Hi District 17 List:
If you have not already heard about it, I wanted you to
know about a
at the W.O. Smith Community Music School. I
am pleased to report that we
have some wonderful folks who will be our "Roasters" for the evening
including former Vice-mayor Howard Gentry, Rev. Sonnye Dixon, Rev.
Janet Wolf, Rev. Don Beisswenger, and Rev. David Rainey. In addition,
I have also been pressed into service for the cause.
Many of you know Bill as the founding pastor of Edgehill United
Methodist Church, where he served for 30 years (Unheard of, for a
United Methodist pastor!). You may also know him as a tireless
advocate for low and moderate income people, for affordable housing,
for the Edgehill neighborhood, and for all that is good and right in
the world (Only a small exaggeration!). But you may not know all the
dirt ...... er, "facts" that we have dug up on him. Come to the roast
to hear it all!
Bill Barnes is being a great sport about this, as this is a
fundraiser for the Neighborhoods Resource Center, and he has
been on the NRC board for years. (Of course, NRC is where I work, and
we have 5 staff people working with various neighborhood groups,
helping them to make change in
their own communities.) However, our main goals in planning this
roast are: (1)
that Bill be honored as well as teased unmercifully, and (2) that we
all have a
great time!!
TWO THINGS:
(1) I hope that you will be
able to attend this roast to honor Bill and help NRC raise a little
money!
The
ticket price is a little high for some folks -- $50 -- but after all,
it IS a fundraiser! There will be "heavy" appetizers and drinks, as
well. We are encouraging donations from churches, groups, and
individuals to help some people come to the event that may not be able
to afford this amount. (It would just NOT make sense to have a roast
to honor Bill Barnes and then have it be non-affordable for anybody.)
So if anyone CANNOT afford
the tickets, please tell them to come anyway -- but give me a call or
e-mail so I know this. And any donation they can make toward
the cost of the ticket is MOST appreciated.
(2) We are still trying to get out
the word about the roast, so if you will, please forward this e-mail to people on
your contact list who might know Bill or appreciate the work
that he has done over so many years. Telling a few friends or
announcing it at gatherings are always excellent strategies!!!.
People need to e-mail or call us to say they are
coming -- so we have enough food, etc!!
I have attached a press
release with some facts about the event and about Bill, as well as
a poster
--- in case you have places that a poster could be used for promotion.
I appreciate anything that you can do to help us get the word
out!! And of course, e-mail or call me if you have any questions!
Mike 289-4216
Rev. Bill
Barnes Celebration
Roast em',
Toast em', Boast em'
Saturday, April
25th
W.O. Smith
School
1125 8th Avenue
South
6:00pm- Drinks
& Appetizers
7:00pm- Roast
$50 per person
**Sponsorships available for
those who cannot afford the cost but would like to attend.
