Hundreds are kind to each other at World Civility Day event

GARY, Ind. (AP) - Participants in northwest Indiana's first World Civility Day event smiled, greeting each other with handshakes and hugs, and some took photographs to share on social media as they advocated treating others kindly.

Hundreds of people attended the event Thursday at the Majestic Star Casino in Gary, The (Munster) Times (http://bit.ly/1p4oPLs ) reported. Among those in attendance were visitors from 10 states, Panama and Nigeria.

Presenters included representatives from the United Nations, the National Civility Center in Detroit and the National Institute for Civil Discourse in Arizona.

The event hosted by Community Civility Counts highlighted the new group's first-year activities as it looks toward continuing to raise awareness about the importance of civility. The initiative was established last year by the Gary Chamber of Commerce and The Times Media Co.

Civility is something that's "much needed and well-timed," said Times Executive Editor Bob Heisse.

But civility means fostering effective communication and good manners, not simply just being nice, according to Gary Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chuck Hughes.

"Be civil in our discourse. Solve our problems and be civil in our discussion," he said.

The national campaign on civility is aimed at ending rudeness and disrespect.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com