By TOMIE LUNSFORD
Telegram Staff Writer
The Bahá'i faith is a religion like any other, but it has no church and no pastor. Instead the Bahá'is are led by a nine-member spiritual assembly.
'But only in the administrative sense,' said Vina Stasik of Temple, chairperson of the newly formed Bahá'i assembly in Temple. 'There's an elected board of directors with a treasurer and vice-chairperson and officers like that, but we don't lead the prayers or devotionals.'
At a Bahá'i gathering, everyone sits in a circle, and attendees have equal voice and equal right to participate.
'Women are equal to men,' said Dondie Crook of Temple, assembly secretary. 'And children can participate like adults.'
Having formed April 20, the Temple spiritual assembly of the Bahá'i faith has met regularly at Ms. Stasik's home.
'Our weekly devotionals will take place on Sundays at my house,' Ms. Stasik said. 'Those will start sometime this month.'
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Homeless not hopeless: Program supports kids who've hit hard times
By TOMIE LUNSFORD
Telegram Staff Writer
Anna thought she'd never see a cap and gown.
She was 15, pregnant and alone after the death of her mother. And she was homeless.
So graduation didn't seem possible. It wasn't even a priority.
'I was just trying to get by,' said Anna, a Belton High School senior whose real name is being withheld. 'There was too much of everything else to worry about.'
Life was hard. Everyday brought the challenge of finding food, shelter and safety.
'That's how it was, and that's how I thought it would keep going,' Anna said.
But it didn't.
Thanks to Project Heartbeat, Anna will receive her high school diploma on Thursday at the Bell County Expo Center. And she'll be wearing a red cap and gown.
Telegram Staff Writer
Anna thought she'd never see a cap and gown.
She was 15, pregnant and alone after the death of her mother. And she was homeless.
So graduation didn't seem possible. It wasn't even a priority.
'I was just trying to get by,' said Anna, a Belton High School senior whose real name is being withheld. 'There was too much of everything else to worry about.'
Life was hard. Everyday brought the challenge of finding food, shelter and safety.
'That's how it was, and that's how I thought it would keep going,' Anna said.
But it didn't.
Thanks to Project Heartbeat, Anna will receive her high school diploma on Thursday at the Bell County Expo Center. And she'll be wearing a red cap and gown.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Having the life of her time: Woman shares history through her ancestors' eyes
By TOMIE LUNSFORD
Telegram Staff Writer
She goes by several names, but her face is familiar throughout town.
'I'm the log cabin lady at the Bell County Museum,' said Welba Dorsey of Belton. 'I'm part of the exhibit. I dress up as one of my early Texas relatives and talk about what it was like to be a Texas pioneer.'
But the Texas pioneer is not the only ancestor she impersonates. In programs for schoolchildren and civic groups, she also portrays relatives who lived in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and early colonial America.
'It's thanks to research that I'm able to do all this,' Mrs. Dorsey said.
Telegram Staff Writer
She goes by several names, but her face is familiar throughout town.
'I'm the log cabin lady at the Bell County Museum,' said Welba Dorsey of Belton. 'I'm part of the exhibit. I dress up as one of my early Texas relatives and talk about what it was like to be a Texas pioneer.'
But the Texas pioneer is not the only ancestor she impersonates. In programs for schoolchildren and civic groups, she also portrays relatives who lived in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and early colonial America.
'It's thanks to research that I'm able to do all this,' Mrs. Dorsey said.
Family faces
By TOMIE LUNSFORD
Telegram Staff Writer
Learning about her ancestors has been a joy for Welba Dorsey of Belton.
'The value in doing genealogical research is in the enjoyment and leaving a sense of heritage for your children,' Mrs. Dorsey said. 'It has helped me know more about myself.'
Her work has also reinforced the lessons she learned in childhood.
'I was raised with the phrase, 'You should behave like a southern lady,'' Mrs. Dorsey said. 'With everything I learned about my ancestors, I have a better idea of what a southern lady is. She is polite, well-mannered, strong and capable, and she takes pride in her family and keepsakes.'
Telegram Staff Writer
Learning about her ancestors has been a joy for Welba Dorsey of Belton.
'The value in doing genealogical research is in the enjoyment and leaving a sense of heritage for your children,' Mrs. Dorsey said. 'It has helped me know more about myself.'
Her work has also reinforced the lessons she learned in childhood.
'I was raised with the phrase, 'You should behave like a southern lady,'' Mrs. Dorsey said. 'With everything I learned about my ancestors, I have a better idea of what a southern lady is. She is polite, well-mannered, strong and capable, and she takes pride in her family and keepsakes.'
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Tenacity of tiny Russian congregation inspires local team
By TOMIE LUNSFORD
Telegram Staff Writer
Tears fell at Monday's meeting of the Church Women of the Temple Area.
The heartfelt reaction was in response to the guest speakers, the Rev. Margaret Boles and Peggy Maesaka, both of First Presbyterian Church in Temple.
The pair came to talk about their summer 2008 mission trip to Russia.
'The presentation was very informative, thought-provoking and moving,' said Theda Maxfield, past president of the Church Women group.
Fellow organization member Ruth Hovel agreed.
'I was surprised to learn about the Russian government's attitude toward religion,' Ms. Hovel said.
While in Russia, Mrs. Boles and Mrs. Maesaka learned that because it's the official church of the country, the Russian Orthodox Church has power over churches of other denominations.
'The Orthodox Church can determine where and when churches of other denominations are planted,' Mrs. Boles said. 'As a result, the other churches are often small and far away from towns.'
Telegram Staff Writer
Tears fell at Monday's meeting of the Church Women of the Temple Area.
The heartfelt reaction was in response to the guest speakers, the Rev. Margaret Boles and Peggy Maesaka, both of First Presbyterian Church in Temple.
The pair came to talk about their summer 2008 mission trip to Russia.
'The presentation was very informative, thought-provoking and moving,' said Theda Maxfield, past president of the Church Women group.
Fellow organization member Ruth Hovel agreed.
'I was surprised to learn about the Russian government's attitude toward religion,' Ms. Hovel said.
While in Russia, Mrs. Boles and Mrs. Maesaka learned that because it's the official church of the country, the Russian Orthodox Church has power over churches of other denominations.
'The Orthodox Church can determine where and when churches of other denominations are planted,' Mrs. Boles said. 'As a result, the other churches are often small and far away from towns.'
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Nurses salute alumni group's 100 years
By TOMIE LUNSFORD
Telegram Staff Writer
More than 2,790 people have graduated from the Scott & White School of Nursing.
'And they're scattered all over,' said Grace Labaj, class of 1958, former dean of the Scott & White College of Nursing at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. 'They come to Temple to study, and some stay, but a lot move on.'
There's one thing that keeps track of where they go. That's the annual directory produced by the nursing school's Alumni Association.
'It's a very useful tool,' Labaj said. 'It helps us maintain contact with the graduates and keep tabs on their careers.'
The directory is just one reason why the Alumni Association is important.
The 100-year-old organization is always raising money for nursing scholarships, and every term, it hosts a congratulatory dinner for graduating nursing students.
Telegram Staff Writer
More than 2,790 people have graduated from the Scott & White School of Nursing.
'And they're scattered all over,' said Grace Labaj, class of 1958, former dean of the Scott & White College of Nursing at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. 'They come to Temple to study, and some stay, but a lot move on.'
There's one thing that keeps track of where they go. That's the annual directory produced by the nursing school's Alumni Association.
'It's a very useful tool,' Labaj said. 'It helps us maintain contact with the graduates and keep tabs on their careers.'
The directory is just one reason why the Alumni Association is important.
The 100-year-old organization is always raising money for nursing scholarships, and every term, it hosts a congratulatory dinner for graduating nursing students.
Nursing memories
By TOMIE LUNSFORD
Telegram Staff Writer
LaVerne McDaniel of Thrall enrolled in the Scott & White School of Nursing in 1949. She was 18.
'The schedule was tough,' she said.
Breakfast was at 6 a.m. sharp.
'And from 7 to 10 you had 'a.m. cares,' Ms. McDaniel said. 'It was a morning round of caring for patients. You washed their face, brushed their teeth and served them breakfast.'
Then it was time for classes.
'Lunch came around but it was only for half an hour,' Ms. McDaniel said. 'Then you were back in class until 5 or 6, when it was time for 'p.m. cares.' That was when you got the patients ready for bed.'
Telegram Staff Writer
LaVerne McDaniel of Thrall enrolled in the Scott & White School of Nursing in 1949. She was 18.
'The schedule was tough,' she said.
Breakfast was at 6 a.m. sharp.
'And from 7 to 10 you had 'a.m. cares,' Ms. McDaniel said. 'It was a morning round of caring for patients. You washed their face, brushed their teeth and served them breakfast.'
Then it was time for classes.
'Lunch came around but it was only for half an hour,' Ms. McDaniel said. 'Then you were back in class until 5 or 6, when it was time for 'p.m. cares.' That was when you got the patients ready for bed.'
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