Newspaper Page Text
Augusta native invited to Oxford
BN s
. e,
e y )
& _,_;: @ i R ‘
. ~ AR
. \ ‘> v 4;. c“ -
Naima Imani Welcher
, Naima Imani Welcher, daugh
ter of Freddie and Portia Welcher,
has been invited to participate in
the British American Drama
Academy’s Acting Program at
Oxford in England from July -
August 1997. While there, she will
have the opportunity tostudy and
perform classical theatre.
© “This is truly a blessing. I give
all glory, honor and praise to God
and my Savior Jesus Chr'st, and I
thank everyone for your financial
support which has made it pos
sible for me to attend. Very spe
cial thank yous tomy father, broth
ers, family, church families and
friends for incredible love and
encouragement throughitall,” she
said.
Naima began performing as a
child and continued growing at
Davidson Fine Arts focusing on
drama and dance. After graduat
ing with high honors from
Davidson, she received a full-paid
academic scholarship to Howard
University in Washington, D.C.
While there, she continued to per
form and also began teaching
drama and dance in the commu
nity. In May, 1996, she graduated
Summa Cum Laude with the high
est GPA and top performance hon
ors from Howard’s College of Fine
Arts.
Next, she accepted an intern
ship at Crossroads Theatre, the
nation’s premier African-Ameri
can Theatre company, in New
Brunswick, N.J., where she per
Christian Fellowship
. % A Dynamic Spirit Filled Church
: * Positive & Practical Biblical Messages
* Uplifting Gospel Music
¢ % Certified Bible Studies
'; * Ministerial opportunties for all members
}
;
C»
' * Sunpay WorsHip 10:45 A.m.
: ® * BiBLE STUDY, THUR. 7:00 P.M.
) « WAAW - 94.7 FM, Sunpay 8 - 9 A.m.
Be N it
‘.Sflwct:s HEew At: Tobacco Rd. Elementary School Audiorium « 2397 Tobacco Rd.
' Mail Address: P.O. Bx 1461 * Augusta, GA 30903-1461
4 Ph: 1(800) 731-2310 « E-Mail: umin@csra.net :
Bethel African Methodist
.T. Episcopal Church .I.;
623 Crawford Avenue
Augusta, Georgia 30904
Rev. Larry W. Hudson, Sr. Psstor
Office: (706) 736-4060
Sunday Wednesday
9:30 Sunday School 7:00 Bible Study
11:00 WorsKip Service
FOCUS your church luncheons or
dinners in a fine restaurant. Visit
BL’s Restaurant at 1117 Laney-Walker
Blvd. or call (706) 828-7799 to
arrange your church
celebrations.
formed in several shows, worked‘
closely with the production man
ager in organizing each show andi
served as company manager. l
In addition to Crossroads,
Naima began to produce and per
form original works in prepara
tion of forming her own produc
tion company, Imani Productionsl
(Imani means “Faith” in Swahili).
The first play, Ajoyo: A Celebra-,
tion of African American History,
was an exciting roller coaster ride
through history from Africa to
America using music, movement,
and the spoken word. For Naima,
creating this piece and othersis a
joy as well as a necessity. “Beinga
Christian performing artist, I
found out quickly that there are
going to be roles that I simply
cannot do. Some people may think
that this would limit, if not kill,
my career; but God is making a
way. He continues to open doors,
and I just kinda slide through,”
she said.
Naima is most proud of her one
woman show about women in the
Bible that she developed with close
friend Yetunde Adigun, titled
Shattered Silhouettes. “I believe
that theatre should be relevant
and should speak to each of us
where we are. What better place
tofind relevant stories that speak
to everybody that the Bible. So
many people turn away from it
because they think it’s too archaic
and hard to understand—too
many thou arts and therefores.
So, I've tried to make it simple,
but real. These women in the play,
Jjust like all of us today, deal with
realissues. Eve asks ‘what forbid
den fruit have we eaten lately?
Mary ponders ‘how do I tell my
fiance that I'm pregnant...by.
someone else? and Jezebel could
be your best friend, could be you.
God has a word for everyone in
His Word, and I (by His Grace)
simply act as a translator,” she
explained.
Naima will be performing Sha
ttered Silhouettes at Servants of
God Baptist Church on July 9 at
7:30 p.m. Reverend Boler is pas
tor. All are invited to attend.
e
.
bG S |
i
:
Dr. REGINALD D. Simmons
Senior Pastor
Exploit cost-saving moves
Q. Dear Regina: I own an ac
counting firm, which I've recently
moved from prime commercial
space into a home-based office, to
offset rising costs, during a rela
tively slow year. After ten years in
business, how do we make the
change appear as a ‘positive’ to
our customer base, rather than a
‘negative’ sign?
A. The Chinese say that there is
an opportunity inherit in every
crisis. Overall, position the move
asa“moveup” ratherthana “move
backwards.” Aggressively spot
light the positive aspects of the
move, and don’t dwell on the per
sonal embarrassment that only you
are associating with the change of
address. Seize this brief window of
opportunity to step out proudly
with zany and sophisticated ad
vertising! The core message in all
of your new communications to
clients should be “To better serve
you” implying that you’re saving
your customers money by forfeit
ing the high overhead—which is a
reality! Send out zany change of
address cares—acaricature of you,
whittling away at expenses which
benefit your clients will be viewed
as lighthearted and whimsical.
Distribute press releases to busi
ness editors of various industry
trade publications which cites your
Teaming up with your secretary
The flattening of hierarchies not
withstanding; there are still secre
taries and administrative assis
tants who play akey role in getting
work completed. If you are fortu
nate enough tohave help, it is more
important than ever that you use
yoursecretary’stime well. Think of
the two of you as a single job unit.
The better you work as a team, the
more work getsaccomplished, free
ing your time to do what only you
cando. Think of the relationship as
a partnership, with both profession
als using their time most effectively
to achieve a common purpose.
Hereare 17 guidelines forbuilding
abetterrelationship with yoursecre
tary.
1. Consider your secretary as a
key member of your team. Be sure
to include him or her'in your team
meetings. Do not keep secrets or
hold information so tightly that
you inhibit his or her ability to
assist and support your efforts.
2. Discuss goals, priorities and
plans with yoursecretary onaregu
lar basis. The first thing every
morning works well, but no less
frequently than once a week.
3. Treat your secretary with dig
nity and respect. Provide support,
backup, and extra assistance when
necessary. Resist the temptation to
use a secretary simply as a goferora
low-level task doer. Thaterodestrust
and destroys relationships.
4.Donotconstantlyinterruptyour
secretary during the day. Interrup
tions are as much a problem for your
secretary as they are for you. Bunch
together items to discuss, to keep
interruptions at a minimum.
5. Coordinate activities with your
secretary so that both of you can get
as much work done as possible. As
part of that, provide as much lead
time on assignments as you can.
Break the habit of routinely delegat
O
Ty
nn
s
AUGUSTA’S GOSPEL ALIVE
Serving the CSRA with
Soul Stirring Gospel Power
AW Day, Every Day !11!
Regina’s PRemedies”
Public Relations Maneuvers, Tactics, & Strategies
expert advice on the percentage
of profits incurred from operating
ahome-based enterprise. After all,
today, many varieties of busi
nesses, from advertising specialty
companies to travel agencies are
home based—an irrelevant factor
in determining success—since
most business transactions are
initiated by fax, e-mail and tele
phone. The monies that were once
spent on “silk stocking space” can
now be redirected towards more
impressive marketing collateral
and enhanced technology. From a
500-square foot office space in the
basement, you can woo Fortune
500 clients—and you’ll now have
quadruple the capital tocourt them
with; a fact that no one knows
better than you!
Q. Dear Regina:l have a fasci
nating new product I want tomar
ket, and I would like to start a
publicity campaign to stake claim
to the idea before someone else
does. What should I do first?
ON IN cREASING?
PROoDuUcCTIVITY §F
ing rush jobs at the last minute.
6. Discuss problems and ideas
with your secretary. Solicit ideas,
suggestions and opinions, and take
as many of them as you can.
7. Allow your secretary to orga
nize you and your office procedures.
Most assistants have skills in this
area. Similarly, allow that person
to manage your calendar.
8. Tell your secretary where you
are going, how you can be reached
and when you will return.
9. Do whatever you can to make
your secretary’sjob easier and more
interesting. Increase the responsi
bility level so that some challenge
is always there.
10. Expect the best. Provide the
best office equipment, and provide
for your secretary’s professional de
velopment. Include your secretary in
trainingand development programs.
11. Let others know your
secretary’s responsibilities; encour
age other people to deal directly with
him or her on routine matters.
12. Ask what he or she could do
that you are currently responsible
for. The answer will probably sur
prise you. Then, give over most of
those tasks.
13. Ask your secretary how you
could manage your time better.
Discover what you are doing now
that wastes your secretary’s time
or hinders his or her performance.
Then improve the conditions.
14. Be patient. Listen to your
secretary.
15. Ask your secretary what he
A. Have you obtained a patent or
copyright on the product, created a
name for the product, and trade
marked the name? Furthermore,
have you developed a prototype of
the product, and acquired the nec
essary start-up funds to manufac
ture the product? Many enthusias
tic entrepreneurs place the cart
before the horse. Bringing Your
Product To Market, by Don Debelak
(John Wiley & Sons) tells you ev
erything you need to know about
launching a product. This useful
resource book leads you through
the four key phases of product pro
duction: idea, finance, manufactur
ing, and marketing. Advertisingand
marketing begins after your idea
has become a reality.
Q. Dear Regina: I've recently
opened a lab that administers bat
teries of tests, many which detect
diseases which are prevalent to
African Americans, such ashyper
tension and diabetes. How might I
and my staff reach out to the com-
or she would like to know about
your business projects, objectives
and priorities.
16. Encourage and support your
secretary. Regular genuine praise
for a job well done is appreciated.
17. Do not complain about your
secretary to other people; fix the
situation. Never blame your secre
tary for your failures.
Remember how dependent you
are upon their performance. Be
sure to express your appreciation
MEAL DEALS!
9 SELECTIONS!
Servedsamtoßam&4pmtolam
(AVAILABLE 8 AM TO 4 PM MONDAY THRU FRIDAY, EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS, AT $1.99)
(706) 738-0554
2525 Washington Road, Augusta, Georgia
AUGUSTA FOCUS JULY 3, 1997
munity we are in, one which is
saturated with other physicians?
A. A generous strategy such as
rendering ongoing seminars on
preventive measures that aid Afri
can Americans in combating and
controlling disease can be offered,
through your lab site, local
churches, or community centers.
As a community-anchored busi
ness, you must stay abreast of
expos, events and exhibitions
where you may conduct free health
screenings. Naturally, promoting
theaboveactivitiesare paramount
to your identity within the com
munity. Health literature that
depicts and speaks to the audience
you are targeting is important.
Send your bio on new research,
findings and technology—and you
may be called to provide your au
thoritative viewpoints.
Send your correspondance to:
PRemedies, 6129 Queen Ann
Court, Norcross, GA, 30093.
for all the work accomplished. A
good secretary is worth his or her
weight in gold. After all, that is the
person who makes it possible for
you to shine.
Odette Pollarisanationally-known
speaker, author and consultant. Her
book, 365 Ways to Simplify Your
Work Life,is available at bookstores.
Her company, Time Management
Systems, is based in Oakland, Calif.
Call 1-800-599-TIME or e-mail at
Opollartms@aol.com.
§65
13A
Lol