BAY MINETTE, Alabama — When you think of the Bay Minette Civic Club, you automatically think of Greg Mais.

His name is synonymous with the club because he has served as president for nearly the entire time it has been in existence. Established in April 1997, the club has had its share of ups and downs over the years. According to Mais, “With the struggling economy it has been tough to keep events and momentum going.”

The club exists to give back to the community, and it does so by holding several events throughout the year including the upcoming Halloween Downtown, Mardi Gras Fest and Support Our Schools Festival. The club holds these events to raise funds which it then splits with local agencies.

As you can see, the Civic Club is involved in a number of important celebrations that directly and indirectly benefit all of us.

Recognizing this ongoing contribution to the quality of life in our community, I am turning the tables, giving everyone a chance to do something for a club that does so much.

The Bay Minette Civic Club is in need of publicity, support and greater community involvement. They are currently looking for new members to help rejuvenate participation and events.

Mais said that among the club’s biggest needs is some TLC for the clubhouse. It needs repainting and a few of the boards need to be replaced. He added that many people think the clubhouse is abandoned. In some ways, the clubhouse mirrors the situation in which the club currently finds itself.

With Halloween right around the corner, Mais is busily working on enlisting sponsors for the event which will be held at the John F. Rhodes Civic Center, at 301 D’Olive St. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The carnival, which is advertised as “not a scary event,” will feature a costume contest, carnival games, a cake walk and trick-or-treating.

Mais said the Civic Club splits the proceeds from Downtown Halloween with North Baldwin White Christmas to help make the holidays brighter for area needy by providing them with food, clothing and toys for the children. The club also has a food drive in the works to help North Baldwin White Christmas.

Once Halloween Downtown is over then Mais will move on to the next event, Mardi Gras Fest, which features carnival rides and a moon pie eating contest. Mais added that he hopes to partner with the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce for this event.

The club is also looking at revitalizing the Bike-O-Rama motorcycle rally, an event that proved to be a tremendous fundraiser for the group in years past. People came from all over the southeast to attend the event which was held at Live Oak Landing in Stockton until the landing was sold to private individuals.

The landing, which was reopened to the public on Tuesday, would be a wonderful venue for the motorcycle rally and a step in a direction that may help the club regain more of its momentum.

Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at the clubhouse, at 13120 Jaycee Road, a quarter of a mile behind Baldwin County High School. Club members must be 21 years and older. There are no membership dues.

Visit their website at bayminettecivicclub.homestead.com/ for more information. Everyone is encouraged to participate. When you help the Bay Minette Civic Club, you’re really helping all of us, neighbors and friends, making life better for everyone. And what could be better than that?