Editor's View: Civitans a true cornerstone for the city of Bowie By David Emanuel
One of the many things the city of Bowie has to offer is an incredible variety of clubs. Just check out our weekly listings. This week, they can be found on Page C7.
And one of those active clubs happens to be the Civitan Club (a photo of which is on Page C7 as well), a truly unique club featuring youth, adults and seniors who are involved in an amazing list of activities throughout the city, state and nation.
The small but dedicated group of Bowie citizens is always looking for more members, by the way. (Interested? Call the always- ready-to-recruit-new members Lydia Harvey at 301-499-0277.)
The local club just finished up its "season," so to speak, with a dinner at the Bowie Comfort Inn, their usual meeting place.
But they are always working.
Civitan, I learned at that last meeting I attended (the Blade-News received a special award for its community service of which we are truly thankful and humbled), is a coined word that comes from the Latin word civitas, which means citizenship.
And their creed is unique among service clubs, being, what they call, "the most completely developed ethical statement set forth for a service club and serving as a challenge to every Civitan."
Originally written in 1922 by Champ Andrews of the Chattanooga Tennessee Civitan Club, it has been modified over the years, most recently in 1984.
They are words we can all strive to live by, and they read as follows:
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.
My ears hear the cry of children and the call throughout the world for peace, guidance, progress and unity.
My eyes search for others to join in the fellowship and service of Civitan.
My mouth utters the call to daily duty and speaks prayers in every tongue.
My mind teaches me respect for law and the flag of my country.
My heart beats for every friend, bleeds for every injury to humanity, and throbs with joy at every triumph of truth.
My soul knows no fear but its own unworthiness.
My hope is for a better world through Civitan.
My motto: builders of good citizenship.
My belief: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
My pledge: to practice the Golden Rule and to build upon it a better and nobler citizenship.
Pretty heady stuff, eh?
"We are good people with loving hearts who want to help others," said one of its members. "And everyone has a strong sense of motivation, and the reason we keep coming back is because it's so easy, and so comfortable, working together and helping others. We keep a good attitude and we see what can be accomplished."
Can't think of much better advice than that, folks.
