by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Seeing his grandfather’s mementos from the Meninak Club was the impetus for its current president to continue his family’s tradition of civic service 15 years ago.
Harrison Conyers, 43, has been involved with the Meninak Club since he was a teenager selling tickets to the club’s annual charity high school football game. His grandfather, George Utsey Sr., was a founding member of the club and his uncle, George Utsey Jr., was a past president.
“After my grandfather passed away in 1984, I saw all his Meninak paraphernalia,” said Conyers. “It got me thinking, and I decided to carry on the family legacy and get involved with the club.”
The father of five not only got involved, he carried on another family tradition of being president of the club.
“It’s a great honor being elected by the past presidents of the club,” said Conyers. “They recognize your efforts in business and the community, and for me to be chosen is one of the biggest honors of my life.”
The club was founded in 1919 as one of the country’s first Kiwanis Clubs by business and civic leaders. The club’s focus is to help improve the quality of life in Jacksonville, with service to the area’s youth its primary mission. It sponsors college scholarships and one capital improvement project for a children’s organization every year.
Conyers has made it his mission to improve communication with the club’s members and the public by relaunching the “Menometer,” the club newsletter. The newsletter was first published in 1957, but it hadn’t been printed in many years, according to Conyers.
“It’s a great way to keep everyone up to date with what is going on,” said Conyers.
Despite being a father, working as the City’s Administrative Officer for the Military Affairs and Veteran’s Services Division of the Community Services Department and being the Meninak President, Conyers also finds time for the club’s social events. The latest outing was a tour of the Naval Submarine Base in Kings Bay, Ga.
Conyers will also get the honor of being the official starter for the 75th Annual Marathon Ocean Swim July 26. Members of the American Red Cross Life Saving Corps will line Jacksonville Beach to compete in a 3.5 mile swim that morning and they will start at the crack of Conyers’ pistol.
It’s events like the swim that help draw new members to the organization and Conyers enjoys the opportunity to bring new people to the monthly luncheons.
“It’s great to engage people that are new to the community and get them involved in making Jacksonville a better place to live,” he said. “Once you get them to sink their teeth into it, they want to do more.”