Community beautification group marks 11 years

Keep Citrus County Beautiful has completed its 11th year of service to the community and there have been many accomplishments.

This is the first in a series of weekly installments about Keep Citrus County Beautiful. Upcoming installments will focus on Citrus County Cleanup-Greenup, Pride Awards, Snag ’N’ Bag, Cigarette Litter and Citrus County Recycles.

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Special to the Chronicle

Mike Colbert and Susie Metcalfe were on hand with Keep Citrus County Beautiful recently presented a Pride Award to Colbert for service as the organization’s leader for more than 10 years.

The mission of KCCB is to encourage personal responsibility for community appearance through education, activities and recognitions, focusing on reducing litter, promoting recycling, preserving and beautifying neighborhoods and public spaces.

New members, partners and sponsors to keep these programs vibrant are always welcome.

In 2001, a group of a dozen local citizens contacted Keep America Beautiful to find out how to become an affiliate of that group. After all, KAB already had almost 50 years of experience in developing successful programs for community involvement. Many still remember the KAB TV ads showing Iron Eyes Cody tearfully watching a littered landscape.

The group of local organizers worked with KAB trainers and completed all the prerequisites in record time. After setting local goals and priorities, becoming incorporated, developing bylaws, applying for IRS 501(c)3 status and choosing a board of directors, Keep Citrus County Beautiful became a certified affiliate in the fall of 2002.

The original group of organizers included Josh Wooten, Mike Colbert, Frank Yetner, C.L. Calloway, Cheryl Neff Phillips, Susie Metcalfe, John Quintas, Pete Peterson, Joe Turck and Allan Hayward. Several charter members have recently retired from active involvement with KCCB and a few new volunteers from the community who would like to serve on the board of directors would be welcomed.

The cities of Inverness and Crystal River and the Citrus County Commission have been actively involved through the years by providing one KCCB board member each, recognizing accomplishments in the form of proclamations and certificates, co-sponsoring events and donating office space.

For many years the state of Florida offered grant funding to reimburse KCCB for litter prevention and cleanup events, however those grants have been discontinued. KCCB is now dependent on local support via memberships and sponsorships for its operating and program budget. It continues to seek grants from sources that focus on areas that mesh with its mission.

KCCB has received the President’s Circle Award from KAB every year since 2005 for being an active affiliate and participating in several defined programs each year. The national programs implemented include: Great American Cleanup, America Recycles Day, and Cigarette Litter Prevention.

In addition, KCCB has started the following local programs, including Pride Awards, Snag ’N’ Bag, Citrus County Cleanup-Greenup, Primary School Readings and Citrus County Recycles.

In the coming months, articles will spotlight how each of these programs works for the community.

Look for the KCCB booth at area festivals. Check out its website www.kccb.org, leave a voice mail message at 352-746-9393 or email keepcitruscountybeautiful@gmail.com.

Become a member; involve your community group in an event. Become a partner and sponsor. Volunteer to be on the board.

Let’s all help Keep Citrus County Beautiful.