History
The Lakeland Civic Club has long been a significantly positive force in
the city of Lakeland, Tennessee. The LCC was created by Tom Jenkins and Winslow Ward in
November, 1981. They incorporated the LCC and created the by-laws of the club. Seven
families shared in the creation of the club in order to build a non-profit, non-political
association of neighbors and friends that could promote positive community involvement.
Hence, the LCC established its membership with a door-to-door canvass and an "open to
all" membership decree. The club began to grow steadily over the entire city
beginning with 30 charter members.
The early years witnessed some excellent programs and projects,
some of which are still very much alive in Lakeland today. The Lakeland Civic Club Annual
Funfest began in the first year of our existence. The LCC Ice Cream Social in late summer
is still very popular. Our Lighting of the Greens at Christmas is a special time for all
of us. The LCC Election Forum is an opportunity for all citizens to see our candidates
stand together and respond to questions that concern the public. The entire city is
invited and many people attend.
Many other projects and programs have been invented by the club
and passed on to other groups to manage as our city has grown. The LCC Christmas Parade
has been given to our city government to manage since our city's expansion required much
more official controls. Our LCC Easter Sunrise Service which was born in the backyard of
Tom Jenkins in 1978 and became a wonderful community event has been transferred to our
local churches. Our Pictures with Santa and Pet Pictures with Santa project which were
very popular and a lot of fun have been adopted by Belz Factory Outlet Mall in order to
expand it and staff it more extensively during the holidays.
Times change and the LCC adapts and grows. We have sponsored many
programs in Lakeland. Here are just a few of a very long list: Lifeblood ~ CPR Training ~
Income Tax Seminars ~ Children's Identification Program ~ Yard of the Month ~ Water Safety
~ Lucy Opera Trip ~ Fire Arms Safety ~ Neighborhood Watch ~ Rape Crisis Program ~
Antarctica ~ Estate Planning Sessions ~ Lakeland Jobs Program ~ The Wonders Exhibition
Series ~ Veteran's Hospital Fishing, Picnic and Fall Float ~ Caroling ~ Memphis in May ~
St. Patrick's Day Parade ~ Hayrides and there were many more through the years, too.
As the 1980's moved into the nineties our club has developed and
nurtured the Funfest into an event admired by many people all over the South. Funfest,
which began as a 5K run, evolved into a major barbecue cooking contest that is now The
Funfest Tennessee State Championship BBQ Cooking Contest. Now in its 18th year Funfest
boasts 70+ teams and thousands in attendance for a three day Father's Day Weekend complete
with a carnival and midway and the Funfest Car Show. Funfest has become our primary focus
and it is our fundraising project that finances all other Lakeland Civic Club goals and
objectives.
The Club today demonstrates the rich heritage of hard work and
goodwill nurtured in the early days and reinforced through the years by terrific
leadership and a commitment to the community.
The Presidents of the Lakeland Civic Club
1982-WinslowWard
1983-TomJenkins
1984-FredFerguson
1985-RoyJoyner
1986-ArtHerr
1987-JimBrown
1988-JamesShannon
1989-DottieBizzell
1990-AlMcGlothlin
1991-KayJenkins
1992-MaryLouShannon
1993-RichardArmour
1994-BarbaraCourier
1995-JohnPayne
1996-MargaretBrown
1997-PeterRiley
1998-LarryKimbrough
1999-DaleJones
2000-JohnThompson (current)
2001-Al Norton (president-elect)
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