From the January - February 2005 Issue
Outstanding Achiever - Sylvia Goslee
Our Outstanding Achiever for this issue is Sylvia Goslee, 2004-2006 State Grand Loyal Lady of the Willard W. Allen State (Maryland) Grand Assembly of the Order of the Golden Circle and past Department (State) president of the American Legion Auxiliary. Only a few, if any, have ever held the top state post in both prestigious organizations.
Active in the Prince Hall Masonry, Goslee is a member of Friendship Chapter #57 of the Order of the Eastern Star and John H. Jones Assembly #284 of the Order of the Golden Circle, of which she is past chapter president. Mrs. Goslee is also a member of Sharptown Columbia American Legion Auxiliary Unit #269 and has been its president. She rose to the Department (State) president of the AL Auxiliary in 2001.
A San Domingo native, Goslee is a life-long resident of that area. She attended Salisbury High School and retired after a 26-year career at the U of MD Extension Service. She still works part-time for Dove Point as a house counselor and NW Elementary School as a home school liaison. Married to Rhuel Goslee for 43 years, the couple has six children. She is affiliated with Zion United Methodist Church in San Domingo.
Unsung Hero - Leon Johnson, Sr.
Our Unsung Hero for this issue is Leon Johnson, Sr. or Princess Anne, MD. The long-time advocate for migrant and seasonal farmworkers served on the Maryland governor's Commission on Migratory and Seasonal Farmworkers from 1977 through 2003 and helped to lead the State in developing programs for this target group that are a model for other states across the Nation.
A career-long Agriculture Extension Agent, Johnson retired from the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service in 1994 after achieving the rank of Associate Professor and Full Professor. The Akins, South Carolina native has been a resident of The Shore for 42 years. He earned his Bachelors and Masters of Science Degrees from South Carolina State U. and studied further at the University of Maryland College Park becoming an Advanced Graduate Specialist.
Johnson has been married to his wife, Jane since 1957 and they are the parents of two grown children.
More News:
1,200 attend the 20th M. L. King Banquet
 Above, Coalition VP George Smith (l) reads the citation honoring (r-l) President Jesse Ballard, Treasurer Marion "Bud" Barkley, & Program Chair Norma Lee Barkley for their 20 years of service to the celebration. |
The Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards were presented to the major contributors to Salisbury's Salvation Army Westside Youth Center - Richard F. Hazel, Purdue Farms, Laws & Robertson, PA, Prince Hall Freemasons Grand Lodge of the State of MD and Jurisdiction. American Legion Post #145, VFW Post #10159.
Special recognitions were given to the leaders of the Tri-County Organizations' Coalition, Inc. who have led the celebration over the last 20 years. President Jesse Ballard, Treasurer Marion "Bud" Barkley, and Program Chair-person Norma Lee Barkley were honored for their 20 years of service to the Coalition and to the community.
This year's speaker was Rev. Dr. John Louis Wright, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Guilford since 1972 and past president of the Maryland State Conference of NAACP Branches.
Dorchester NAACP Has Its MLK Breakfast
The 17th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast was held at 7am on January 17th at Bethel AME Church in Cambridge. Dr. George R. Kent, retired Dorchester County educator and Delaware State U. staff member was the guest speaker.
The theme was "Remembering the Legacy, Working in the Present, & Moving towards the Future in Education, Housing, Political Action, Legal Redress, & Other Areas for the Betterment of the Community." The service is sponsored by the Dorchester County Branch of the NAACP.
5th Annual Harriet Tubman Day Celebration March 10.
The Harriet Tubman Organization will have its Harriet Tubman Day Celebration and dinner Saturday, March 12th at 5:30pm in the Dorchester Elks Lodge #223. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Donations accepted.
For more information about both celebrations, contact Evelyn Townsend, president of the Harriet Tubman Organization, at the museum (410-228-0401) or at home (410-228-3106).
The Maryland General Assembly enacted legislation in March 2000 that designated March 10 annually as Harriet Tubman Remembrance Day in the State. For information about celebrations nationwide, contact Louis Fields, president of the African American tourism Council of Maryland at 410-783-5469 or e-mail him at: aatcofmd @aol.com
Fundraiser held for building a Frederick Douglass Statute
The Frederick Douglass Memorial Action Coalition, known as "Fred's Army", held its 2004 Annual fundraiser - Gala at the Tidewater Inn in Easton on December 4, 2004. Proceeds from the tickets to the Dinner-Dance and the ads in the souvenir program go to fund the building of a Statute to memorialize Frederick Douglass in the Talbot County Courthouse yard in Easton.
The keynote speaker for the evening was Leonard Blackshear, president of the Kunta Kinte Alex-Haley Foundation. The founder and president of the group is Moonyene Jackson-Amis, Easton Town Concilwoman.
Evelyn Townsend Heads The Harriet Tubman Coalition
The president of the Harriet Tubman Organization for the last ten years is Evelyn W. Townsend of Cambridge. She has been promoting the historical significance of Dorchester County in the Underground Railroad movement and as the birthplace of Harriet Tubman all those years. She is also pleading for our help to strengthen the Coalition and African American involvement in the development of tourism on the Shore around the Underground Railroad Historical Sites recognition.
The Harriet Tubman Organization, Inc. operates the Underground Railroad museum and gift shop in Cambridge, conducts tours to the birthplace of the Underground Railroad conductress, and sponsors an annual Harriet Tubman Day celebration.
A native of NC, Mrs. Townsend is a retired public school teacher who started her career in Talbot County in 1945 and move to Cambridge in 1955 when she married the late David Townsend. A Dorchester County Most Beautiful Person award recipient years ago, Mrs. Townsend was recognized in National Register's Who's Who in Executives Professionals in its 2004-2005 issue. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and vice president of the Dorchester County Branch of the NAACP.
UMES Winter Commencement Is Held
UMES held its winter commencement on December 18, in the William P. Hytche Athletic Center. Some 194 students received graduate and under-graduate degrees.
Charles Ogletree, the Harvard Law School Jesse Climenko Professor of Law and vice dean for the clinical programs, delivered the commencement address. He is a prominent legal theorist who has made an international reputation by taking a hard look at complex issues of law and by working to secure the equal rights guaranteed for everyone by the Constitution.
Homecoming is set for 10th-13th of February
The homecoming theme for this year is "Celebrating Hawk Love" and there are several events planned. The Hawks basketball teams play Florida A&M University on February 12, 2005 at the William P. Hytche Athletic Ctr. The Lady hawks game starts at 2 pm and the Fighting Hawks start play around 4pm. Tickets for the games are $12.
Nikki Giovanni to speak at SU March 16th
Several activities are planned to celebrate Black History Month on the campus of Salisbury University. They will be highlighted by a visit from famed poet, writer and lecturer, Mikki Giovanni at 7 pm in Holloway Hall Auditorium. Reception immediately following. For information about other events, please call 410-548-4503.
