- Louise Oliver, President
OFFICERS
President: Louise Oliver
Treasurer: Melbon Jackson
Secretary: Martha Cummings
Business Mgr: William Oliver
MEMBERS:
Walter Jones
John Cummings
Kirby Price
Rhonda Cummings, Member at Large
Reflections from 41st Annual Scholarship Ball – 2009
40th Year Annual Scholarship Celebration
Labor Day weekend, September 5 thru7, 2009, marked a significant milestone in the history of the Maconite National Scholarship Organization. Filled with the energy of over 350 enthusiastic Maconites, the Holiday Inn of Independence, a nearby suburb of Cleveland, Ohio was the site of the 40th year annual Scholarship Banquet Celebration.
The venue provided an excellent opportunity for networking, exploring new ideas, renewing relationships, and celebrating the accomplishment of the 40th year old organization. In continuation of tradition, the weekend kicked off Friday night with the National Board meeting, followed by a “meet and greet” reception, boasting an impressive array of buffet culinary delights. The National Advisory Committee formed by National President, Dorothy Stewart, proudly introduced the newly launched National website (www.maconitereunion.org) as well as presented fund raising concepts and strategies for the Board’s consideration and/or approval for the 2010 coming year. New and improved National By-Laws were also presented for ratification. Saturday presented an opportunity for shopping, visiting relatives and friends or just exploring the suburban Cleveland area.
Saturday night kicked of with a bang! Having recently returned from the Women’s Expo, held at McCormick Place in the “Windy City” of Chicago, the keynote lecturer, renowned motivational speaker and networking guru, George Fraser was absolutely inspiring as he expounded upon the important, values and principals of generational success (for further information, please visit website: www.
It was truly a joy to see so many interested and energized Maconites interacting and enjoying themselves. The inactive Detroit chapter renewed its commitment while the newly formed Nashville chapter was embraced with open arms as they joined the Maconite National Organization in its quest to inspire high school students to achieve excellence through mentoring and the awarding of monetary scholarships YMLOT (young maconite leader of tomorrow) and scholarship recipients, Eric Knuckles, Jr., son of Cleveland Maconite member and April Daniels celebrated the momentous occasion and thrilled audiences in musical tributes.
In keeping with our mission of inspiring and motivating students to achieve excellence through the pursuit of higher education, nine (9) deserving students were presented scholarship awards, followed by an enchanted evening of dining, dancing and camaraderie. According to Nat’l president, Dorothy Stewart, “the annual events just keep getting better and better every year”.
As an added event on Sunday, a good number of Maconites traveled to a nearby Casino, while others enjoyed the hospitality of fellow Maconite and Cleveland native and club member Walter Jones in a um, um good down home back yard cookout, followed by Sunday night’s farewell-bon voyage party back at the hotel. Please join us as we gear-up; God willing, for another year of commemoration in the city of the “golden arches.” See U in St. Louie! Together, We Can Make It, Yes We Can!
