SJCCA celebrates new president
Just after finishing her stint as president of the Matlacha Hookers, Linda Bohacek’s dear friend reached out to see if she had any interest in the vacant vice president position at the St. James City Civic Association (SJCCA).
She said former SJCCA President Cena Hamby told her that she really just needed some help.
“That’s how I started out. I was just a helper,” Bohacek said, explaining that she found herself in the position from January to June of this year.
She took some time to learn the ropes and then Hamby took a trip she had been planning, which allowed Bohacek to put everything she had learned to good use.
Bohacek admitted that although she originally found the experience overwhelming, it could be because she had never — at least up to that point — found herself in total control or in charge of any traditionally standing business or organization.
Bohacek is now serving as president for 2026.
“I’ve had plenty of leadership roles with organizations who had no brick and mortar, but this was a whole new thing, and that’s OK. I’ll learn it. It’s been just a little bit challenging,” she said.
Bohacek emphasized that she is very thankful for the board members who have been around and who are very dedicated to the center, describing them as very helpful in making sure she is not left alone running it.
She said one of the goals is to keep membership fees as low as possible in an effort to keep activities available to anyone interested in participation of any kind.
“We want to keep things like cost low so all people can participate, and not raise the fees to the point that they don’t have that sustainability,” Bohacek said.
The balance of keeping things affordable for members while simultaneously operational for the center has become a worthwhile challenge, she said. Bohacek explained that the SJCCA offers a variety of services people need, as well as fun activities for the community.
In her view, keeping the center running is a worthwhile and even noble objective.
“There are a lot of widowers and widows in our part of the town — they take a golf cart or walk to get to the center because that’s their only means of transportation. Activities are offered there, getting an opportunity to meet with others and get some physical and mental stimulation, ” Bohacek said.
She described the useful role the center may play in the lives of those who have just retired and are accustomed to having their family or work family around or perhaps they have recently become a part of the community and are not yet familiar with many people. This could be a time for people looking to meet others in a social situation that, Bohacek said, brings a level of intimacy by allowing them to play games, like dominoes or cards, which may require someone to partner with others.
There are also a number of events for which the center might be an excellent choice for a rental, such as a wedding, birthday, holiday, retirement or graduation party.
“We just had a wedding in there and it was so cool at the center. They really dressed the place up for the occasion,” she said.
In addition to concerts, such as the recent Summer of Harmony concert performed by the Little Lee County Community Band, future events include comedian Ken Farley and Suddenly in Command, which is a class on boating emergency readiness scheduled for Nov. 28.
“We are back. For the past few years, we have really been concentrating on getting ourselves back,” Bohacek said.
The St. James City Civic Association’s center is at 3300 Fourth Ave., St. James City.
To reach PAULETTE LeBLANC / pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com, please email