Civitan District Conventions-Third 4 Trips

Tucson, Arizona

During the July International Convention in Las Vegas, I promised the Phil Schlesinger Civitan Club that I would be at their Installation Banquet this fall. The Phil Schlesinger Club was recognized as the Big Fish Club, the club with the most delegates at the convention. 26 members attended and most paid their own way by saving for months. They also were the delegates who brought the country flags into the hall during the Parade of Flags.

Since I was planning on flying to Tucson for the banquet, I had two requests to come a couple of days early to install officers of the Roadrunner and the Old Pueblo Civitan Clubs. I was hesitant since this was another travel weekend, but I was able to bring my daughter Morgan and we stayed at my cousin Lori Foster’s home.

We left on Saturday morning, September 26^th and arrived around noon in Tucson via Southwest Airlines. My cousin Lori Foster picked us up (Lori joined Civitan!) Morgan wanted to drive through the University of Arizona campus, a campus she was considering as a current Senior in High School. We had lunch at Frog and Firkin http://www.frogandfirkin.com/, salads for Lori and me, cheeseburger and fries for Morgan. We then settled in at Lori’s home.

Carl Mangelsdorf III, Past President of the Roadrunner Civitan Club and creator and founder of the Golf Civitan Club concept picked me up to take me to the Roadrunner Club Installation. We met at Ana Nygren’s home and ate a Mexican themed dinner. I was thrilled to initiate three new members and then install the officers and directors. Many awards were presented by outgoing President.

The following day, Carl again performed chauffer duties and drove me way out east to the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch, a dude ranch that was founded in 1868. I was introduced at the beginning of the Old Pueblo Civitan Club banquet and after a couple of awards, I was able to initiate a new member and then install the officers and directors. The buffet that followed was extensive and delicious!

That afternoon, Lori, Morgan, friend Austin and I went to the Saguaro National Park to see the hundreds of cacti and drove by the Desert Museum and Old Tucson. When we arrived back at the home, Lori steamed king crab legs for dinner.

On Monday, I worked on church and Civitan projects. Then Carl again picked me up for the 29^th Anniversary Phil Schlesinger installation banquet. We both wore tuxes, I was all in black (of course), Carl wore a white tux jacket. Carl was the master of ceremonies and many, many awards were presented including member longevity awards for members that had five years to 29 years of service to Civitan. I was given a great frame with three pictures of the Phil Schlesinger Club members at the Civitan International Convention.

On Tuesday morning, Lori took us back to the airport and we headed back to Las Vegas. The trip home was quick and safe. After I dropped off Morgan, I went to work at the church for a few hours. Then I went home to wash my clothes and repack!

Mississippi

The very next day, Wednesday, September 30, I headed back to the airport for a trip to Columbus, Mississippi, home of my Governor John Longmire of Mississippi North Civitan District. The Delta flights were on-time and John met me at the airport security area. After gathering my baggage, we went to a restaurant on a river called Ruben’s. I had Surf and Turf, Ruben’s Style, rib-eye steak and catfish! John had a whole catfish.

Then we went to his 32 acre “plantation” with a creek and deer stands and beautiful home. John’s wife Helena was looking up a tree at their pet raccoon named "Ringo". Ringo was very tame, John’s sons James and Daniel played with the raccoon, fed it cat food and it tried to climb my leg. I got some bad mosquito bites there. We had a great evening playing Yahtzee.

I stayed up late that night. I wanted to write an October 1^st “Civitan Rocks – Day One” letter for my Blog (still available for reading on this blog page). I also sent out many emails to my Governors, the International Board of Directors, Europe, Asia and African Civitan leaders and staff at headquarters. The emails went out just after midnight Mississippi time. As I became Civitan International President, I thanked outgoing President Danny Jackson and Corine for their hard work during a challenging year.

My first day of Civitan International President included a drive to Tupelo, Mississippi for the Tupelo Luncheon Club banquet. This is the largest club in Civitan with 156 members. When we arrived, I was surprised with the Summit Center’s marquee that had “Welcome Civitan International President Mark Eisinger”. That was unexpected. About half of the members attended the banquet and I was able to feast on more beef and catfish! I was honored with the Key of the City of Tupelo by a representative of the city council.

I made a speech similar to my Las Vegas, installation banquet speech outlining Civitan qualities and the next year’s plans and goals. Then I installed the many officers and directors for the next year’s successes. I also presented a Fellow to President-Elect David Neilsen and George Copen.

After the banquet, John and I went to Elvis Presley’s birthplace park, gift shop and chapel. We took photos and then followed new Tupelo Luncheon Club President Phil Gann to his home to see his catfish pond, his memorabilia collections of Elvis, Coca Cola, sports, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Phil gave me a Tupelo goody bag and a keychain had the words Elvis Rocks Our World!

We then headed back to Columbus and changed into our Civitan Rocks shirts and then went to the Mississippi University for Women. We provided pizza and soft drinks in an open house environment to 8 women interested in a new Campus Civitan Club now being formed. We took turns talking about the benefits of the organization and the potential projects the new club could participate in. David Neilson, the Junior and Campus District Chair also attended this meeting and Katie Banasiewicz, a former Junior Civitan Governor from Alabama Central Civitan District, now a sophomore at the MUW.

We took the leftover pizzas to John’s home, then after a round of pool, the family and I played a game of Crazy 8’s. It was a fun time with John’s family!

Connecticut

The next morning, John played chauffeur again, back to the airport, this time I traveled to Atlanta, then to Hartford, CT for the New England Civitan District Convention. Unfortunately, my flight to Atlanta was delayed and I missed my flight to Hartford literally by two minutes. I was further discouraged that the only available flight was at 9:30pm, arriving at midnight. I was standby on the 6:00pm flight. I stood in a long line to see if there were any other options on a different airline and miraculously a seat became available on the 6:00pm flight. I arrived at 8:25pm in Hartford and Region 4 International Director Charlie Jackowski and Patti met me as I left the secured area. We went to get my bags and then off to dinner with my Governor Matt Oblon. Due to the later flight, I missed the proposed German Dinner celebration at the East Side German Restaurant but had a great Italian dinner of tilapia at Baci Grill.

After a great rest at the Crown Plaza hotel in Cromwell, Charlie and Patti and Past New England Governor Leo Kania arrived early for our trip off to the New England Civitan District convention at the La Trottoria restaurant near Simsbury, CT.

Had a great time at the convention seeing so many familiar faces and friends. Even Carl Mangelsdorf IV was in attendance and met some great people like Karen and Andrew Rose, a young

couple leading the Civitan Club of Simsbury and the

Farmington Valley. I gave the presentation called the Big Picture (puzzle team building exercise), a Civitan Rocks speech and installed the District officers with Rocks!

After the meeting, Matt Oblon, Mark Oblon, Charlie Jackowski, Carl Mangelsdorf and I discussed the creation of a new Golf Civitan Club in Danbury, CT.

Then back to the hotel, to get ready for the Middletown Civitan Club Installation Banquet which was conveniently held at the same hotel I was staying. We had a wonderful meal and I enjoyed the blueberry pie! Mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano and his wife attended the banquet and I installed the officers with Rocks! I was given a painting of a legendary restaurant called O’Rourke’s.

The next morning, Matt Oblon and Candy and Matt’s boss picked me up at the hotel and we drove to Boston for the New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens NFL Sunday football game. I think this was my first professional football game! It was incredible. Patriot’s stadium was huge and outdoors. The weather was great (two weeks later, the Patriots played in the snow!) The Patriots played a great game and the Patriots were victorious winning the close game 27 to 21. We drove back to Cromwell happy that the home team won. Matt, Charlie and I then met for dinner, another Italian restaurant called Lido’s, where I enjoyed more fish!

After a final night in Cromwell, on Monday morning, Charlie chauffeured a final trip to the airport and I headed for Vegas via US Air! I was blessed with a safe flight home.

Phoenix, Arizona

I had one night at home, to unpack, launder, and repack! The next day, Tuesday, October 6, I flew via Southwest Airlines to Phoenix where I met up with my Heart of the West Governor Roger Smart. I was picked up at the airport by Heart of the West Civitan District Area Director John Maddox and Roger. We took off to Sun City, Arizona to meet with the Civitan Club of the Sun Cities. Over a Chinese lunch, I became their keynote speaker and talked about the latest goals and happenings for the coming year.

After lunch, we headed to the Joyce Ridge Civitan House to meet up with Past Governor Deborah Maddox. Many years ago, Civitan gave the down payment for the home for 22 developmentally disabled individuals. Most of them have jobs and pay all or a portion of their rent. Max McQueen, Civitan House Director, took us on a tour of the three buildings.

We then went to the Arizona Grand Resort, http://www.arizonagrandresort.com/luxury-arizona-villas.php, this resort is one of the candidates for the Heart of the West Civitan District Convention next summer. We stayed a night at this location. Roger and I dressed up for the great banquet that evening, the 30^th Anniversary of the Phoenix Bird Civitan Club. Made up of developmentally disabled individuals, many who are residents of the Civitan House.

We had a great evening. Roger and I were honored to install the Phoenix Bird Civitans and the Metro Phoenix Civitan Club at the same time. There were many Civitans from all over Phoenix area. I was given a saguaro cactus wind chime as a gift from the Phoenix Bird club.

The next morning, Deborah met us and we had breakfast at the Arizona Grand and a tour of the convention facilities. Then, Roger and I headed to the airport and I again headed back to Vegas! Another Rockin’ trip, 12 days of travel was quite wearing.