NEWSMAKER: Las Vegan to begin term as a Civitan International governor

Cassi Eisinger to oversee clubs that help people with developmental disabilities

By DEANA DI DIO
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Although Cassi Eisinger is a wife, mother and senior vice president for Nevada State Bank, she always finds time for community service.

The 40-year-old Las Vegan has been involved in Civitan International since 1996. Civitan is a worldwide community service organization, focusing on helping people with developmental disabilities and mental retardation as well as fostering youth leadership development. Eisinger has two sisters-in-law who are affected by developmental disabilities.

On Oct. 1, Eisinger will begin her one-year term as Arizona-Southern Nevada District Governor of the organization.

As governor, Eisinger will oversee the clubs in her district, including training for club officers, installation of new members and other various duties.

"I am very excited," she says on being recruited by fellow club members for the position. "It will give me an opportunity to do more ... and be involved at a higher level."

Since her involvement in the group, Eisinger has helped build two Civitan clubs, one in Las Vegas and one in Henderson. There also is a third Las Vegas Valley club.

"Nevada needs more groups that will go out and work in the community," she says.

In addition, she helped build two junior clubs that are open to middle and high school students.

"It's good for the kids to go out into the community and see they can help," Eisinger explains. "It helps them as they grow up to think about individuals other than themselves. ... It makes them appreciate their lives and gives them a different outlook."

Civitan's monthly community service projects include volunteering with the Special Olympics program, donating stuffed animals to the police department to comfort young children being questioned by police and buying Christmas presents for low-income families during the holidays. The group also meets once a month to listen to various speakers from the community.

"We see what is needed in the community and try to help," Eisinger says. "You just have such a good feeling inside."

In other news:

• Robert McDonald of Las Vegas received the AutoNation Community Star Award for the Southwest District in recognition of his involvement with Opportunity Village. AutoNation will donate $500 to Opportunity Village because of McDonald's volunteer efforts.

• Megan Sesma of Las Vegas toured Russia and Armenia in June and July as a member of the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra. Sesma played the harp in the orchestra.

If you know of a worthy candidate for the Newsmakers column, mail information to: Deana Di Dio, Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070. Send faxes to 383-4676 or send e-mail to ddidio@lvrj.com.

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