MOULTRIE — Below is information on Colquitt County's community organizations with names beginning with the letters A through F, as published in the 2012 Community Guide.

As The Observer prepares the 2013 Community Guide, set for publication March 31, we are asking local groups to confirm their information below and email Adelia Ladson at adelia.ladson@gaflnews.com to either confirm or change it. If your group is not represented below, please email her to add it to the list. She can also be reached by phone at (229) 985-4545.

We cannot publish information on groups that don't contact us, so please get in touch with us. Deadline is Tuesday, March 12.

Civic Groups A-F

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

Purpose: To inform seniors on advocacy, health, tax and foundation issues. Also Moultrie AARP Chapter focuses on community service, speakers forum and community socials — Ice Cream Party and Annual Christmas Gathering at Maule Aircraft Pilot Lounge.

Activities: Driver safety classes at CRMC are given. For registration, call 229-890-3548 and for more driver safety class information on hosting or class registration, call 888-227-7669 or go online to www.aarp.org/drive. Taxation at Library is Feb. 1 through mid-April. For more taxation information, call 888-AARP-NOW or go online to www.aarp.org/taxaide. Call 985-6540 for appointment at the library.

Meetings: 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the Ferguson Room at Colquitt Regional Medical Center. Discount Dinner at 5 p.m. in the CRMC Dining Center. Membership dues are $5 annually. For membership information, call 229-339-4379 or 229-985-3444 or e-mail wil540bern@windstream.net.

Eligibility: Anyone over 50 can join the national AARP for $16 per year. Call 1-888-OUR-AARP or go online at www.aarp.org.



American Cancer Society

Contacts: Local, Val Bell, 1-229-873-1974, vbell@colquitt.k12.ga.us; Community Manager/South Atlantic Division: Jo Clevenger, 1-229-446-1073, jo.clevenger@cancer.org.

Purpose:  The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, volunteer-driven organization with a local presence in thousands of communities nationwide. Everything the Society does is designed to improve the lives of cancer patients and their caregivers at the local level in every community. ACS partners with hospitals, doctors, churches, schools, civic organizations and others to provide the best possible education, prevention and support programs right in this community.  ACS also is in the forefront of breakthroughs in research and treatment that will save more lives and advance our mission to find a cure for cancer. ACS is the largest funder of cancer research other than the federal government, investing $3.5 billion in cancer research to date. The Society has also funded 46 cancer researchers who have gone on to be awarded the Nobel Prize. Right here in Georgia, ACS has research grants in effect at institutions statewide totaling more than $10 million.

Activities:

Relay for Life: It is a life-changing event that brings together more than 3.5 million people across the country each year to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has taken so much! In 2011, our community raised a whopping $94,587 for the fight against cancer. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events.  They provide participants an opportunity to celebrate, remember, and fight back.   

Reach to Recovery:  Links newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with breast cancer survivors to help them cope with cancer; and more. Thanks to funds raised at Relay and other events, cancer patients and their caregivers in Colquitt County have 24 x 7 access to the Society’s toll-free number, 1-800-227.2345, where trained specialists provide the latest cancer information and links to community-based resources any hour of the day or night; www.cancer.org, the most comprehensive cancer information site in the world.



American Legion Post 324

Contact: Commander Johnnie Shiver, 985-7988, or Vice Commander Billy Faison, 873-5313, or Adjutant John Morrell Sr., 891-2921.

Purpose: “Still Serving America” is the motto of The American Legion veterans who continue their service to America by serving their communities.

Activities: Fund raisers and Colquitt County High School JROTC Rifle Team support.

Meetings: Second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Museum of Colquitt County History.

Eligibility: Must be a veteran who has served honorably during any eligible war years or if currently serving. Contact them for more details.

Dues: $25 per year, benefits included.



American Red Cross

Contact: Locally, Jack Looney at 229-300-6053 or at main office in Valdosta, Terri Whitlock at 229-242-1553.

Meetings: Board meets once a month, other committees meet as needed



Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America is a 97-year-old organization dedicated to the development of character and skills among boys. Cub Scout packs are for boys ages 7 to 10 (or in grades 1-5) and Boy Scout troops are for boys ages 10 or 11 up through 18.

Colquitt County has three Cub Scout packs, two sponsored by churches and one by Okapilco Elementary School.

There are also two Boy Scout troops, one sponsored by a church and one by the Downtown Moultrie Association.

All Colquitt County’s packs and troops come under the auspices of the Suwanee River Area Council, based in Tallahassee. For more information, contact Kevin McMurrian at (850) 576-4146 ext. 25 or by e-mail at kmcmurrian@suwanneeriver.net.



Colquitt County 4-H Club

Contact: Zona Medley, 616-7455

Purpose: To assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. Programs include character and environmental education, agricultural awareness, life skills, career and leadership development.

Activities: Project demonstrations, judging teams, livestock shows and various other competitions.

Meetings: Monthly in all Colquitt County schools

Eligibility: Youth ages 9-19

Dues: No dues at elementary schools; middle and high school dues vary



Colquitt County Branch, NAACP

Contact: Isabella Brooks

Purpose: To assure equal rights for all people

Meetings: At 7 p.m. on the Monday after the first Sunday at the Ryce Community Center.

Eligibility: Open to all

Dues: $30/year



Colquitt County Retired Educators

Contact: Joanne Smith

Purpose: To provide support and a legislative voice for retired educators.

Meetings: The second Monday of each month at the library at 10:30 a.m.

Eligibility: Open to anyone who worked with the school system

Dues: $31 for local and state, $7 local only



Colquitt Regional Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary

Contact: Odelia Touchette, 891-9181.

Purpose: To assist hospital staff in meeting the needs of patients. Currently there are about 66 active members who supplement the hospital staff in such areas as the Wound Care Clinic, pharmacy, dialysis center, hospice, oncology, radiology, cardiology, public relations and other departments.

Activities: Volunteers are matched to service areas that meet their needs as well as the hospital’s. Volunteer service opportunities also exist outside the hospital including the Colquitt Regional Medical Foundation wheelchair ramp project. The auxiliary also serves as a fund-raising body, using proceeds from the volunteer-run Pink Pearl gift shop and other fund-raising events to purchase needed equipment for the hospital.

Meetings: Held on the first Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Ferguson Board Room at CRMC.

Eligibility: Adults over age 18 are eligible to apply for service any time during the year. A youth volunteer program is available to youth ages 14 to 17 during the school summer vacation. Applications are available at the hospital front desk.

Dues: Adult volunteers, $10 annually. The youth volunteer program has no fee, but uniforms must be purchased from the auxiliary.



Creative Quilters

Contact: The Colquitt County Arts Center, 891-2526 or 873-1548.

Meetings: 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month at the Colquitt County Arts Center.



Dare to Be Daniel

(A spin-off of the Billy Graham’s Evangelistic Association)

Contact: Lillar C. Shepheard, 985-4595 or Mary Jackson, 798-8334.

Purpose: To encourage positive life, personal development and citizenship, as well as biblical principles.

Activities: Lectures from chosen men challengers of the community on chosen topics related to the above purpose. Other activities include volunteer memory of character poem, awards for volunteer reflections on lectures and essay contest on the topic, “Who is Daniel and Why Should I Dare to be Daniel.” Several other activities are included.

Meetings: Regular meetings are held for community boys once per month on each second evening at 3 p.m. The special event is given at the summer close of each nine months sessions with an “Appreciation Salad Supper” for all challengers, participants and parents. General awards are given in various categories at that time.

Eligibility: Opened to all boys of the community ages 8 to 16.

Dues: There are no charges for participation. The organization operates on donations from sponsors and community.



Daughters of the American Revolution

Contact: Jean Gay, regent, 985-2134.

Purpose: To promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism.

Activities: Meetings with programs that promote their purpose; public school programs and scholarships that encourage interest in American history; public ceremonies that encourage American patriotism; national DAR schools for children without family support; historic preservation through the local genealogy library and history museum; recognition and service to veterans; genealogy workshops; and preservation of historical buildings and monuments.

History: The local chapter was founded in November 1910.

Meetings: Regular meetings are held September, November, January, March and May. Special events are held throughout the year.

Eligibility: By invitation, any woman, at least 18 years of age, who is descended from a man or woman who served with honor in the American Revolution.

Dues: $60



Emergency Medical Services for Children

Contact: Georgia Office of EMS and Trauma Region 8 at 229-891-7034.

Purpose: The mission of the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) is to reduce child and youth mortality and morbidity sustained due to severe illness or trauma. It aims to ensure state of the art emergency medical care for the ill and injured child or adolescent; to ensure that pediatric service is well integrated into an emergency medical service system backed by optimal resources; and to ensure that entire spectrum of emergency services, including primary prevention of illness and injury, acute care, and rehabilitation, is provided to children and adolescents as well as adults.

Activities: Any child related event.

Meeting: Meetings are held at a minimum of once per quarter and more often as deemed necessary.

Eligibility: Open to any person interested in the health and well being of children.

Dues: None



Friends of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library

Contact: MCCLS 229-985-6540; e-mail: friends@mccls.org

Purpose: The group is a fast growing organization consisting entirely of volunteer advocates who believe passionately in the need for a strong library system to benefit the community.

Activities: Friends focus attention on library services and needs; volunteer assistance with programs; special events; in-library services; and promote the use of the library resources and programs throughout the community.

Officers: Nancy McGilvray, president; Joyce Laabs, vice president; Melody Cooper, secretary; Carol Spence, treasurer.

Meetings: Currently meetings are the fourth Monday of each month.

Eligibility: Open to all.

Dues: Child/student $5; adult $15; senior/military $10; family $25; contributor $100; sponsor $250; benefactor $500.