The meeting began in the Kill Devil Room some time after noon with Pres. Eric Bubb welcoming those in attendance and the ZOOM viewers, followed by a recitation of the Pledge to the Flag.
The invocation was brought by P.P. David Hanzlick with a reading of a story about a man, a bridge, and questions about its purpose.
Visiting guests were greeted, and P. Eric confessed to having an accident while participating in a session of ice skating on Friday evening. He is expecting a full recovery since the bulk of the injuries were focused on his head. Other sick bay information was the word that Overton Durrett is welcoming visitors at the Bishop Spencer Place on Southwest Traffic Way.
Club anniversaries included Sally Bibb with 27 years (She joined while in high school..) and Gary McEachen with 27 years.
A reminder that our March 9th meeting will be a box lunch at the Black Archives Museum (no meeting downtown because of a basketball tournament.) See Buzz Saw for details. Also on April 1st there will be an event in Lone Jack, MO. (See Buzz Saw.)
Linn Mills introduced our speaker for the day, Carmella Williams, Executive Director of the Black Archives of Mid-America. Dr. Williams received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees in English from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and her PhD in English from the University of Kansas. After 28 years as a professor of English and African-American studies, she retired from the Johnson County Community College and moved on to teaching in various places around the world. She was called to return to Kansas City to take over the leadership of the Black Archives of Mid-America.
Dr. Williams described her work in building the Black Archives of Mid-America into a comprehensive collection of Black history and the ways in which the agency is reaching out to the community and schools to share information about Black history and its role in shaping the cultures of our country.
This scribe was unable to attend the meeting, and his ZOOM attention was diverted during part of Dr. Williams’ remarks. If you missed her presentation, I urge you to go to the Club’s Facebook page and scroll down to the recording of the meeting. I believe you will be impressed with Dr. Williams’ story. Also, check out the agency’s website, blackhistory.org.
The meeting was closed in the usual manner.