By Marilyn Miller

“I am Civitan: as old as life, as young as the rainbow, as endless as time. My hands do the work of the world and reach out in service to others.” This, the opening lines of the Civitan Creed, includes just one of those activities, the annual Minden Civitan Clergy Appreciation Banquet, which took place February 25.

The Civitans conduct fundraising events all through the year to make money for their service projects and other works in Minden and Webster Parish. The list of projects is large, considering that an average of 15 people carry the load for these activities.

Every year, the Minden Civitans donate to the Boy Scouts, the Minden St. Jude Auction, the Webster Parish Council on Aging fan drive, Girls State, the Special Olympics of North Louisiana, and the Shoebox Ministry. Members participate in the Minden Mardi Gras Parade and a Christmas Party with the Minden Evening Lions Club.

They conduct a canned food drive each March, host an Easter Party for the Special Needs Class at Webster Jr. High, host a Crawfish Boil each April, give away five bicycles at the Young Women’s Service Club Back-to-School Bash, conduct a coat drive every August, take up tickets at Minden High School football games, park cars at the Webster Parish Fair, host a Halloween Party and a Christmas Party for the Special Needs Class at WJH, and sponsor a Christmas Party for the area’s mentally challenged adults.

Sponsorships include a Little League team at The Rec, the annual Civitan Golf Tournament at Pine Hills Country Club, the Webster Parish Fair Queen and Princess Pageants, and the Civitan Santa Program, where they donate toys to needy kids in Webster Parish.

Each year, the Minden Civitans recognize a “Citizen of the Year” at Minden High School, Webster Jr. High School, and Glenbrook School.

The Civitan Creeds ends with a pledge – to “practice the Golden Rule and to build upon it a better and nobler citizenship.” For this small service club in Minden, this is obviously a pledge that they take seriously.