Salisbury Civitans name citizen, Civitan, rookie of the Year
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Out-going President Jimmy Greene Jr., left, passes the ceremonial gavel to new club President Cyndi Osterhus. - Submitted
Civitan of the Decade Wayne Mullis, right, presents Mary Arey with the Club Honor Key for increasing club membership and for her new role as chair of the club’s charitable foundation. - Submitted
Diane Goodnight, right, presented the Tip Harrison Recruitment Award to Chuck Bowman. - Submitted
Mark Curran presented the Citizen of the Year Award to Special Olympics coach, photographer, disc jockey and special community mentor Ted Oglesby. - Submitted
President-Elect of Civitan International John Sofley, left, presents the Civitan of the Year to incoming club President Cyndi Osterhus. - Submitted
Dr. Norman Sloop was recognized at the Civitan Club of Salisbury's awards and installation banquest for his perfect attendance record spanning more than six decades. - Submitted
By Pete Prunkl
For the Salisbury Post
The Civitan Club of Salisbury, one of the oldest and largest Civitan Clubs in the world, recently held its award and installation banquet at the Country Club of Salisbury. The club, whose focus is the intellectually and developmentally disabled community, named Ted Oglesby its citizen of the year.
For years, Oglesby has served as a coach, photographer and disc jockey for Special Olympics. When not volunteering, Oglesby works at Rowan Vocational Industries where he supervises individuals with various intellectual disabilities to help them learn specific job skills. Oglesby was accompanied by Special Olympics Rowan County Coordinators Cynthia Hoffman and Lea Smith and Special Olympics Steering Committee members Jackie Curran and Janna Griggs.
For her leadership with Salisbury’s Junior Civitan clubs, Cyndi Osterhus was named M.M. “Chubb” Richards Civitan of the Year. Osterhus, who serves as Civitan Region 3 Director for Junior Civitan, established or co-established two new Junior Civitan clubs this year. All four Junior Civitan clubs sponsored by the club were recognized as Honor Clubs or Honor Clubs of Distinction by Civitan International. Under her leadership, Region 3 has the largest Junior Civitan membership in Civitan International. Osterhus will serve as president of the Civitan Club of Salisbury for the 2024-2025 year.
Although few Civitans volunteer as a club officer their first year, new member Ronnie Rinehart stepped up when the position of sergeant at arms was open and volunteered. Rinehart was named Bill Adams Rookie of the Year for his initiative and responsibility.
Long tenured and vigilant chair of the club’s budget and finance committee, Mark Lewis was named Pete Prunkl Committee Chair of the Year.
Past President and current Region 3 Director Chuck Bowman received the Tip Harrison Recruitment Award. Bowman also received a club Honor Key after completing his term as immediate past president.
Member Mary Arey received her second club Honor Key for her work with the membership committee and for her upcoming role as chair of the club’s charitable foundation. She assumes leadership of the foundation at the retirement of Wayne Mullis, who has served as charitable foundation chair for the past 29 years.
Dr. Norman Sloop received special recognition for 62 years of perfect attendance. Sloop, who serves as club chaplain, writes a weekly column for Comment, the club’s newsletter.
The banquet marked the conclusion of Jimmy Greene Jr.’s presidential year. Greene, who serves on the Rowan Salisbury School System Board of Education, recognized the work of past club presidents in the room. Greene then passed the presidential gavel to Cyndi Osterhus.
The Civitan Club of Salisbury welcomes new members. For more information, go to www.SalisburyCivitan.org
