A great evening is planned for Friday, March 7, as The Craddock Center presents the Fourth Annual Helen Lewis Lecture. The evening will begin at 7 pm with some foot-tapping and lots of clapping as Sonny Houston and the Gold Rush Band plays Appalachian mountain music. At 7:30 pm Dr. Barbara Ellen Smith will speak to us on “Latino Immigrants and the Challenge of Community in Appalachia”. She is a noted authority on Latino immigration and the changing racial-ethnic dynamics of the South. Dr. Smith came to Virginia Tech in the fall of 2005 as Director of Women’s Studies and Professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. For the past thirty years she has been an activist scholar in Appalachia and the U.S. South. Please join us for a wonderful evening in the courtroom of the old Fannin County Courthouse in Blue Ridge, GA. This historic building is now the home of the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association. Price of admission and parking are both free! - TLS
 

LET ME INTRODUCE

Our friend and neighbor, Dr. Helen Lewis, who The Craddock Center is pleased to honor each year on the first Friday in March with a lectureship. Helen is a native Georgian, educated at Georgia State College for Women (BA), Duke University, University of Virginia (MA), and University of Kentucky (PhD.). As an activist and scholar, Helen has given her life to helping folks in Appalachia help themselves. From 1955 to 1990 she worked and taught sociology and anthropology in the coalfield areas of Appalachia. She is the author of several books and many articles. Her book Mountain Sisters published in 2003 tells the story of the Glenmary Sisters’ journey from religious order to community organization during the last half of the twentieth century. It illustrates the encounter between Catholicism, women, and American society in the context of the Appalachian region and its struggle for dignity and economic well-being. It is the result of an oral history project at its best—bringing folks together to share their life stories which not only helps them better understand what they have experienced, but also provides a call to the readers to continue working for social justice in our communities.

Helen is a great asset to the Appalachian area continuing to shine light wherever she is! - TLS

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

In Trisha’s article last month, we are now taking the Children’s Enrichment Program to two additional schools in North Carolina: Ranger and Hiawassee Dam. The teachers urgently requested that we come and we have. Connie Chancey, one of our Arts Specialists, is taking her enthusiasm and considerable skills to about 48 excited boys and girls.

We cannot, of course, say Yes to every request. In fact, you may be wondering why we did in this case since last year we have to cut back due to lack of funds. The answer is simple: we found it easier to work at finding more money than to try to explain to the children why we couldn’t come.

Have we found that additional money? Not yet.

Any ideas? - FBC



I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED

By the amount of time people are saving. It is staggering to contemplate. In some cases the time saved is beyond minutes or hours; it adds up to weeks or months or even years. You do the math: microwave lunch—saves time. Instant coffee—saves time. Send an e-mail—saves times. Reader’s Digest—saves time. Cliff Notes—saves time. Get a phone/camera/map/directory/radio/pill dispenser/thermometer/rain gauge/Bible concordance/Dial-a-Prayer/first aid kit all in one, which fits in your wallet—saves time. Use the drive-through window at the funeral home—saves time. When you go fishing, use a fish-finder—saves time. Soren Kierkegaard once told of a man advised by his doctor to take a day off but the man rested so fast he was finished by noon.

I am certainly no authority on saving time; I have almost used up all my time. In fact, according to the Bible I am living on borrowed time. May be I could have some of the time you have saved. What do you do with it anyway?

Let me warn you; saving time can backfire on you. I know a man who at age 70 had saved a total of 15 years, making him 55, not 70. He lost all his Social Security benefits. So if you are getting anxious about it, stop by (don’t e-mail) the Center and we will be glad to take some time off your hands. It’s called volunteering, or voling for short; saves time.—FBC



THE CEP PROGRAM

Continues to get high marks. I’ve been learning more and more as I’ve visited the HeadStart and Pre-K centers where our program is offered. I complimented one of the teachers whose class of three year olds had sung an amazing program for parents and grandparents. Thinking I was one of the grandparents, she said, “Thank you but I didn’t teach the children these songs. They were taught by the Arts Specialist who comes each week from The Craddock Center. You may not know about their Children’s Enrichment Program, when they offer stories and songs that the whole day becomes a better day for learning.” (I have to admit I didn’t tell that teacher that I knew a little about the CEP Program) I just continued to listen as she told of how the stories promote literacy and take them into their imaginations where there is no poverty or hardship. She said the songs and creative movement help them wake up, pay attention and feel better about themselves. Getting to sing into the microphone and being in the spotlight really builds their self-esteem. (At this point in the conversation I felt I must reveal who I am.) When she learned I am the new Executive Director of the Center, I was smothered with hugs. As I drove back that day the song the children end each CEP class with continued to play in my heart:

“I love you, I love you, please remember I love you. No matter where you go, no matter what you do, please remember I love you.” - TLS
 

THE PERFECT GIFT

Let The Craddock Center help you celebrate a friend’s birthday, anniversary, or retirement. Let us save you time shopping and trying to find the perfect gift for those you love. When you honor an important person in your life by making a donation in their name to The Craddock Center, we then let them know of your gracious generosity. It’s a win—win. Try it and see what happens.—TLS

 

SPEAKING OF GIFTS

The Craddock Center has begun receiving “Birthday Gifts” in honor of its founder who will be entering his eighth decade at the end of April. So you don’t need to go shopping, just make a donation to The Craddock Center for “The Birthday Gift”. Your gifts will help the Center continue to enrich the lives of others. “We want people’s lives to flourish so they are not just getting by,” says the founder of The Craddock Center. Your gifts help his vision continue to grow.—TLS
 

MARCH 3 SPRING PREACHING WORKSHOP

9:00 am—1:00 pm
Cherry Log Christian Church
1149 Cherry Log Street
Cherry Log, GA 30522
“Preaching Palm/Passion Sunday and Easter Sunday”
No charge. Free continental breakfast and deli lunch. For reservations 706-632-1772 or craddockcenter@tds.net



Mark Your Calendar

March 3, 2008– Spring Preaching Workshop, Cherry Log Christian Church 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Dr. Fred Craddock.

March 7, 2008—Helen Lewis Lecture 7:00 pm at Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association (Old Fannin County Courthouse, downtown Blue Ridge).