Daily photo by Gary Cosby Jr. Alice Roberts, center, speaks with other members of the P.E.O. Sisterhood as the founders prepare to do a skit dressed as angels to illustrate the organization’s history during a meeting at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Decatur.

Group aspires to further education for women

Wendy’s word

Amid the pageantry and performance at Super Bowl XLI, I was most moved by one of the pre-game feature stories.

Before Sunday, I knew the name Hines Ward, but little else. I didn’t even remember he was named last year’s Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. What I learned was inspiring and made me take a second look at how quick we are to judge.

Shunned from his home country of Korea because of his parents’ interracial marriage, Hines moved to Atlanta, where he was raised by his mother. After he gained instant celebrity status last year, Korea welcomed him back and named him an honorary citizen. This did not, however, erase the obstacles he faced growing up — the comments, remarks and embarrassment he dealt with because of something he had no control over: the nationalities of his parents.

During the visit, he planted $1 million as seed money to begin the Hines Ward Foundation, assisting families in Korea of interracial descent.

Life is not for us to judge, especially based on the color of one’s skin or the background of one’s parents. Let us look to the heart and inner qualities before sizing up people. You may be surprised what you see.

Now let’s see what the “chatter” is for today ...

P.E.O. Sisterhood

If you are an ambitious woman or know one aspiring to further her education, the P.E.O. Sisterhood is an organization worth checking out.

Founded in 1869 by seven college girls, the group has grown to more than 250,000 with chapters in every state, and Canada. More than 73,000 women have been awarded grants, loans and scholarships, totaling $158 million in financial assistance.

Chapter Q of Decatur hosted a reciprocity luncheon at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church to celebrate 138 years of the organization. Members dressed in ’40s clothing and dined around an impressive collection of Madame Alexander Dolls on loan from Alice Roberts. The dolls, sitting among star decorations, helped set the stage for the luncheon theme, “Encouraging Women to Reach for the Stars.”

Special guest was Jean Coshow, president of the North Alabama Reciprocity Committee. Others making the day a reality were Joanne Wheat, Chapter Q president; BJ Breeding and Barb Mouton, co-authors of the program script, “From Founders to the Future”; Mavis Stephens, meal planning; Lynn Headrick, phone committee head; and Winnie Reed, budget head.

For more information on financial assistance opportunities, application requirements and deadlines, call Wheat at 340-9616.

NAMI meeting

The National Alliance on Mental Illness met recently with 23 members present. President Marilyn Volonino introduced guest speaker Dr. Larry Cantor from Decatur General West Behavioral Medical Center.

Cantor spoke on depression, saying it is the disorder most seen and is very treatable through therapy and medication. Some signs of depression include hopelessness, vegetative state, sleep disturbances, eating too much or too little, negativity and non-rational behavior.

Volonino discussed Medicaid cuts pending in a House bill and the importance of contacting local legislators.

Among those attending were Belinda Lavender with Decatur General West, Probate Officer Jenny Denton and Jennifer Chase, ASA probation worker.

NAMI information was shared by Brenda Tinger.

Girl Scout cookies

It’s that time year again, and if your taste buds are craving those delicious Girl Scout cookies, wait no longer. Stock up on your favorites Saturday at the Girl Scout Little House on Sixth Avenue from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Cookies are $3 a box.

All flavors will be available, thanks to Troop 431, represented by fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades from Julian Harris Elementary, St. Ann’s Catholic School and Cedar Ridge Middle School.

For more information, contact Cambia Bailey, bailey_b@bellsouth.net. That’s all for now. It’s been great chattin’ with ya! Let me know what is going on in your little corner of the world. If it’s special to you and features any of the great people who live in our community, then it will make a great Chatterbox item. Just e-mail me at dd
chatterbox@yahoo.com, or call me at 350-5730. I look forward to hearing from you.

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