A service club is looking to start a chapter in Dawson County.

Civitan International and the Cumming Civitan Club are forming the Dawsonville Civitan Club, club spokesperson Terry Crouch said.

Civitan is a worldwide community service organization with approximately 28,000 men and women in 27 countries. The club offers personal and professional development opportunities.

Civitan funds the International Research Center, a research and treatment facility located at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, but the club is also involved in a variety of local service projects.

One of the first things we want to do in Dawsonville is focus on the special-needs teachers in the county, Crouch said. They never get enough attention.

Community residents and businesses are invited to three upcoming invitation lunches. The first meeting is today, the second will be held March 5, and the third meeting March 12. All the meetings will be held at Ryans Steakhouse and begin at noon.

Crouch said hes been involved with Civitan for more than 30 years, and the club has given him lots of satisfaction. Ive been on the International board and met a lot of people within the organization, he said. Im just in love with the organization.

Dawson County Board of Commissioners Chair Mike Berg said hes looking forward to having the club in the county.

Civitan is about leadership, and thats huge for us to have a program of leadership in the county, Berg said.

To RSVP for one of the charter meetings, you may email Crouch at ltcrouc@attglobal.net or call 678-242-0445.