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Friday, July 19, 2013
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Friday, July 19, 2013
Dear Family & Friends,
July 11-14 the family celebrated the 40th Annual Reunion in
grand style. Thank you to the Cleveland
Chapter and to all who attended this historic event. I have received many positive comments from
those who attended and those who have seen photos, videos, the newsletter, or
spoken with others.
I have also received several inquiries regarding the absence of
scholarship awards for the first time since 1984. I hope to alleviate some confusion by
addressing that issue here. If you
attended the Friday Evening Banquet you probably recall my message from the
lectern entitled Dreams Do Not Die. The message, hastily prepared in my mind as I
was handed the microphone, was meant to explain the absence of the awards while
cushioning the impact of that absence.
The priorities and needs of our young people include education,
inspiration and the acknowledgement of others, particularly family. That is why in 1984, using personal funds, I
established the Synnia Solomon Scholarship Fund, giving full recognition to
Synnia Solomon, who many of us recognize as The
Dreamer, because in fact, Dreams Do
Not Die.
Understanding the needs of our young people and recognizing that none
of us are here forever, in the late 1980’s one of the local reunion chapters
agreed to fund the scholarship awards during their turn at hosting the
reunion. That bold and positive move was
repeated over and over again for the next twenty plus years, and continued through
the 2012 Reunion in Atlanta, because, Dreams
Do Not Die.
When I was asked to present the scholarship awards at the 2013 Reunion
in Cleveland, I accepted that invitation as an honor to continue the long
standing tradition of presenting chapter awards to deserving young people,
because after all, Dreams Do Not Die.
I discovered at 2:30 PM on Friday that no funds had been allocated for
scholarships to be presented during the 2013 Reunion. Many years ago, I decided that I could best
serve the family not by being a member of the local chapter, but by promoting
the use of technology, maintaining web sites, blogs, a Family Facebook Page,
publishing a family newsletter, and paying the costs of those and similar
efforts; because, Dreams Do Not Die.
The Bertram & Willie Gardner
Citizenship Awards that were handed out at the Friday Banquet were
originally planned for distribution privately on the following day. The reason for that privacy was to respect
the planning and work of the Cleveland Chapter.
The citizenship awards were privately funded and had nothing to do with
the reunion. Several individuals have
asked me about the future of the Synnia Solomon Scholarship Awards. As has been the accepted practice for over
twenty years, that question can best be answered by the hosting chapter.
I close by thanking God for causing me to create and fund the
Citizenship Awards at such a time as this, so that in spite of the
circumstances, recognition and inspiration flowed on Friday evening as further
evidence that Dreams Do Not Die!
Henry Ford
Henry thank you for clarifying what happened so that the family know the truth. Especially for those like me who could not attend.
ReplyDelete- From Facebook - Valerie Vinson
Valerie,
DeleteYou're welcome. It was the least (and the most) I could do. And thank you for your feedback
You did wonderful. Marcus Pratt Sr and his family thank you.
ReplyDeleteFrom Facebook - Clarice
Clarice,
DeleteYou and the family are welcome and THANKS SO MUCH for the feedback. Looking thankfully and prayerfully toward the future.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for all that you do for our family and for your incredible 40 years of leadership and unselfish support of the reunion effort. While it is truly regrettable that the scholarship program was not funded this year, you, once again, saved the day, and we all owe you a debt of gratitude for that. We can only hope and pray that future host committees get the ball rolling once again. The scholarship program is more important now than ever before.
ReplyDeleteFrom Facebook - Jean Ford
Jean - You're welcome, and certainly I have to give credit to a legacy and living examples that understand the process of sowing as one reaps, and the importance of attempting to be the change one wishes to see in the world. Truly the reasons the scholarship program is more important than ever could be expressed as a novel. I won't attempt to write it here, but because of the positive response, to go on living it day by day
DeleteVery good! I think you did a grand job all the way around - explaining and making up for what was obviously an oversight or misunderstanding. There should be no confusion in the future as to how this Scholarship thing works. As usual you are the communicator and have my utmost respect.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn
From Email Message - JoAnn Ford
JoAnn,
DeleteTHANKS and as usual you understand the need and the intent more than most, and also the importance of feedback.
Love you back!
Henry
Brooklyn left you a voicemail thanking you for the gift from you and your wife. We are sorry we missed this. Hope to see you next year God willing.
ReplyDeleteFrom Facebook - Clarice
Clarice,
ReplyDeleteWe did receive the voicemail and I asked Jo Ann and Marcus to pass along my appreciation for the call, because I didn't know how to reach Brooklyn. It is so special to receive a THANK YOU. It certainly is not automatic (lol). THANKS AGAIN!
Additional Reply From Clarice:
DeleteNor is graciousness and kindness automatic. She was thrilled.
Your post regarding the status of this year's reunion scholarship was an honest yet positive piece which asks for financial accountability. Your post also recognized the importance of the scholarship and what it means for the recipients. Keeping the scholarship alive sends a message to our young people that the family cares and recognizes the value of education. it was an important issue that needed to be addressed openly with all the family. Kudos
ReplyDeleteFrom Facebook - Emmanuel Lawrence
Emmanuel,
DeleteTHANKS for your understanding and constant support, and also the willingness to share your thoughts.