| Dutch Fork Civitans Celebrate Fiftieth Anniversary |
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Columbia, SC
June 25, 2001
The Dutch Fork Civitan Club welcomed Civitan dignitaries and guests from as far away as Mexico in celebration of the club's fiftieth anniversary at a dinner Monday evening at the Hilltop Restaurant. The evening was highlighted by an address from keynote speaker Randy Eckhoff of Mobile Alabama, President of Civitan International. Longtime members, Don Hosahw, Oscar Eargle, and Roy Schneider recalled some memorable facts from the history of the club and described some of the major service projects of the club over the past 50 years.
Originally known as the West Columbia Civitan Club, the club was chartered June 26, 1951 and met for much of the first twenty years on Meeting Street in West Columbia. With membership sharply dwindling in the late 1960's, the club was rebuilt through the efforts of John Doudoukjian and Les Griffin. During this time meetings and the primary service area were moved to the Irmo/St. Andrews area and the name changed to Dutch Fork.
Among the first service projects of the rebuilt club was the chartering of the Junior Civitan Club at Irmo High School. The two clubs continue to work together on various activities today. The club also participated in early Okra Strut festivals, cooking and selling hamburgers, hotdogs and other refreshments for festival goers. The club has enjoyed a long relationship with the Special Olympics program and the annual summer games remain a major club project today. The club refurbished and maintained a cabin at the Civitan Citizenship Center, now Camp Spearhead, and sponsored high school students to attend the leadership conferences at the camp. The club continues to serve the community today through many varied service projects. Members are particularly pleased to provide financial support for the Civitan International Research Center.
In recognition of his service to the community and the Dutch Fork Club, Roy Schneider was named a South Carolina Civitan District Foundation Fellow during the dinner which was presented by District Governor Nancy Ball. During the presentation Governor Ball noted that Schneider has been a very active member since joining the club in 1980 and holds Junior Civitan near to his heart, serving as the club's Junior Civitan Chair since 1983. Roy joins Dutch Fork members Don Hoshaw and Oscar Eargle in attaining this high honor. Also attending the dinner were SC District Governor Nancy Ball, SC District Governor-elect Ben Ross, Civitan International Region 3 Director Bryan Bobo and SC Area Director Mitch Bailey.
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| Civitan International President Randy Eckhoff addresses club members.
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| Roy Schneider presented SC Civitan District Fellow Award by Governor Nancy Ball.
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| Randy Eckhoff, Bryan Bobo and Nancy Ball with Club President Cole Porter.
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