Hope Civitan Wins “Outstanding Club of the Year Award”

By Twyla Pruden/, 09/6/22 10:09 PM

The Hope Civitan Club was honored with the “Outstanding Club of the Year Award” at the Heartland District of Civitan International annual convention held in Bartlesville, OK, in August. The Heartland District is made up of the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Missouri. The award was based on club activities during the year beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2022.

Hope Civitans received the Oustanding Club award for service to the community, including participation in local clean-up campaigns; participation with other local civic organizations in the annual Veterans Day celebration; donation of items for Veterans through Huck’s Military Care Project; participation in the “Be the Light” Christmas event, placing a decorated and lit tree in downtown Hope; decoration of a home in Historic Washington State Park for Christmas and Candlelight; providing Christmas gifts for local children served through Domestic Violence Prevention and Rainbow of Challenges; providing gifts to local Special Education teachers in January; and celebration of club members’ clergy during Clergy Appreciation Month in February, as well as other projects.

In addition, Heartland Civitans were also recipients of three other awards – the “Outstanding Club Program Award” for an outstanding schedule of guest speakers and educational programs; the “Outstanding Public Relations Award” for outstanding communication of the contributions of the club to the community; and the “Service to the Intellectually Challenged Award” for the club’s sponsorship of a State Special Olympics athlete and for a donation to help pay for medals at the State Special Olympics competition, for replacing an accessible swing in Fair Park due to wear and tear on the original accessible swing the club had placed there, and for the club’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration for individuals served by Rainbow of Challenges.

Civitans Eva Morehead and Twyla Pruden attended the District convention and each received an individual award. Morehead, who is immediate past president of the club, was presented a trophy for being a Distinguished President for the 2021-22 year. Pruden received an “Exceptional Service Award” in recognition of her “outstanding dedication, faithful performance and distinguished success to advance the District mission” as the editor of the district’s newsletter, Heartland Express. During her four years as editor, the Heartland Express was twice named Outstanding District Newsletter and in July received second place in that category for the North American awards given at Civitan International conventions.

Pictured (from left) are Eva Morehead, Hope Civitan Club Immediate Past President, current club President Amber Mackey, and Twyla Pruden, club Secretary, displaying the awards presented to the Hope Civitan Club at the Heartland District Convention, held August 12-14 in Bartlesville, OK. Hope Civitans meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at Dos Loco Gringos Restaurant.