Boasting 23 charter members, the new Great Oaks Civitan Club is up, running and ready to serve others.
The club held its charter meeting Thursday, Nov. 20 at Kalloway’s Restaurant and Pub.
“I was really surprised how fast it came together,” said Civitan Michigan District Governor Joyce Scafe, who’s also a Great Oaks charter member. “By the second (organizational) meeting, we had 20 members, which was all we needed to charter. We actually moved the charter date up.”
“We’re excited about this,” added Scafe, a Clarkston resident and 14-year Civitan. “Our goal was to have a club with 30 members and it looks like we’re going to make that goal.”
Founded in 1917, Civitan is a worldwide organization of 55,000 men and women in 22 countries working together in more than 1,800 local civic service clubs to help those less fortunate than themselves.
Civitan clubs provide a great deal of service to their communities with a major emphasis on helping people with developmental disabilities, developing youth leadership and promoting good citizenship.
The club’s name is a word coined from the Latin civitas, which means citizenship.
“They’re really good people and they do alot of really good things,” said Lapeer resident and Great Oaks charter member Doris VanderZee, who was a member of the Pontiac Club for 20 years.
Great Oaks charter member Andy Lusk, of Orion Township, said he joined because his father was a Civitan and he wanted to “follow in his footsteps” by “being active in the community.”
The Civitan cause of “building better citizenship” also appealed to Lusk. “I think it’s important we do that.”
“It’s a good cause, working with disabled children,” said Great Oaks charter member Chris Alflen, of Dryden. “I wanted to give back to my community.”
Charter members of the Great Oaks Civitan Club include Chris Alflen, Tina Collins, Renee Donovan, Steve LaJoie, Tracy Miller, Sr., Dan Sahutske, Doug Scafe, Joyce Scafe, Jim Scribner, Arianne Stephens, Laura Jean Stephens, Steve Allen, Ede Coyle, Jerry Dywasuk, Sr., Andy Lusk, Cynthia Papasian, Art Scafe, Jane Scafe, Sarah Scafe, Katie Serewicz, Dennis Stephens, Doris VanderZee and C.J. Carnacchio.
The club’s charter officers are – President Tracy Miller, Sr., President-elect Andy Lusk, Secretary Arianne Stephens, Treasurer Dennis Stephens, Director Steve Allen, Director Renee Donovan and Director Jim Scribner.
Great Oaks Civitan Club meetings will be held every Thursday at Kalloway’s Restaurant and Pub beginning at 6:30 p.m.
“We’re usually done by 8 p.m.,” Scafe said.
Scafe said the club is still accepting charter memberships until Thursday, Dec. 4.
For more information contact Joyce Scafe at (248) 620-8916 or jescafe@aol.com.
To learn more about Civitan International log on to www.civitan.org.