Education Group Works For Better Schools I By Loretta Richardson Poet Staff Writer Several misconceptions have surrounded the newly formed Black Educators' Support Group. "We've been thought to be a channel where educators who are frustrated with the system can come and air grievances," ex Pr***«d Michael Turner, co president of the organization. But that's not what we're about. We're not a platform for who get* hired or who gets fired. The group was organized back in January with the support and en couragement of the administra tion. We have gotten very, posi tive feedback from administra-' tdon concerning the goals of our group." Turner, the prinicpa] at North *west Middle School expressly stated that "his group is not an overseer of the system". "Instead we are pulling on the strengths of each other to make the education al environment work better for our professionals and black stu dents." Because this group is already in the system, it feels that it can best serve those two parties more efficiently than other groups in the community who occasionally address educational issues. UNCF Chair To Speak At Barber-Scotia Concord, NC —Hugh Cullman, Vice Chairman of Philip Morris Companies Inc. and Chairman of the United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF), will be the keynote speaker at the Barber-Scotia Col lege UNCF Kick-Off Dinner on Monday, October 19, at 7:80 p.m., in the College Union Dining Hall. Mr. Cullman will speak to assem bled corporate executives, commu nity leaders, alumni, students, friends and supporters of Barber Scotia College. The kick-off dinner is part of the campaign drive of UNCF to raise $73,000 in the Con cord/Cabarrus and surrounding communities in support of Barber Scotia College. "Thaa* 43 colleges have taken the most economically disadvantaged students, provided them with tui tion assistance and a supportive environment and they: have sent into the mainstream an educated «adre of highly productive men and women,” said Mr. Cullman. "This nation's traditionally u«^ colleges ar* proving to be strategic in America’* competitive ar eenaL" According to Dr. Sammie Potts, vice president for development at Barber-Scotia College, each of the 43 member institutions of UNCF must raise fUnds for the annual op erating budget of the national or ganization which fosters educh^ tional opportunities for more thah 50,000 young men and women. Appeals ar* made to corporations, foundations, alumni, churches, or- *' gani rations and the general public Since its founding 43 years ago, the UNCF has raised more than 3400 million for black higher edu cation. Over the past 40 years, Philip Morris Companies, Inc. and its op erating companies, including Phil ip Morris U.8.A., Miller Brewing Company and General Foods Uorp., have provided financial support to the UNCF. Mr. Cullman continued his fan^i ly'e tradition of involvement with the UNCF when he became a vol unteer fund-raiser in 1980. H}s mother, Mrs. Marguerite W. Cull man, began her work as an active volunteer with the Fund in New Yorh in 1944. "We are grateful that the Fund has become a Cullman family tra dition,'' said Christopher F. Edley, President of the UNCF, "because Hugh Cullman brings to the Fund the dynamic leadership needed to strengthen black colleges today, along with an enormous personal cornmitment." Mr. Cullman lad tha UNCFa Greater New York Campaign as its Chairman from 1980 through 1986. Ha was the Fund's National Corporate Chairman in 1984 and 1986 and served as Vies Chairman of the Fund's National Campaign from 1981 to 1983. Mr. Cullman was elected a member of the Fund s National Board in 1981 and became Chairman of the Board of tha UNCF in March 1987. A 1946 graduate of the United State* Naval Academy, Mr. Cull man served aa an Assistant Oun rt*Ty Officer aboard the Destroyer UJMB. Metcalf in the Pacific Thea ter. He also served on active duty : during the Korean War. Mr, Cullman Joined Benson it Hedges in 1949 and when thnt , ly was acquired by Philip Mi 1954, Mr. Cullman was tor, Market Research. TH* Charlotte post ' CALL _376-0496 _ Thus far, what has been a ma jor commitment on the Black Ed ucators’ Support Group's behalf is their resolve to see black repre sentation on the All Star Scholars Program sponsored by the Meck lenburg Neighbors. "We're working with students throughout the year, as well as parents and counselors. We feel that with the right group of people together, children will better benefit from the educa tional process, " asserted Tur ner. Those children includes students on all grade levels. Turner leaves little doubt that his group is the right combination of people. 117 member strong, the Black Educators' Support Group has .plunged head on into the work at hand since January. In September, the Black Educa tors', in its first activity wel comed the new superintendent, Peter Relic to the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System. Their next event, scheduled for Saturday, November 14 is a work shop on interviewing skills for educational professionals and anyone else who is interested in attending. According to Turner work shops like the one scheduled serve as an example of the group's in Hugh Cullman Mr. Cullman moved up within Philip Morris, serving as President of Philip Morris International and later as Chairman and Chief Exec utive Officer of Philip Morris U.8.A-, before he was appointed to terests. "Basically, we take a look at what the group wants to do and then conduct activities around those objectives." Since the Black Educators' Support Group has begun. Turner determined that one of the most urgent requests from the group is how to help teachers make the transition from classrooms to ad ministration. The Black Educa tors’ Support Group respond to those needs and at once each quarter, the organization spon sors an activMteto address those needs that have been aired. By the year's end, this group of educators would like to sponsor an activity that will include the corporate community. "We're hoping to give $5,000 in echolar shipe this year to students," added Turner. Although the organization is still in its infancy, Turner claims that the group is growing. "Because of some of the misper ceptions that exist about our group, some people have taken a "wait ' and see" attitude about us. The activities we have planned have served to strengthen the credibili ty of the group. Also we have a building representative in each school who can be contacted about his present position on July 1. 1986. Mr. Cullman is a director of Unit ed Virginia Bank and United Vir ginia Bankshares Incorporated. He also serves as Vice Chairman and Member of the Executive Committee of the United States Council for International Business. In 1984 he was named Chairman of the Business and Industry Advi sory Committee on Trade to Or ganization for Economic Coopera tion and Developlment (OECD). Mr. Cullman received honorary doctorate degreea from Virginia Union University in 1984 and 8t. Augustine's College in 1987; both UNCF institutions A ticket donation to the UNCF Kick-Off Dinner ie $15 and can be obtained in the Office of Develop ment at Bazber-Scotia College. For additional information, call 704 786-5171. membership a* well as any activ ities that may be sponsored. Each third Monday of the month, the group meets. Locations for the meetings vary and preceding each meeting, members of the ex ecutive council set the agenda. "These meetings give us (educators) a chance to mingle and share with people of similar interests. We become familiar with the talents within the group. It's a real positive group. I leave the meeting with a good feeling. We re working hard for our selves and our children," com mented Turner. Having been active for approx imately nine months, the Black Educators’ Support Group have a least proved one thing: Parents, teachers, students and adminis trators can work harmoniously to achieve positive goals. • with BEFORE .^ , ;%■; &Ttn ARTHRITIS — RHEUMATISM Aft^yf«r»of mifthMld - rnT"H *Tt|TrT Pfh apro :, *** <^***1 to »ivc toot l«tin< relief from arthritia, rheumatiam, b«*achc» ,train , been tested over the years oa thousands of men and women who ooce thought they had to live with pain. 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