The WATCH Center operates a greenhouse at various times of the year. The Civitan Club of Wheeling hopes to leave a generous contribution to the center when the club disbands at the end of the year.

WHEELING — The Civitan Club of Wheeling, a long-established service organization, will end its 47-year run with a final meeting on Dec. 4, according to Dr. Frank Carenbauer, club president.

In a letter to the membership — now totaling only 16 members — Carenbauer and other officers outlined plans to formally disband the club.

“It is with heavy hearts that we have announced that our beloved club will dissolve at the end of this year; however, it is important that we put a positive spin on this and remember all the good times,” they wrote. “Let’s remember and be thankful for all that we have done in the past from our sales of fruit cakes to our many fundraisers in support of our WATCH organization.”

WATCH — the Wheeling Area Training Center for the Handicapped — operates a workshop at 26th and Main streets, where clients work on various projects including a greenhouse.

Carenbauer said he knows just about all of the workers by first name.

But the club does not want to walk away without one last grand gesture in the name of WATCH.

“We would like to memorialize our club in a special way and are asking for your assistance, keeping in mind that this will be our last and best fundraiser yet,” Carenbauer told the members.

He explained that the club will establish a “Memorial Board” for any member, past or present, who would like their names (or the name of a loved one) listed for all to remember the organization.

For a donation to the WATCH organization, a plaque will be attached to the Memorial Board “for all to remember you (or your loved one) and your participation in and support of the WATCH organization,” Carenbauer said.

The Memorial Board will be displayed in the main room at the WATCH workshop. The requested donation to memorialize the commitment to the WATCH organization is as follows: Platinum Members — $1,000; Gold Members — $500; Silver Members — $250; and Bronze members — $100.

Donations should be postmarked no later than Dec. 31. Please make checks payable to Civitan Club of Wheeling or WATCH and mail them to: Civitan Club of Wheeling c/o WATCH, 2600 Main St., Wheeling, WV 26003

The Civitan Club of Wheeling founded the Civitan Sheltered Workshop in the spring of 1967 to serve individuals with disabilities. This was the precursor to today’s WATCH program.

Over the years, the program grew in its popularity for families that included persons with mental and physical disabilities.WATCH has provided meaningful and quality vocational services to these citizens.

The agency continued to operate as a private, free-standing civitan non-profit corporation until 1995 when financial and programming demands led to the relationship with Russell Nesbitt Services Inc.

Russell Nesbitt Services provides management and staffing to WATCH. This arrangement has allowed for the continued growth and expansion that has led to the agency as it exists today, according to the agency’s history.

WATCH has been at 26th and Main streets in Center Wheeling since 1996. For years, the Civitan held its meetings meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at WesBanco Arena. In more recent years, meetings have been held at the WATCH center. Carenbauer said moving the meetings has given club members a chance for more interaction with WATCH clients and programs.

Civitan members have been very visible with their service to the community. According to Carenbauer, the Civitan Club supported the Junior Achievement program, Special Olympics and held Christmas parties for the WATCH clients. In the early years, the parties were held at the Market Street Auditorium, long since torn down.

“We gave money to support the West Liberty Science Fair. It is the longest running science fair in the country,” Carenbauer added.

Dwindling membership has plagued many service organizations. Some Civitan clubs have only five or six members. Carenbauer said the Wheeling club wants to leave a generous donation to the WATCH Center so that the legacy will continue.