The Jones County Pilot Club recently won the Governors Cup Award for 2022-2023, the highest award that can be achieved, at their recent convention for their services.
Beth Coon, Jones County Pilot Club president, said she was surprised they got the award, but knows they have done a lot of great things. She said they struggled a lot as a club after 2020 but is happy to see how far they have progressed.
“The Pilot Club of Jones County won the Governor’s Cup Award, and we won it based on several different things,” she said. “You have to maintain membership, and most Pilot Clubs are struggling with that, but we are currently thriving. You get points for all the things you do.”
She said the Pilot Club of Jones County does things such as puppet shows for children about brain awareness, talk to seniors at the senior center about ways to take care of their brain, help get tracking bracelets for seniors, do something for caregivers, BINGO with seniors once a month, and much more.
The president said for the Governor’s Cup Award application, they also have to write about a fundraiser they have. She said for 2023 they wrote about their fashion show at Elam Baptist Church. She said the main focus of Pilot Club is always about brain awareness.
Fay Mathews, Jones County Pilot Club vice-president, said the Pilot Club of Jones County is all about service, and wants to see the community become better. They were surprised to win first place, because she said they never know what other Pilot Club’s have done in Georgia. She said a lot of others have done good things, but the award did make them feel good about the things they do to help others.
“It was exciting to know we won first place for the whole state. We work hard for the Pilot Club, and we definitely don’t work hard just to win the Governors Cup Award, but it is nice. We help the community, because we want to,” she said.
Coon said her favorite thing about Pilot Club of Jones County is how much fun she has while passing around knowledge. She said she always enjoys looking back on the things they do, such as the puppet shows.
The president said if people are interested in the Pilot Club of Jones County, they can reach out to a Pilot Club member they know to be sponsored. She said they will try for the Governor’s Cup Award again next year.
“It was great going to the convention and getting to meet others. It’s a great fellowship. We learn new things,” Coon said. “Our club is now the largest in Georgia, so that’s also a great feeling. It’s fun to do stuff with a group of people, so we get to help others and have fun in Pilot Club. We are glad we can do something for our community.”
