under the sun
s
'I DREAM A WORLD . .
THE BRUNSWICIffettACON
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 21. 1991
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ADVERTISING IN THIS SECTION
~E5)
County Employees Form
Chorus, Celebrate Black History Month
BY TERRY POPE
Two years ago, a group of Brunswick
County government workers planned
an employees' appreciation banquet
on a shoestring budget.
They cut comers to save on food ex
pense by serving fried chicken and green
beans from the county cafeteria. For enter
tainment, they entertained themselves.
The employees formed their own choral
ensemble. Brunswick County Commis
sioner Gene Pinkcrton even joined the cho
rus for an evening of singing.
"We received a lot of positive feedback
to keep us going," said Regina Alexander,
clerk to the county Board of Commis
sioners. "We have a lfct of talented employ
ees, but sometimes that talent is kinu of
suppressed and hidden."
Like a reserve unit, the ensemble ap
pears ready to spring into duty when called
upon to sing. They are workers from vari
ous departments: social services, public
housing, finance, dean county, the clerk of
court's office and many others.
From that larger group has formed a
branch organization, the Performing Arts
Players, which will sing and read original
poetry during a lunch break show this
Friday, from noon to 1 p.m., in the cafeteria
at the government complex in Bolivia.
Brunswick Clean County Director Terry
Munn came up with the name for the group.
The singing will conclude a month of
Friday shows for the second annual Black
History Month observance at the govern
ment complex hosted by the county em
MEMBERS OF THE Brunswick County Arts Performers are, from left, Veronica Manlove, Mildred Bellamy, James Miller, Terry Munn, Linda C.reTn] TindaSuink?
E\elyn Johnson; (front row) Joyce Gardner, Starie Grissett, Nancy Johnson. Vickie Jenerette.far right, is the chorus director.
? -x miiii ?, * ii r f 11 MM
VICKIE JENERETTE, chosen as director of the chorus, feels things are look
ing up for the performing arts group.
ployees. This year's theme is, "I Dream A
World. . based on an original poem by
Linda Stanley, who works in the finance de
partment.
The lyrics relate the need for harmony
among races and different nations, especial
ly today when war rages in the Persian Gulf
between Iraq and American-allied forces:
"I dream a world where tomorrow, all
wars will cease to be. I dream a world, a
world where some young soldier lives to be
a man. I dream a world, a world where
there's no homeless sleeping in the streets. I
dream a world, a world where there's no
hunger and every child can eat."
Personnel Director Starie Grissett will
sing the theme song solo at Friday's perfor
mance, the first for the Performing Arts
Players, which has been practicing during
lunch breaks and after work since organiz
ing last month.
When employees met to organize the
choral ensemble two years ago, they began
to realize the talents of their fellow workers.
For the group, singing together became a
release from job stress and a way to help
brighten the lives of others. Ths group has
sung Christmas carols at local nursing
homes and hospitals and many of them are
members of their church choirs.
"Our goal is to promote a positive im
age for Brunswick County and the
Brunswick County employees," said Ms.
Alexander. "So many people think that we
don't care about other people, that we're
just here to draw a paycheck. That's just not
true. We do other things."
Invitations were sent to all county em
ployees to rehearse for the Black History
Month program. The employees also plan to
cook dishes that are native to African na
tions so those who attend can get a taste of
African culture at Friday's matinee.
"We'll also be singing some of the work
songs that slaves sung back in slavery
times," Ms. Grissctt said, "and other songs
that they would sing that would give signals
to the other slaves."
The larger easemble was called into ac
tion recently during a candlelight vigil and
march to honor Brunswick County soldiers
now stationed in the Persian Gulf. Ms.
Alexander said the employees were honored
to be called upon to perform at the ceremo
ny.
The Performing Arts Players met re
cently to practice for the Black History
Month show with plans to practice an hour
after work. They got so involved in their
singing that worried husbands and wives
drove to the complex to look for their
spouses. The Players had lost all sense of
the passing of time.
"We have interests that are so varied,"
Ms. Alexander said. "But one thing we all
have in common is that all of us believe in a
supreme being. It just seems like we arc all
of one accord."
For Black History Month, the employ
ees dccoratcd the walls of the public assem
bly building, which also serves as the cafe
teria. Other performances during the month
have included a visual arts display by local
free-lance photographer Chuck Jones and
art by county high school students; singing
by Marva Robinson, a special education
teacher at North Brunswick High School;
and singing and dancing by Pamela Reid,
visiting artist at Southeastern Community
College.
"A number of employees have told me
that it was nice just to see some decorations
on the walls in the cafeteria." Ms. Grisseu
said. "It can be kind of drab over there. It's
just a nice change to see some color on the
walls."
The Players are hoping to locate a piano
thai can be keep in the public assembly
building at all times so the chorus can con
tinue to grow.
"Wc think the programs have been go
ing very well," Ms. Alexander said. "But
it's just so hard to be organized and struc
tured during a lunch break. It's just a group
of people that love to sing."
Ms. Grissett added, "It's not like we do
it on county lime either. We sacrifice our
own time. It takes devotion."
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