UA’s Circle K Wins International Award For Outstanding Service

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama chapter of Circle K recently won second place in Gold Achievement at the Circle K International Convention in San Diego.

The award recognized members for completing more than 3,000 hours of community service during the past year. The UA chapter placed higher than all but one other Circle K International chapter of 65 or more members. Circle K has chapters on more than 500 college campuses internationally.

President Amber Watson of Tuscaloosa accepted the award for the UA club and its members. Rosemary Cannova of Birmingham (35243), the 1999-2000 president, could not attend. University of Alabama Circle K was well represented among the 1,100 members of Circle K International at the convention. Along with Watson, attending from UA were Steven Yates of Tuscaloosa, Alabama District Lt. Gov.; Pete Holiday of Lexington, Ill., Alabama District Secretary; Keandra Finch of Birmingham (35215); Otto Myree of Fairfield, 1999-2000 UA club secretary; and Dana Lackey of Hoover, UA club newsletter editor.

In addition to the Gold Achievement award, the club’s adviser, David Womack, received a Hixon Fellowship Award at the convention. The Hixon Fellowship Award signifies the $1,000 given by Alabama District of Circle K in Womack’s honor to fight Iodine Deficiency Disorder. Each nickel donated provides sufficient iodine to save one life in a third world country.

The UA chapter, sponsored by the Tuscaloosa Kiwanis Club, is no stranger to international-level awards. For three consecutive years, the club placed first in Gold Achievement, a feat few other clubs in the organization can claim.

To gain service hours, club members volunteer with many organizations, including Bryce Hospital, the Childrens’ Hands on Museum (CHOM), the Genesis House, RISE, the YMCA and at nursing homes.

Circle K members visit Bryce Hospital’s two wards on a rotating basis so each is visited every other week. Members play cards, provide refreshments and bring music to brighten residents’ days. To volunteer with CHOM, members go through a training program and then report to do assigned work. Tutors from Circle K go to the Genesis House during the school year to help with the boys’ studies. Circle K provides regular help at RISE to work with the children. At the YMCA, Circle K members work with swimming programs and the after-school program and tutor children. Members visit nursing home residents on a weekly basis during the school year.

Activity with each project varies from year to year with membership levels in the club and interests of the members in the club. Club adviser David Womack said UA’s Circle K hopes to win first place at the Circle K International Convention in Buffalo, N.Y, next August.

“We hope any student at the University interested in community service will join Circle K this year and be a part of the club’s winning tradition, a tradition of trying to do better each year to serve the campus and the Tuscaloosa community,” Womack said. “Their participation might make the difference in our ability to sustain all of our existing projects as we look for new ones.”

Circle K meets on Wednesday nights in the Ferguson Center Heritage Room. Those interested may attend a meeting, E-mail the club at circlek@bama.ua.edu.