Newspapers / Penland Line (Penland, N.C.) / March 1, 1996, edition 1 / Page 6
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Penland Line THANKS, DJ My life has been shaped by those I admire as long as I remem ber: as a child I admired my friend who was so confident people were listening that he could put his hands on his hips and casually begin sentences with “Weeell....” I also thought the way Fess Parker as Daniel Boone could walk silently over branches was a fine thing to emulate. I’ve made some adjustments in my pile of heroes since then and have certainly added Donna Jean Dreyer to the list. In trying to say something about Donna jean, splashy anec dotes and knee slappers don’t come to mind, but then stories are carried by people who can tell them and I’m not one of those people. What I can tell about is this: A person with uncommon wisdom who has an easy relation ship with truth that the rest of us don’t always have. A disarming honesty motivated by a deep compassion; if she has something difficult to say, she sticks with you until long after the shock has worn off. An ability to distill and refine a complex situation into a well- posed problem. A person who brings the same fairness and humanity to small choices that she brings to big issues. A person who holds the center during times of flux and transition. Donna Jean is simply the best thinker I know, with a way of taking a poetic route to the heart of a matter. When I began working here 1 read through file copies of cor respondence to get a sense of the place. Many of these letters were written by Donna jean and ! began to look forward to them the same way I would look forward to the next page of the best book. I learned about Donna jean but also began to understand the soul of Penland. We’ve all learned a lot from the way she moves through the world. It was very appropriate that she be part of a crafts school. The skill, imagination and discipline she brought to her many jobs made her a master craftsperson. Though Penland shapes us all, some of us also shape Penland. In Donna jean, Penland has been shaped again by a force of good will which has warmed our future and we thank her. -Dana Moore Donna Jean Dreyer retired in October ajter nearly ten years at Penland. During that time her many duties drew on her skills in management, fundraising, writing, editing, public relations, and corflict resolution. She’s currently travelling in Europe with her husband. Bill. When they return she plans to spend time gardening and writing. We’re sure she won’t be idle. Although her retirement was marked by a party at the Gallery, so many people kept track of Penland through Donna Jean’s writing in this publication that we thought a word of appreciation here was in order. WINTER AT PENLAND A mid-November snoifall was perfectfor trash-bag tobogganists. Just before Thanksgiving, the last st Penland. In fact, if it weren’t for wii had to Work around another snowsto for what we bill as spring Concentrati ^ hig job which comes around ev tion-this year we had 50% enrollmc the auction, upcoming board meeting T^he maintenance crew uses the t This year, in addition to the usual r Publication Center. The folks who p are enjoying greater efficiency and Environment (ICE) house, a new hor in the Pines. the office, new staff and Con implemented. This is the time when ; cular filcj Programming for fall and ; Winter is a time when studio coc Penland it’s often the best time for a 1 The Weather always brings challei city of peace and quiet begins to wca and Penland turns into Penland again. How do they expect us to work when the coffee house is closed? Terry Gess working in h. Bringing in the icicle harvest. Driving home from the ofjuc Registrar Gregg Johnson on the last day Jot' ‘ V
Penland Line (Penland, N.C.)
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March 1, 1996, edition 1
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