And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
From: "Monroe Gilmour" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Feb 23, 1999
Dear Friends, Relatives, & Colleagues of Bruce,
Bruce is doing great. He was moved out of ICU and is in a regular room
at the VA hospital here in Asheville. He called last evening before I left
for the public hearing described below to encourage us. Neither Bruce nor
any of us feel alone with all the support from you all and others around the
country. NPR is here today along with the Philadelphai Enquirer and
tonight is the MSNBC Michael Sullivan show. The letter below will tell a
bit more about the public hearing and the truly pitiful performance by the
Erwin Dt. Lions Club.
Best,
Monroe
Feb 23, 1999
TO: Lions Club International [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Feb. 22, 1999 Public Hearing on Mascot Issue
Statement of local Lions Club President
Dear Ms. McMahan,
Thank you for your fax number. I hope you received the copy of the local
Erwin Dt. Lions club advertisement urging local residents to come oppose
eliminating American Indian mascots at Erwin High School. I faxed along
with it four other sheets of background information.
The school board's public meeting last night drew a 1000 people
according to the paper. It was sad to see the Lions Club speaking on behalf
of retaining the American Indian mascots. Of all the people who spoke to
oppose eliminating the mascot, the Lions Club was the only organization to
do so.
The President of the Erwin Dt. Lions Club identified himself as Houston
Henderson and he read the club's position which had been voted on. Then
according to my notes, he said, "They (the American Indians) seem to say we
are stepping on their foot." ---(pause--then forcefully:) "Well, cut off
your foot." It was in some ways the harshest thing said during the
meeting.
The side for changing the mascots included the Executive Director of the
Asheville-Buncombe County Community Relations Council, teachers from the
school, a minister, and others who spoke of the substantive educational and
moral issues. The other side, quite frankly, sounded like a throw-back to
the 1960s discussions on desegregatioin. One speaker said that teachers
who wanted it changed should resign or be fired. Another said that the
Indian family that brought the complaint to the Justice Department were just
trying to make money.
Word is getting out around the country about the Lions Club's position
and actions (they had another ad in an extra edition of a very right wing
weekly that was handed out at the meeting. I'll fax you a copy.) I do hope
Lions International will back the vast majority of Lions Clubs that I know
must be or will be shocked and embarrassed to learn about this club's
activities. I hope Lions International will publically correct the record
on the Lions Club's position and respect for American Indians. MSNBC is
doing a program tonight, NPR is here today for interviews, and the
Philadelphia Enquirer is here today also. Lions Club activity will be a
part of all these interviews after the mean words of the local club's
president last night.
I urge Lions International to move quickly. Already people are talking
about an organization that helps the blind not having a vision itself. That
image is bound to gain a foothold in public perception without action by
Lions International.
Thank you again and please let me know if you need more information.
Sincerely,
Monroe Gilmour, Coordinator
WNCCEIB
828-669-6677
828-669-8862
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.main.nc.us/wncceib/
-----Original Message-----
From: PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Monroe Gilmour <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Monday, February 22, 1999 11:25 AM
Subject: Re: Asheville N.C. situtation
>Dear Mr. Gilmour:
>
>I forgot to give you my fax number -- I would be very interesting in seeing
the "Thank you.". Please send it to:
>630-571-1685.
>
>Sincerely,
>Janet McMahan
>
>----------
>> Feb. 20, 1999
>> Dear Ms. McMahan,
>> In today's Asheville Citizen-Times (issues distributed in the Erwin
High
>> Schoo area), there is a letter-size insert "paid for by the Erwin
District
>> Lion's Club" . Please act quickly and publically to counter the
negative
>> image of all Lions being put forward by this misguided local Lions Club.
>> If you give me a fax number I will fax the insert to youThank you. (For
>> your refrence: Asheville Citizen-Times telephone no. is 828-251-5610)
>> Thank you.
>> Here is the text: ATTENTION!!!
>> The mascot names at Erwin High School have come under attack!!!
>>
>> The Erwin District Lion's Club Believes in a community's Right to
Preserve
>> Its Heritage!!
>>
>> It's Important That Every Member Of Your Family Attend A Meeting At:
>>
>> Erwin High Gym
>> 6 pm Februray 22, 1999
>>
>> Advertisement paid for by Erwin District Lion's Club
>> (end)
>>
>> Ms. McMahan, it might also be useful for Lions Int'l to contact the Chair
of
>> the School Board and ask him to share you words with those assembled. He
is
>> Wendell Begley at 828-669-7991 (President of Black Mountain Savings
Bank)
>>
>> Thanks again for your prompt attention to this matter.
>> Monroe Gilmour, Coordinator
>> WNCCEIB
>> 828-669-6677
>> www.main.nc.us/wncceib/
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Monroe Gilmour <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> To: PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> Date: Friday, February 19, 1999 8:46 PM
>> Subject: Re: Urgent message to President
>>
>>
>> >Feb. 19, 1999
>> >Dear Ms. McMahan,
>> >Thank you very much for your quick reply and for taking action via your
>> >legal department. We urge you to have the Club make public whatever
the
>> >decision is so as to repair the perception of the Lions Club is
>> >institutionally against American Indians --the TV coverage was quite
>> >striking and will be difficult to erase but the effort will be worth it
for
>> >the Lions' image in this region (especially with all the national media
>> >covering this situation).
>> >Monroe Gilmour, Coordinator
>> >WNCCEIB
>> >828-669-6677
>> >828-669-8862 fax
>> >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >From: PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >To: Monroe Gilmour <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >Date: Friday, February 19, 1999 5:18 PM
>> >Subject: Re: Urgent message to President
>> >
>> >
>> >>Dear Mr. Gilmour
>> >>Thank you for your message regarding the Erwin Lions Club. We are
fully
>> >aware of the situation. Our Legal Division is contacting the club
>> >regarding the matter.
>> >>
>> >>Sincerely,
>> >>
>> >>Janet McMahan
>> >>Public Relations Manager
>> >>
>> >>----------
>> >>> Dear Lions Friends,
>> >>> I sent an urgent message to the President by email about a Lions Club
in
>> >>> Asheville, North Carolina engaging in what appears to be activity
>> >inconsistent
>> >>> with Lions goals and mission. Please check with the President's email
>> and
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>> ensure that he gets it or others in the organization can take action.
>> >Lions
>> >>> is adding to a volatile situation here in confronting a Justice
>> >Department
>> >>> probe of local schools for discrimination.
>> >>> Thank you
>> >>> Monroe Gilmour
>> >>> 828-669-6677
>> >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> >>
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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