There is a story of a group of African children who were told that a bag of candy was placed under a nearby tree. The first one who got to it was able to have all the candy for him/her self. When allowed to go, instead of one of them racing ahead, the children joined hands and went to-gether to find the candy. Then all of them happily munched away on the treats. When asked why they did this, they said UBUNTU- how could any one of us be happy when others were sad. What a great concept for us all to live by. We are all connect-ed and together we can make this a better world. I think that our Civitan creed and our focus on helping our own communities become a better place in some way is an example of this concept. UBUNTU

Musings from Jan Miller ...

Officers 2017-2018

President Janice Miller

President-elect Sandy Jones

VP Membership Diana Flagg

Secretary Ellen Rubens

Treasurer Ann Mackey

Chaplain Alice Derreberry

Sgt.-at-Arms Sara Ann Murray

Education Dr. Pat Ellis

Imm. Past President

Barbara Fiser

Directors

Alice Derreberry

Mary Jo Marjenhoff

Sara Ann Murray

Sharon Rosenblum

Ina Taffet

Adonnica Toler

UPTOWN UPDATE

U P T O W N C I V I T A N C L U B , J A C K S O N V I L L E , F L O R I D A

February 2018

Volume 35, No. 5

Inside This Issue

Program 2

Membership 3-4

Volunteer Activities 5

Social Activities 6

Chaplain’s Corner 7

Personally Speaking /

Fundraising

8

Uptown Activities

9

Pine Castle / Birthdays /

Greeters /

10

As we enter February, we think of the month of Love with Valen-tine Day on the 14th, but did you also know that it’s World Cancer Day on the 4th, Unity Day on the 5th, Family Day on the 12th, Chinese New Year on the 16th, Margarita Day on the 19th and Presidents Day on the 22nd.

We Civitans also recognize Cler-gy Appreciation as well as Black History month in February. I look at these special days and see relationships between others as a key component (with the exception perhaps of Margarita day). But none-the less, these specials days do imply relation-ships between significant others in our lives, and our desire to be connected to each other.

In Africa, there is a concept of UBUNTU which is an important word from Bantu dialects which refers to that “a common bond between all of us and it is through this bond and through our interactions with our fellow human beings, that we discover our own human qualities.” It is this quality that makes us hu-man and has also been said to mean that and has also been said to mean that “I am because we all are.” Each of us is better when we all are better, and each of us is diminished when others are oppressed.

Jan

Volume 35 No. Page 2

PROGRAM

January is a special month… beginning a brand new year and Uptown Civitans took in-spiration from 2 fabulous presenters.

On January 9, Mrs. Emelda Kennerly, president and CEO of Share and Seed Academy of the Performing Arts shared the vision to create an organization to provide exposure ,

training an opportunities for foster care children and community children in the performing arts. Her per-sonal story of overcoming adversity, taking all opportu-nities presented to her, learning and growing from them has led her and her husband to this venture. And not take ‘no’ for an answer. Their kids have per-formed The Loin King Jr, The Wiz and other seasonal programs. What an inspiration! Please view their website at http://www.shareandseed.org/ and see where you can help. We are also proud that Emelda is an Uptowner.

January 23 brought us a powerful presentation by Dennis Bair of BairFind Foundation. Inspired by a documentary detailing a parents struggle with the unthinkable circumstances of their missing daugh-ter, Dennis took his position of a minor league pitcher who watched thousands of fans each night in the stadium to create BairFind. With 152 stadi-um partners, their signage highlighting local miss-ing children has helped to find over 1300 kids so far and return to their families, all at no charge to the parents. Next time you are at a minor league stadium, appreciate the signage and spread the word. Please take a look at Dennis’ website at http://www.bairfind.org/ and help where you can and share the story. Thank you Dennis for your dedication to this important work!

COMING PROGRAMS … February and March are going to be fascinating as we head into spring. Please mark your calendars!

February 13 – Dean Kate Moorehead of St. John’s Cathedral- speaking on the mental health issues in Jacksonville. This is also our Clergy Appreciation Meeting. February 23 – Dr. Tru Leverette of UNF- speaking on the issues of race, multi-cultural and gender issues.

March 13 – Melissa Nelson – State Attorney March 27 – Wounded Warriors

Volume 35, No. 5 Page 3

MEMBERSHIP … Diana Flagg

On January 23, Immediate Past Florida District Governor Gayle Kanak, initiated

and welcomed new members to the Uptown Club. Pictured are the sponsors and

new members: Mary Jo Marjenhoff with new member Jan Holder; Davy Parrish

was sponsored by Jan Miller; Tami Garrett was sponsored by Kimberly Reed who

was sponsored by Mattie Fraser (a new member –Kimberly, sponsoring a new mem-

ber-Tami!!); Lana Suggs sponsored Emelda Kennerly with Mattie Fraser.

SAVE THE DATE … FEBRUARY 8

Join us on February 8 at 5:30 p.m., for a New Member Recruitment/ Social at the home of our President, Jan Miller, more information at

info@uptowncivitanjacksonville.org Enjoy refreshments and a chance to meet a great group of women. Invite your friends and acquaintances to be a

part of this wonderful club.

The initiation fee is only $25 (half the normal fee) if they join that evening.

Please let Diana Flagg; more information at info@uptowncivitanjacksonville.org know if you will attend and bring a guest

… and also if you will be bringing r;efreshments.

Hope to see many new faces eager to join a group of involved women making an impact in our community!

Volume 35, No. 5 Page 4

MEMBERSHIP

We were happy to have a number of visitors at our January meetings. They

are pictured below. Please invite others to join us in the fun and fellowship of Civitan to add their hands to our good deeds in the community.

ALSO BE SURE TO INVITE GUESTS TO OUR FEBRUARY 8 EVENT!! See info on page 3.

Sharon Kantor is pictured with Lesley Wolfson whose guest was Virginia Lafer

Michelle McGriff was a guest of Sandy Jones

Ann Mackey invited Lora Davis Henningsen

Congratulations to Nancy Chamblin,

Laura Crooks, and Tamer Britton on receiving Perfect Attendance Certifi-

cates. These three lovely ladies, long-time members of Uptown, have made a great deal of difference to our club

and to the community!! Lucky us!!

Volume 35, No. 5 Page 5

Clara White Mission is one of the favorite volunteer activities of many members of Uptown. On January 10, Sharon Kantor, Sharon Ros-enblum, Ellen Rubens, Linda Weinstein and guest Al-ice Soliman served breakfast. The Clara White Mission kitchen is under construction and will be finished by the end of the month. We served food to a small number of people due to the construction.

Stuffing 5,000 envelopes for WJCT was a volunteer activity on Wednesday and Thursday, January 24 and 25. Volunteering were: Susan Connors, Lynn Reed, Ellen Cooper, Mary Jo Marjenhoff, Mattie Fraser, Tamer Britton, Linda Wilkinson, Jan Miller, Jean Smith, Patricia Stephens, Pat Vail, Pat Johnson, and George Ru-bens subbing for wife Ellen Rubens. Susan, Tamer, and Mattie

worked both days. It was a fun time. Thanks to Bonita Golden-Sikes for asking us. WJCT also offers an opportunity to stuff envelopes each month. The next two days are February 8 and March 8. If you are interested, please contact Mattie Fraser.

In addition to envelopes, we helped stuff handouts for an event to be held on Sunday, January 28, to promote a new children’s program, Pinkolicious, to air on February 19. Children and their parents were invited to see a preview of this new show.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES …

Volume 35, No. 5 Page 6

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES … Diana Flagg / Kimberly Reed

A Grand Time was had by all who attended the social on Saturday, January 27

at the St. Augustine Lightner Museum to see the Downton Abbey “Dressing Downton: Changing Fashion for Chang-

ing Times” Exhibition. Because of the Exhibition’s popularity, it was extended before returning to England. Those at-

tending were: Ellen Cooper, Pat Ellis, Diana Flagg, Mary Jo Marjenhoff, Jan Miller, Ellen Paige, Davy Parrish, Lynn

Reed and her husband and Linda Wein-stein. After touring the exhibit, we en-

joyed a delicious lunch at the Café Alca-zar. The Café is located in what was once the largest indoor swimming pool in

the world.

Coming up on February 24, another social is planned at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts. Several

Uptown Civitan members and their guests plan to attend the Douglas An-derson School of the Arts 2018 Ex-

travaganza. This is an annual event at-tended by many in our Club and is al-

ways a wonderful event showcasing the amazing talent of the Douglas Ander-son students.

In March, the Social Committee is planning an outing on Saturday, the 24 to the Jacksonville

Arboretum and Gardens located at 1445 Millcove Road. The Arboretum is hosting “A Brush With

Nature,” a Plein Air Painting Event. This is a free event. There will be food trucks on

site. More details to follow.

Civitans celebrate Clergy Appreciation Week, a significant event throughout

North America. Held each year on the week of February 3, this event shows

appreciation to the clergy of all faiths. Clergy Appreciation Week aims to pro-

mote world brotherhood and religious understanding among all people, re-

gardless of religious persuasion. It is a time to reflect on our individual reli-

gious beliefs and to promote an understanding and acceptance of the rights of

others to participate in a religion different from our own. Clergy Appreciation

Week was inspired by an event which occurred during World War II.

It celebrates the Four Chaplains who gave up their life jackets to serviceman

on the USS Dorchester on February 3, 1943 when it was torpedoed by a Ger-

man submarine. Many died instantly, and some were trapped below deck.

Others, bolted from their bunks, half asleep, clambered to reach the decks on

the stricken vessel. Taking on water rapidly, the ship began listing to star-

board. Because security reasons prevented us of distress flares, escort ves-

sels, still close enough to assist, pushed on into the darkness, unaware that

the Dorchester was sinking. For more information go to Civitan.org and look

for Clergy Appreciation.

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER … Alice Derreberry

Volume 35 No. 5 Page 7

Thank you Ina ...

A BIG THANK YOU to

Ina Taffet (pictured right) who presented

Uptown with a new projector, which was

accepted by Jan

Miller, president.

Volume 35, No. 5 Page 8

PERSONALLY SPEAKING

Wynester Sherrer shared a picture taken at the Governor-Elect Academy of all Civitan Governors whose training took place at headquarters in Birmingham. Wynester will serve as Florida District Governor 2018-2019. Way to go Wynester!!

Mattie Fraser was happy to welcome her nephew and his wife, Stan and Cavelle Fraser from St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The visit was short but was a good oppor-tunity to get caught up on what is going on with our Canadian relatives.

FUNDRAISING … Ellen Rubens / Barbara Fiser

Valentine’s Day Bake Sale

FEBRUARY 13 MEETING

BAKERS AND BUYERS NEEDED

CONTACT ELLEN RUBENS info@uptowncivitanjacksonville.org

UPTOWN ACTIVITIES … KEEP THE DATES!!!

Ongoing Fundraising Candy/Coin Boxes (Adonnica Toler)

Ongoing Volunteer Clara White Mission (Sharon Kantor/Sharon Rosenblum)

Ongoing 2nd/4th Thurs. noon Volunteer Pine Castle Civitan Club (Diane Young/Elaine Hall)

Ongoing Volunteer Baby Caps (Ellen Petersen/Linda Weinstein)

Ongoing Volunteer Sewing Catheter Bags for Brooks Rehab

(Linda Weinstein)

Ongoing Volunteer Ronald McDonald House (Sharon Rosenblum)

Ongoing Fundraising Ellen Rubens /Barbara Fiser Annual Fundraising Flagship Event

Ongoing Social Diana Flagg / Kimberly Reed

2018

Feb. 8 WJCT, stuffing envelopes Volunteer Mattie Fraser Feb. 8 Home of Jan Miller Recruitment/Social Sandy Jones/Diana Flagg/Kimberly Reed

Feb. 21 Clara White Mission Volunteer Sharon Kantor / Sharon Rosenblum

Feb. 24 Douglas Anderson

School of Arts Concert Social Diana Flagg / Kimberly Reed

Mar. 21 Clara White Mission Volunteer Sharon Kantor / Sharon Rosenblum

Mar. 24 Jacksonville Arboretum Social Diana Flagg / Kimberly Reed Apr. 18 Clara White Mission Volunteer Sharon Kantor / Sharon Rosenblum

May 16 Clara White Mission Volunteer Sharon Kantor / Sharon Rosenblum

June 20 Clara White Mission Volunteer Sharon Kantor / Sharon Rosenblum

July 18 Clara White Mission Volunteer Sharon Kantor / Sharon Rosenblum

If you have volunteer, social, or fundraising activities you would like to have added to this calendar, please e-mail me at mandsfraser@yahoo.com

Volume 35, No. 5 Page 9

FLORIDA DISTRICT MEETING

Join us for the Florida District Meeting on Saturday, March 17 in Mount Dora. Registration and agenda and more information will be coming in a separate e-mail.

Uptown will pay the registration cost for all full-dues paying members. Send the registration to Ann Mackey so she can submit the check to the District.

WELCOME Guests … Lora Davis Henningsen, Virginia Lafer, Michelle McGriff

New members … Invite others to join

WHAT’S COMING Also see Uptown Activities Calendar,

Feb. 7 Board Meeting, WJCT, Noon Feb. 13 Dean Kate Moorehead, Clergy Appreciation Feb. 27 Dr. Tru Leverette, UNF Mar. 7 Board Meeting, WJCT, Noon Mar 13 Melissa Nelson, Attorney General

Mar. 17 Florida District Meeting, Mount Dora Mar. 27 Wounded Warriors

GREETERS FOR MEETINGS Feb. 13 Ivy Cream Harris, Arlette Heise Feb. 27 Lynn Reed, Kim Miller-Riley Mar. 13 Sharon Rosenblum, Ina Taffet

Editor: Mattie Fraser, mandsfraser@yahoo.com

Uptown Civitan Club, Jacksonville, Florida

On Thursday, January 11, 2018, Nancy Darlow lead a discussion about calendars and their purpose. Calendars were distribut-ed to members to participate in a date recog-nition activity. Each member got to take a calendar with them. Uptowners attending were: Claire Scott, Ina Taffet, Linda Wein-stein, Ellen Rubens, and Nancy Darlow.

The program for January 26 was involved with making thank you cards and discussed their pur-pose. The following Uptowners helped out at Pine Castle for this program … Carol Tatum, Ina Taffet, Elaine Hall, Linda Weinstein, and Ellen Rubens .

PINE CASTLE CIVITAN CLUB … Diane Young

Uptown Civitan Club P. O. Box 10266 Jacksonville, FL 32247 Membership: 94

Visit www.floridacivitan.org

HAPPY FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

2 Nancy Darlow 7 Betsy Caplan 14 Ivy Cream Harris 14 Mary Jarrett 23 Alice Derreberry

MANY HAPPY RETURNS

If it’s your birthday and your name is not here,

please let me know

Visit www.floridacivitan.org Uptowncivitanjacksonville.org

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.

Louisa May Alcott