Starkville Civic League Honors Outstanding Member
The Starkville Civic League (SCL) had to cancel its last three spring meetings because of COVID-19. Because of this, a few items of unfinished business had to be addressed later. One of the items was a vote for the Club Member of the Year award. Normally, it would have been voted on in April and announced at the May luncheon, with the presentation of a gift of appreciation. This summer, members cast votes by email for the member they wished to honor. To be eligible for the award, a club member must have completed at least five full years of membership and have participated in club projects, as well as other community service activities.
The 2020 recipient is Chris Emplaincourt, who has been a member of SCL since 2013.
Chris was 1 vice president (for programs and membership) in 2016-17 and 201718. She served as president in 2018-19 and 2019-20. She has played a vital role in organizing SCL’S Christmas Tour of Homes fundraiser since she joined the league, serving as chair multiple years. In addition to her SCL leadership roles, she is chaplain of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Hic-a-shaba-ha Chapter, and is an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Chris currently is president of the Starkville Pilot Club. Previously, she was chair of the club’s Special Projects Committee. As such, she facilitated the installation of the musical instruments at
Mckee Park and the splash pad Water Bucket at J.L King Park.
Chris moved to Starkville in 1975. She began at Mississippi State University in 1984 teaching in the College of Business and Industry as an Executive in Residence. By 1990, she held dual appointments in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering. Chris served as a program coordinator and taught in both departments. After 24 years at MSU, she retired (on disability after a stroke and neck surgery) in 2012 as Instructor Emerita of Mechanical Engineering.
In other SCL business conducted by emails, 2020-21, 2021-22 officers were elected: President - Wanda Thorne, 1st Vice President - Jane Read, 2nd Vice President Marcie
Rackley, Secretary - Ginny Holtcamp, Treasurer - Robbie Black and Parliamentarian - Chris Emplaincourt.
To help the community with coronavirus relief, SCL donated $1,000 to Christian World Missions for its program to feed homebound elderly and $1,000 to Montgomery Gardens for personal protection equipment (PPE). The Montgomery Gardens donation was in memory of Ophelia Reed and in honor of Moderia Petty, residents of Montgomery Gardens and longtime SCL members. Other SCL members have connections to the assisted living facility, as well. The donated funds were realized from SCL’S 2019 Christmas Tour of Homes fundraiser. No 2020 fundraiser will be held as meetings are temporarily suspended during the pandemic. Because of the abnormal circumstances, this spring SCL did not award its Camp-gaston scholarship to a high school senior/rising college freshman.