Henry Ford is quoted as saying, “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” This spirit motivates neighbors all over the country and world to unite in a spirit of community to work towards the common good. With missions and programs as diverse as the individuals comprising their members, civic and service organizations build a sense of community while changing the world. Cenla boasts numerous opportunities to get involved in this good work. This month, we take a look at five of Cenla’s most active civic and service organizations.
Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary International and its members have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, Rotarians are always working to better our world, and stay committed to the end.
From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the world’s most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The Four-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy. This 24-word test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways. It asks the following four questions:
“Of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
The 35,000+ Rotary clubs around the world work together to: promote peace; fight disease; provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene; save mothers and children; support education; and grow local communities. Rotary offers great fellowship, outstanding programs and an opportunity to serve the community and world to its members.
Rotary District 6190 boasts a dozen individual clubs throughout Central Louisiana. For more information on Rotary and how to get involved, visit www.rotary.org.
The members of 100 Women encourage any charity domiciled in Rapides Parish, that is non-religious, non-political and has been a 501(c)(3) non-profit for a year or more to apply for funds. Charity application forms and Membership Forms can be found on the group’s website: http://judy323.wixsite.com/100womencenla. The next gathering is Tuesday, July 17th from 5:30pm to 6:30pm in the Atrium of Cabrini’s Women & Children’s Hospital. For questions, to join, or for additional information, contact Judy Ginsburgh at judy@artsandhealthcare.org.
Service is at the heart of every Kiwanis club, no matter where in the world it’s located. Members stage nearly 150,000 service projects and raise nearly $100 million every year for communities, families and projects. By working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone. Kiwanis clubs focus on changing the world by serving children, one child and one community at a time. To reach more people and have a greater service impact on their communities, many clubs sponsor a Kiwanis family club—K-Kids for primary school children; Builders Clubs for adolescents; Key Clubs for teens; Circle K clubs for university students and Aktion Clubs for adults living with disabilities.
For more than a century, Kiwanis has created opportunities for children to be curious, safe and healthy regardless of the community in which they live. When you give a child the chance to learn, experience, dream, grow, succeed and thrive, great things can happen. Kiwanis boasts clubs throughout Central Louisiana, with a Kiwanis Camp located in Pineville.
Since the League was established, it has opened and continued to operate the New to You thrift shop, established the Charity Hospital Auxiliary, sponsored an Art Appreciation Program in area schools, developed the Meals on Wheels program, initiated a Drug Awareness Conference, and conducted Heritage Trunk Tours at the Kent House. We are long time patrons of the Friends of the Alexandria Zoo, Central Louisiana Food Bank, Alexandria Museum of Art, and River Oaks Arts Square. Programs such as Hip! Hip! For Gray!, Bedside Buddies, Helping Hands grants, Mini-Grants for Teachers, and What are Hands For all began at the planning table of the League. Recently our League has evolved the VOA Pregnancy Closet, Foster Care Family Fun Day, Jumpstart to Success, Girls Rock!, and the mini market at the T.R.E.E. House Children’s Museum.
JLA hosts the Inspiration Village for the Fall and Spring Girls on the Run Celebratory 5K and has incorporated Kids in the Kitchen with the event as well, providing healthy snack for the participants after the run. The JLA also awards five $1,000 scholarships to female high school seniors who have participated to an exceptional degree in volunteer activities. The award is based on the number of volunteer hours as well as the quality of the service performed.
The JLA Grants Program supports other nonprofit organizations in the community who are working in the League’s focus area by awarding them direct financial assistance. The League’s community focus area is to educate children in grades 3 through 8 on healthy lifestyles in the areas of fitness, nutrition, and internet safety. Organizations who have received grants include the Alexandria Museum of Art, Food Bank of Central Louisiana, Rapides Parish Library, Manna House, T.R.E.E. House Children’s Museum, Girls on the Run Central Louisiana, Fostering Community, Fit Families for Cenla, and A Perfect Fit Foundation, just to name a few. In 2017, $9,000 in grants were awarded. That increased to $10,000 in 2018.
Another program of the League is the Done in a Day (or Meeting) projects. The League has donated hand soaps and sanitizers to the Central Louisiana Homeless Coalition, filled supply packs with new school supplies for Cultivate, and donated supplies to Girls on the Run and the Family Justice Center.
For more information on the Junior League, visit jlalexandria.com.
Lions Clubs International extends its mission of service every day–in local communities, in all corners of the globe. The needs are great and services broad, including sight, health, youth, elderly, the environment and disaster relief. The Lions international network has grown to include over 200 countries and geographic areas.
For more information on how to get involved with the Lions Club International, visit www.lcif.org.
Opportunities to foster a sense of community through service abound in Central Louisiana. These are just a few of the great ways to get involved and help to change all our lives for the better. If you’re not already involved in a civic or service organization, consider giving of your time and talents. When we come together for the common good, everybody wins!