To The Editor

Opinion

February 20, 2012

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER C. Rudolph Knight The Daily Southerner Mon Feb 20, 2012, 04:15 PM EST

TARBORO — To the Editor:

A recent news story about the Montford Marines honors the important and too-often forgotten group of men. However, some of the statements in the story were wrong and need correction.

First, some background: In July 2004, The Phoenix Society for African American Research, Inc. was incorporated by 15 citizens of Edgecombe County, surrounding communities and neighboring states with, as its stated primary purpose and goal, “to recover, record and promote the unique history of Edgecombe County as experienced by members of its African-American community.”

The first president, Helen G. Quigless, Jr., was mostly inactive during her tenure because of illness, and she soon died. After her untimely death, I assumed the position of acting president and was, then, elected president. Under my leadership, the organization published and distributed historical documents and information about our African-American community, society and history; sponsored programs and seminars of interest; participated in many community and educational events; and made the African-American experience a focus for everyone in our community during its five years of existence. One recognition of our work of which I am particularly proud was our receiving the Newsome Award in 2008 from the North Carolina Federation of Historical Societies.

After a period of declining participation and extremely low membership, the duly elected board of directors voted in July 2009 to dissolve the non-profit corporation. Thus, The Phoenix Society for African American Research, Inc. ceased to exist at that time.

Since then, news reports have referred to what purports to be a successor organization. This wholly different group uses the name “The Phoenix Historical Society.”

Those of us who founded and worked to promote The Phoenix Society for African American Research, Inc. would like to set the record straight and inform the community that the non-profit organization we organized is no more. Anyone and any organization using a name which includes “The Phoenix Historical Society” or “The Phoenix Society” has no legitimate relationship with The Phoenix Society for African American Research, Inc. other than a rejection of the decision to dissolve the organization. Neither I, nor most of the incorporators and board members of the former organization are associated in any way with the current group.

While the original organization has ceased to be an active institution, many of its founders continue to be extremely interested in researching and educating the public about the rich history and culture of African-Americans in our community.

C. Rudolph Knight

Tarboro

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Opinion

To The Editor
To the Editor:
A recent news story about the Montford Marines honors the important and too-often forgotten group of men. However, some of the statements in the story were wrong and need correction.

February 20, 2012
Happening a special event
My first Happening on the Common was one to remember, perhaps in part because it included a wide variety of music, arts and crafts and food.
And while you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking if someone liked either music or arts and crafts, there is no such uncertainty when it comes to food.
My favorite of the day was from the Hispanic Youth Group from Tarboro’s First Baptist Church. Their tamales were, as the Campbell Soup Kids used to say, “umm, umm. good!”

May 21, 2012
A thief at large
To the Editor:
A glorious day was marred by a pickpocket, stealing from an eldery lady enjoying the day at the Happening on the Common on Saturday.

May 21, 2012
Arts Council does many things for community
Happening on the Common, which offered the opportunity for a day filled with leisurely entertainment, didn’t just happen.

May 21, 2012
Remembering Betty Perrin NeSmith
Betty Perrin NeSmith was a force of nature. I hate the past tense, but it's the grammar we use when someone dies‚ Im just not sure it's the grammar Betty would use when thinking about death. She is moving on, with things to do. She was looking for a higher plane even while grounded on this earth, and I'm happy to think of her still searching out there in the other worlds.

May 16, 2012
A great example of poor judgment
TO THE EDITOR: I was having breakfast at a restaurant last week when I was asked, What do you think of the new police chief selection? I responded with, Who did they choose? Thats when I was given the devastating news it wasn't one of our own.

May 16, 2012
Did you ever lose your vehicle?
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a parking lot, knowing in yiour heart that you remembered where you parked but faced with the realization that you didn’t?
I think many of us have been down that path, sheepishly realizing that the reason your automatic door opener isn’t working is because it’s not your vehicle.
Then, sheepishly, we walk away and begin our wandering and wondering as we try to find our wheels.

May 14, 2012
Economic growth a must
I give credit to Rich Karlgaard, a regular contributor to Forbes magazine, for many of the statistics I use in this column.
As we all know our economy is extremely sluggish to put it mildly. It’s just growing at somewhere between 1 percent and 2 percent and at this rate the economy can only get worse. In comparison, our economy has grown, on average, at a rate of 3.3 percent since the end of World War II. And even during this time frame we had two big recessions.

May 9, 2012
Rest of week just gets busier here in Tarboro
Just the other day, as the community was making final preparations for Relay for Life, we heard someone complaining about how there is “never anything to do around here.”
We beg to differ.

May 9, 2012
And we continue to walk ...
As a cancer survivor — and on behalf of other cancer survivors — thank you to everyone who has taken even the most minute role in the Relay for Life effort.
That effort continues this week when the Rocky Hock Opry rolls into town for a couple of Saturday performances at Edgecombe Community College.
Please, continue your support.

May 7, 2012
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