|
Over The Coffeecups
Warren Mitchell - Editor
TODAY'S
PROGRAM
Ken Carrick will introduce T.L. McCown, a former
resident of Montgomery; holds a Master's degree in
communications from Auburn University. She has written a book
entitled "Shifting Sands: Life in Arabia with a Saudi
Princess". Some members of our Club have already read her
book, and we are privileged to have her during a visit to our
area.
LAST
WEEKS PROGRAM
Ken
Carrick introduced Hannah Williams, Executive
Director of Partners in Education. Her goal is to get more
businesses and service clubs to be more involved in schools so
we can get better students which would be better for Alabama.
She graduated from Ohio
University and the University of Windsor, Canada. She has an
extensive background in schools in New York, New Jersey,
Canada, Texas and Michigan. Ken said she is one step ahead of
the state auditor as she moved from state to state. She and
her husband, Dr. Dale Williams, have 5 children, but more
importantly 5 grandchildren. She chairs the task force Vision
20/20 and is President Elect of the Montgomery Capitol Rotary
Club.
Hannah said she loves
service clubs; they are dear to her heart and she likes to
meet with them. She likes to look in the paper and see the
things we are doing. She knows whatever she sees is just the
tip of the iceberg, because we are doing things all the time.
The idea of service is such
a powerful thing. She noticed in the newsletter that the week
before was on leadership. We all hunger for leadership.
Children hunger for it also and that is why they are thrilled
to see us come into their classrooms as visitors. We
represent someone from the wider community, someone who is new
to them. As an adult walking into their classroom, we
automatically bless them. They might not be able to
articulate that, although, they might. They know that your
time is valuable and you have taken the time to share with
them. By sharing time with them, we bless them and their
teacher.
She has spent a number of
years in the classroom and she loved it. She does know that
classroom teaching can be an isolated way to live, being with
kids all the time. A teacher's job doesn't allow them to get
out and join service clubs.
That is a mistake we've
made; a teacher's day could be structured to allow them to be
a part of the community. They have to wait and count on us to
come to them. When we do the work we do with Dalraida School
and other projects with school children, we are doing
something powerful. We are bringing the community to them and
they need that.
She asked if
we really knew what "Partners In Education" really is? She
knew we had been faithful partners, so she didn't need to
explain its structure to us. They really exist to bring us
and other community members together with schools. When that
happens all kinds of good things happen.
Sometimes one of her
business friends will ask her why she structures it like that;
so it is easier for her. Define what partnership is and
that's it; everyone has to do the same thing. They operate
off energy, our energy, and volunteer energy. If we have a
passion or particular interest in something in a school, we
will do a lot more of and have joy in it. It will be more of
a benefit to children and have more benefit doing it. If they
try to tell what a partnership is, it wouldn't be the same.
Out of their 600 partnerships, none of them are the same; no
average one. All of them have our own particular stamp on
them. When we are cooking pancakes, creating good spirit and
opportunity for the kids at Dalraida, that is not what other
club want to do. We are creating good things in our own way
and so are other partnerships.
She believes that if we have
the freedom and support to be ourselves and grow in that, we
can grow our life as a community. The best of schools allow
children to grow in their own direction; building skills and
their own interest. In doing so, those kids grow into the
best they can be, doing everything with enthusiasm in their
lives. Thereby, they can contribute more to society.
What has been part of our
strength as Americans? We look back at the problems of public
education and they are huge and disturbing. On the other hand
what other country tries to educate all their children. What
other country says they are going to make it possible for
every child to grow into whatever he or she is meant to be. Of
course, we fail at it sometimes, but it belongs to the whole
community, not just the educators.
She and Ken were sharing how
each school has its own personality with some schools finding
it easier to welcome in community groups like ours. That is
why "Partners In Education" and their staff plays a critical
role. Every school needs the help of the community. Every
school needs volunteers like us coming in the school and
becoming part of their children's lives. If they can be there
in the middle; sometimes the middle man isn't all that useful,
but in this case, it has an important role. It stands in the
middle being the structure making it possible for us to be
partners with the school.
IN
MEMORIAM
Richard Walter Price passed away at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday,
June 23, 2004. He died of a sudden heart attack at his home
at the age of 68. He and his wife Elizabeth
had been married
45 years. He was a graduate of Texas Tech University and a
civil engineer, and served in the U.S. Army.
Ed Melton, a close
friend, spoke about Richard to the Club. Dick was a faithful
member of Heritage Baptist Church and in Ed's and Charlie
Eckerly's Sunday school class.
He and Beth have 3 daughters
and 10 grandchildren. Dick would say he was their favorite
Grandpa, of which they would tell him, he was their only
Grandpa.
You never saw Richard with
his suspenders, which he would reply, "So my pants won't fall
off". Ed recommended Richard be buried in his suspenders. Ed
suggested when we made the visitation to notice he was wearing
his Kiwanis pin.
Last Monday, he and Beth
were at the church. Beth was answering the phone and Dick was
working crossword puzzles. They were a special couple.
Dick was a friend; he was
your friend. He was a good Christian and a good Kiwanian. Ed
said he will be missed. Yes, he will be missed at Thursday
breakfasts.
We pray for Beth Price and
the family.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wednesday, June 23rd,
an interclub was held with the Millbrook Club at Miss
Mary's. The following members attended; Mike Winstead, Ken
Carrick, Milt Livingston, Mark Wilkinson and John Roddan,
interclub chairman.
July 8th, Club
assessment will be made.
July 12th, Board
meeting will be held.
John Burch will
represent the Club at the International Convention in St.
Louis.
The District Convention
will be held at the end of July in Dothan.
|
