THE
GRIOT
The
Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society, Inc. Newsletter
December 2002 - Volume 3 Issue
3
P. O. Box 6, Sapelo Island, GA 31327
sicarsferry1@aol.com
Karen Grovner,
Editor
Dr. Benjamin F. Lewis, Asst. Editor
Cultural Day
2002 on Sapelo Island (SOLD OUT!!!!)
Responses from Attendees
Wonderful time! Enjoyed every minute! Tour was great! Great experience!
Very enjoyable! Loved it! Food was superb! Entertainment was great!!
Would change nothing! Will be back next year! Thank you, Lord!
The Sapelo
Island Cultural and Revitalization Society, Inc. sponsored Cultural Day
2002 on Saturday, October 19, 2002 from 9 am to 5 pm on Sapelo Island,
off the east coast of Georgia. This annual event showcased the history,
culture and legacy of the original Gullah/Geechee people who are direct
descendants of slaves. The Gullah/Geechee community on Sapelo Island still
maintains many elements of the unique West African culture; language and
traditions brought over from the “Rice Coast” of Africa by
their ancestors.
Activities included
music, storytelling, dancing, and cultural-demonstrations. The participating
artists were the McIntosh County Shouters, The Buffalo Soldiers, The Gospel
Messengers, The Moran Family, Lillian Baptiste, Louise Cohen, the Sea
Island Singers and the Djedje-Gervais and Company African Dance Troupe
along with Hog Hummock Youth Dancers. Some of the demonstrations included
fish netting, net casting and basket weaving. Numerous slave artifacts
and herbs peculiar to Sapelo were on display. Gourmet Island foods included
smoked mullets and grits, deviled crabs, potato salad with shrimp, low
county boil and all forms of chicken and ribs (including jerk chicken
and pork prepared by an authentic Jamaican chef), homemade pies and cakes.
This year, vendors exhibited only African American cultural items.
Ticket prices to
attend this event were $20 for non-SICARS members and $15 for SICARS members.
People came from Chicago, Florida, North and South Carolina, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, all over Georgia and all. We had a great time.
Calendar
of Events 2003
Spring
Food, Jazz and Blues Festival
March 29, 2003
Meridian Dock in Meridian, GA
Beach
Party
June 28, 2003
Sapelo Island, GA
Cultural
Day
October 18, 2003
Sapelo Island, GA
|
SICARS Annual
Appreciation Party
SICARS
Annual Appreciation Party at the Farmers’ Alliance Hall was held
on Saturday, November 23, 2002, immediately following SICARS annual Board
meeting at 10 a.m.. All SICARS members, Island workers, residents and
descendants were invited. SICARS provided fried fish and red rice. Participants
were asked to bring their favorite covered dish.
Thanks
to all for your continued support throughout the year 2002.
Congratulations
to our Executive Director
Governor’s Appointment
Executive Director Carolyn Dowse has been appointed to the Sapelo Island
Heritage Authority in Atlanta, Georgia for a term of four years. Executive
Director Dowse will represent the Hog Hummock Community of Sapelo Island.
Other members of the Authority are Governor Roy Barnes as Chairman, Georgia
State Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Lonice Barrett, Georgia
State Properties Commissioner Ray Crawford and Georgia State Human Relations
Commissioner Brenda Cornelius ex-officio member. The purpose of the Authority
is to ensure the preservation of the culture of the Gullah/Geechee people
of Georgia. The date of the official Swearing In by Governor Barnes at
the State Capitol was Friday, October 4, 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia at 4
pm. Congratulations to Carolyn Dowse and Hog Hummock Community!!!
Sharing
with our community
Flower-strewn pathways, all our lives through;
God hath not promised Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, Peace without pain.
But God hath promised Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, Light for the way,
Grace for the trials, Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, Undying love.
In loving memory of our dear departed love one
Sis. Rosa Lee Walker Rogers
|
St.
Luke Baptist Church Women’s Prayer Breakfast
The St. Luke Baptist Church of Sapelo Island recently celebrated their
annual Women’s Prayer Breakfast. This event took place on August
17, 2002. The women enjoyed a spirit filled moment of worship, while the
men prepared the meal.
Sapelo Island Descendants Homecoming Celebration
The First African Baptist Church at Raccoon Bluff on Sapelo Island recently
celebrated their second annual descendants’ homecoming. This event
was held on August 25, 2002. The guest speaker for this occasion was the
Rev. J. D. Shaw. Members of Mills Grove Baptist Church, Waynesboro, GA
accompanied Rev. Shaw. The Gospel Messengers, of Crescent, GA rendered
music. All in attendance had a splendid time. God blessed the day with
beautiful sunshine. Dinner was served on the grounds under tents. Members
of The First African Baptist Church and The St. Luke Baptist Church, along
with descendants from the mainland, embraced with hugs, smiles and remembrance
of the “days of old”.
First African
Baptist Celebrates Annual Day in White Services
The First African Baptist Church celebrated their 17th Annual Day in White
Services on September 22, 2002. The speaker for this occasion was the
Rev. Johnny Timmons. Members of his congregation of the Calvary Baptist
Church of Liberty County accompanied Rev. Timmons. Continental breakfast
was served and following the morning worship a fellowship dinner was held
in the church’s annex. Many thanks to all members of the First African
Baptist and St. Luke Baptist Church and all other visitors for their participation
in this program and all else that was done to help with this event.
First African
Baptist Sunday School Picnic
The First African Baptist Church of Sapelo Island held their second annual
Sunday School Picnic. This event took place on November 2, 2002. This
event was sponsored by the Sunday School and consisted of worship, games
and lunch for all island residents. Guest churches were Bay Harbor Church
of God and Abysynia Baptist , both of Brunswick, GA.
Thank you,
SICARS !!!
The First African Baptist Church, along with the committee of the Second
Annual Descendants homecoming at Raccoon Bluff would like to say thank
you to SICARS’ President, Ronald Johnson and his staff for the cooperation
and usage of the ground tents. Special thanks to Chairperson Jerome Dixon
and his helpers, for their time volunteering, along with church members
to prepare the tents for the event. We pray that God will continue to
bless Mr. Dixon, along with SICARS. Once again, thank you, SICARS!
SICARS Advisory Task Force
The
Advisory Task Force, under the leadership of Cornelia Bailey and James
O. Thomas meets quarterly at the SICARS Multi-Purpose Center. At the last
meeting on July 20, 2002, a tour conducted by Chairperson Cornelia Bailey
provided a first hand view of the locations of projects included in the
Hog Hummock Community Land Use Plan. The locations toured included Farmer’s
Alliance Hall, areas where the following projects will be located: mechanic
shop, residential housing, medical facility, artist retreat, cultural
village, child care facility, plant nursery, recreational facility, organic
garden, nature trail, warehouse/storage and open land/wetland. The tour
provided greater insight and appreciation for the Hog Hummock Community
Land Use Plan. The Advisory Task Force also now clearly can visualize
how and what SICARS is planning to implement.
Next Advisory Task Force Meeting will be
February 15, 2003
Library Grant
Jim Darby, Regional Library Director, is assisting Sapelo Island Cultural
and Revitalization Society, Inc. (SICARS) with the library project. The
Three Rivers Regional Library System, the Ida Hilton Public Library of
Darien and McIntosh County and SICARS are working toward the establishment
of a branch library in the Hog Hummock Community on Sapelo Island. This
project will place a beginning collection in the facility provided by
SICARS and it will also provide basic computer hardware and software to
link Sapelo to the resources of GALILEO, PINES, and the other informational
sources which most Georgians already have in their public libraries. Recently
a grant was submitted requesting $16,950 to promote library services that
provide all users access to information through state, regional, national
and international electronic networks. This grant also provide linkages
among and between libraries and to promote target library services to
people of diverse geographic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds,
to individuals with disabilities, and to people with limited functional
literary and information skills. The books, along with professional and
clerical library assistance, will be provided by the Three Rivers Regional
Library system. The software and hardware will be purchased. In-kind services
of $31,933.20 will be provided by the library and partnering agencies.
Look
for postings of the library opening hours in the near future!
Beach Splash 2002 (Sold Out!!!)
SICARS’ Beach Splash 2002 held on Saturday, June 29th was a great
success. This year, we added all day competitive volleyball (organized
by Hurbert Hillary) as an annual event and the children’s games
(organized by staff, Mary Bailey) with prizes from area businesses. The
weather was perfect. Additionally, there were door prizes given away which
included cruises from the Savannah River Boat Cruise Line of Savannah,
GA and the Emerald Princess Cruise Line in Brunswick, GA, movie passes
from Island Cinema of St. Simons Island and a gift certificate fro the
Prime Outlets Mall. Island guests had their choice of a day of relaxation,
a tour of the island, great food including a Low Country Boil, music,
and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. All had a great time. Kudos to the
entire staff, committee chairpersons and other volunteers for organizing
such a great event.
Thank you to all the
following businesses, which donated items for Beach Splash 2002.
• McDonald’s-
Meal Tickets – Hinesville, GA
• Island Cinema – Movie Passes – St. Simon’s
Island, GA
• Burger King- Meal Tickets – St. Simon’s Island,
GA
• Wal-Mart – Prizes – Brunswick, GA
• Savannah River Street/River Boat- Cruise Passes – Savannah,
GA
• Just 4 Fun Toys – Prizes – St. Simon’s Island,
GA
• Prime Outlets Darien – Gift Certificate – Darien,
GA
• Emerald Princess Cruise Line – Brunswick, GA
Sapelo Youth
Celebrate Kids’ Week
Youth residents and descendants of Hog Hummock Community on Sapelo Island
celebrated Kids’ Week with a bang.
Kids’ Week Program Director, Mary Bailey and residents of the community
put together a weeklong program that consisted of photography, enhancing
writing and communications skills, along with community and music appreciation.
Two interns of the University of Georgia Marine Institute took the children
on a tour of the lab. Mrs. & Mrs. Lewis Heidel of Brunswick, GA came
to the community and taught the children how to make pizza from scratch.
Maureen Heidel allowed the children to express their own wonderful and
unique individuality by designing a heritage quilt. The quilt is hanging
in the Media Center to be enjoyed by all for years to come. Activities
culminated with an overnight trip to Valdosta’s Wild Adventures
Theme Park.
Kids’ Week ended
with a short program, where the children displayed their Kids’ Week
projects. This was truly memorable Kids’ Week 2002. Once again,
we would like to thank all those who helped to make Kids’ Week 2002
a great success.
A Heartfelt
Community Thank You from SICARS
Our President Ronald Johnson, along with the entire SICARS staff and committees
for Beach Splash 2002, would like to say to all the Island residents,
thank you. It has been noted by SICARS’ Board of Directors, the
dynamic job of staff and island residents working together at Beach Splash
2002 that made this years’ event, the best that it has ever been.
Again, from the entire SICARS Board and staff, thank you. We could not
have done it without you!!
We would like to express
gratitude to all SICARS staff and volunteers for donation of time and
assistance with all projects during 2002.
Training Sessions
In order to ensure a productive and efficient operation, SICARS contracted
with the Kenneth J. Jones of Jacksonville, FL to conduct a series of training
sessions. Several have already been completed. They were constructed to
enhance SICARS administrator and staff in the areas of organizational
planning, business planning, budgeting and fiscal management, review of
government contracts and compliance and program planning.
In-Kind Services and Goods
SICARS is documenting all in-kind services and goods. Forms for this documentation
are available in SICARS office. Call or e-mail the SICARS office and request
a copy of the form. SICARS is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporations. Donations
are deductible to the full extent provided by the Internal Revenue Service
regulations. Be sure to check with your tax consultant relative to taxable
deductions.