mission Statement The mission of Civitan worldwide is to build good citizenship by providing a volunteer organization of clubs dedicated to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people with Civitan Hands developmental disabilities. making a difference in the World 2 Civitan Magazine 1.800.CIVITAN WWW.CIVITAN.ORG November 2018 3 INSIDENOVEMBER 2018 4 7 From the Editor Board Report What’s new in Civitan News from the Board of Magazine Directors 5 8 Whither Civitan World Junior Civitan Thoughts about the future Day with Past International Celebrating one of our President Ed Baum oldest projects 14 18 Veterans Day Convention Update Civitan’s connection to a Look out Greenville, here national holiday 10 we come Kicking off year 102 Getting to know International President Bob Jones 12 Research Report A look inside the Civitan International Research Center with Dr. Farah Lubin 2 Civitan Magazine 1.800.CIVITAN WWW.CIVITAN.ORG November 2018 3 From the Editor What’s New in Civitan Magazine? Hello Fellow Civitans! This is the last issue of the calendar year but the first issue of our Civitan year, and what a year it is shaping up to be. As our organization turns 102 in the coming months, we have a lot to look forward to and a spectacular history to build upon. In this issue, we explore some Civitan history by celebrating our connection to Veterans Day in the United States. Many of our members have served in the military and we are all grateful for your service. In keeping with the military theme, we also have a short piece on the Four Chaplains and their connection to the Civitan tradition of Clergy Appreciation Week, which is coming up in February. We hope your club will participate and send in great photos for the magazine. One of our regular features focuses on the work being done at the Civitan International Research Center. In this issue, we talked to Dr. Farah Lubin who recently discovered a connection to a dietary amino acid and the ability to manage memory loss after seizures. The work being done at our flagship project continues to amaze me and is, I am sure, a source of great pride to Civitans around the world. This is also the first issue since our new board president took office last month. Get to know him a bit better as he answers a few questions about his life, motivation, and goals. Read all about Civitan Internation President Bob Jones on page 10. Please keep sending in your great story ideas and photos for the magazine and our news feature on the new website. As always, thanks for all you do. TERRY SCHRIMSCHER Editor Civitan Online Magazine and You Civitan Magazine Magazine Submissions P.O. Box 130744 Civitan Magazine is distributed six times a year to club mem- Birmingham, AL 35213-0744 bers around the world. We need your news stories, events, and pic- 1-800-CIVITAN, ext. 134 tures! Is your club finishing an exciting project, organizing an event in your community, or approaching a special milestone? Just email [email protected], call us, or mail your story to the address on the right and your club could be in the next issue of Civitan Magazine! Please include as much information as you can – funds raised, how the event impacts your community and/or club, and any other important details. Pictures are always welcome, too. Please send in jpg format, sized 300 dpi or larger. We hope to hear from you soon! 4 Civitan Magazine 1.800.CIVITAN WWW.CIVITAN.ORG November 2018 5 Whither Civitan AN EDITORIAL OPINION number of people looking at their cell phones. People can take many of their BY EDWARD BAUM classes without ever coming into contact with another person via the internet. 2005-2006 CIVItaN INTERNatIONAL PRESIDENT Thus for many, especially the younger generations, there is no longer any real need to meet physically to accomplish many of the normal interchanges that are lame it on the internet. Blame it on changes in required in everyday living. the workplace. Blame it on television. Blame it on So, what of Civitan and the many other associations which have seen their ________ [you can fill in the blank]. The reality B organizations shrink rapidly over the past four decades? When there is no longer is that the “service club” as well as the “fraternal a need either there is disappearance or change. For disappearance the examples organization” as originally conceived have lost much of are legion: When was the last time you held a 50 cent coin? What happened their relevance in today’s society. The most visible sign of this is in declining to the buggy whip manufacturers of the 19th century? Have you tried to buy membership. film for a camera lately? For transformation there is no better example than the This decline has spread throughout our society including church membership. March of Dimes. The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, founded in 1938 Peter Beinart in The Atlantic (April 2017) noted that “Americans—long known by President Franklin Roosevelt to combat polio, lost its purpose when polio was for their piety—were fleeing organized religion in increasing numbers. The vast pretty well conquered by the Salk and Sabin vaccines. Rather than simply die, it majority still believe in God. But the share that rejected any religious affiliation is morphed into working to improve the health of mothers and babies by preventing growing fast, rising from 6 percent in 1992 to 22 percent in 2014.” birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. As an organization, however, Similarly, Boy Scouts which a few years ago had a membership of over 4 million it is not immune from changes. USA Today in 2017 reported a decline in support dropped to 2.6 million last year, a decline so drastic that they decided to change leading it to put its headquarters on the market. their name to Scouts BSA and allow girls to join (leading, paradoxically, to a further Service clubs may try to change their focus, although this is a tough sell since decline as the Mormon Church withdrew its scouts from the organization).