In addition to our current strong Board of Directors:

Marshall Burke, Vice President, Retired Care International Executive/Realtor,
Fannin County Resident
Fred Craddock, Director Emeritus, Gilmer County Resident
Brenda Crawford, Retired DFACS Director, Fannin County Resident
Floyd Hale, Attorney/Mediator, Pickens County Resident
Bill Harrison, Secretary, Family Life Minister, Fannin County Resident
Elizabeth Hay, Teacher; Programmer/Analyst, Andrews, NC
Doug Leman, Businessman, Union County Resident
Sharon Meek, Treasurer, Web Designer, Gilmer County Resident
Paige Peugh, President, Attorney/Realtor, Fannin County Resident

We welcome four new Directors:

Diane Bales is an Associate Professor and Human Development Specialist at the University of Georgia with primary responsibility to organize and guide Extension efforts to educate parents and child care providers about the importance of early childhood development. Before becoming an early childhood specialist, Diane coordinated Extension’s statewide Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) initiative, which included two community-based projects designed to build academic and social skills in elementary school children. She has written training curriculum for teachers, the most recent, about the importance of nutrition and physical activity in young children. Diane has a PhD in child psychology from the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota.

Walter Boleman is a financial advisor with Morgan Keegan in Blue Ridge. He has been working in the financial industry since 1982. He received a BA in political science from Mercer University and also served in the U.S. Navy. Originally from Hartwell, Georgia, Walter and his partner, Deborah Lewis, relocated to North Georgia from Atlanta in 2004. They have four children and one grandchild. He enjoys bridge, golf, and motorcycles. He currently serves as a deacon of the Cherry Log Christian Church.

Don Mahaffey is the President of Fireside Log Homes, a company he started in 1983 in Ellijay. A leader in the Gilmer County community, Don helped start the Rotary Club of Gilmer County and has served as President of the Gilmer County Home Builders Association. He is a graduate of Clemson University and began his professional career working with his brothers in the plywood industry.

Wilds Pierce was born and raised in Waycross, Georgia. After graduating from UGA with a degree in accounting, he went to work with Arthur Andersen & Co. He served as CFO of several companies before founding a company called Railcar Management, Inc. (“RMI”) in the late 70’s. During the late 80’s he also founded several other railroad related companies, one of which was the Georgia Northeastern Railroad (“GNRR”), which is a 100 mile shortline freight railroad which operates from Marietta to the Tennessee state line at Copperhill, TN.

Ten years ago Wilds started the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway as a wholly owned subsidiary of GNRR. Last year it handled 60,000 riders including the Craddock Center’s Children’s Enrichment Program students and their parents. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway has certainly benefited tourism in Fannin County and the North Georgia area.

Now I don’t think I have to tell you this is definitely a Board that can make a difference in the lives of the good people of Southern Appalachia. – TLS

 

50 DAYS TIL B-DAY!!!

Will your name appear on the BIG birthday card for someone special who is turning 80 soon? We hope so! All you have to do is write a check to The Craddock Center with any number in the $$ space and with as many 0’s as room allows. Then write Birthday in the “For” space and sign it. Then place it in an envelope addressed to The Craddock Center. Terry, the Cherry Log Postmaster, is coming early and staying late to handle all this extra mail. He told me today he has recruited extra staff to help with the added volume of mail. He is such a good sport I think we’ll give him an extra piece of birthday cake!

Recently when one of the Board members asked how the 80th Birthday Celebration Campaign is coming along, I assured her we could make the goal. We’ll go over the top, if every preacher gives $1.00 for every time he or she has quoted Dr. Fred Craddock in a sermon through the years and if every other person gives $1.00 for every time he or she has heard a Craddock story.

 

EVIDENTLY WE HAVE NOT BEEN CLEAR

About who attend Head Start. Last week a person who was just learning of our Children’s Enrichment Program asked, “And you take this program to Head Start schools?” “Yes, we do.” “Well, isn’t Head Start where the children are sent who have learning disabilities; you know, the ones we once called ‘retarded’?” “No, absolutely not.”

I took this as a “teaching moment” and explained that all schools should provide educational opportunities and programs for those with special needs. Head Start is not different in that regard. But what is different about Head Start is that it is a pre-kindergarten program for children of the poor. Ninety percent of Head Start children are from families living at or below the poverty level. These children are bright and happy, they respond quickly to stories and songs and rhythmic movement, and, of course, to love and encouragement. If they are lacking, the lack is not in their heads but in their stomachs, not in their hearts but in their homes, often too cold or too hot, not in their potential but in their opportunities. Why not call the Center and arrange a visit to a Head Start school? You’ll see.

I probably said a bit more to my questioner, things like how she could serve those who are under-served, etc. You know, essentially what you



CEP GETS HIGH MARKS

The Craddock Center recently received these thoughts and observations from one of the Curriculum Directors where Miss Amanda offers music each week.

“Our music program is one of the brightest spots of the Head Start/Pre-K! Miss Amanda includes concepts in our songs, dances, rhythms and other activities and helps us master these concepts as we practice them in ways that are irresistible. When sometimes, shyness or a bad mood keeps one of us from participating, Miss Amanda knows exactly how to draw us out so that we are eager to join the fun. There are no favorites in Miss Amanda’s classes, for everyone gets to come up front (in small groups) and demonstrate their skills. We all have many opportunities to play the keyboard, shake the maracas, tap the beat, sing on the microphone, and wear the disguises that let us be monkeys, mice, and other characters. There is simply no way to convey fully in words how wonderful, and critical, and vital is this program provided to us by The Craddock Center.”

Thank you, Miss Amanda, Miss Betsy, Miss Connie, Miss Kim, Miss Tracy and Miss Pam for bringing joy each week to almost 1400 children with your songs, stories and your love. - TLS



INTO THE TRASH BARREL

That’s where I tossed a file folder containing notes 60 years old. The notes were of my participation on a college debate team. One debate dealt with the role of labor in the management of a company. I argued for the proposal but it is evident from my notes that I was pretty much chewed up and spit out by the opposition. Of greater interest was the debate over the resolution that unless an action proceeds from the heart it is not a Christian act. I argued against the proposition.

I am sure supporters of the proposition made a good case: out of a good heart comes the good deed, out of the generous heart comes the generous gift, out of the true heart comes the truth, etc. Who could argue with that? I did.

My point was that we sometimes know what is right to do well in advance of feeling comfortable with it. Racial prejudice, for example. Many people acknowledged what was right long before they felt it in their hearts. The trip from head to heart is often long and painful, but to wait until everyone felt right before doing right would have been immoral. We can’t sit still before a green light waiting until our hearts agree with moving on. The good feeling we want often follows rather than preceding the action.

The same is true of giving. Suppose one knows a cause or program worthy of a gift; what a shame to wait on sending the gift until the heart is warmly stirred. The good feeling we want is as often the result of having given as it is the prompting of the gift. My argument was that actions are Christian not solely because they come from the heart but also because they go to the heart.

Do you catch my drift? Go ahead and write a check to the Center and if you don’t feel good afterwards, I will return your check.

Well, maybe. — FBC

HAVE YOU EVER SAID

“If I had a penny for every time I………I’d be rich.” Well, The Craddock Center could earn $7,300 a year if 1,000 people used GoodSearch as your Internet search engine twice a day. All you have to do is sign up with GoodSearch, listing The Craddock Center as your charity choice and we’ll receive a penny every time you use the Internet. – TLS