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PAGE 8B PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 25. 2021
Awards • Groups • Weddings • Birthdays • Anniversaries • Students • Reunions
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articles@pickens
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.com
Godfrey of Pickens Chamber completes second
year at Institute for Organization Management
A leadership train
ing program pro
duced by the U.S.
Chamber of Com
merce Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C.—
Institute for Organization
Management, the profes
sional development program
of the U.S. Chamber of Com
merce Foundation, is pleased
to announce that Amberle
Godfrey, president/CEO of
the Pickens County Chamber
of Commerce has recently
completed her second year at
Institute for Organization
Management, a four-year
nonprofit leadership training
program in Athens, Georgia.
“Institute graduates are
recognized across the country
as leaders in their industries
and organizations,” said Ray
mond P. Towle, IOM, CAE,
the U.S. Chamber Founda
tion’s vice president of Insti
tute for Organization
Management. “These indi
viduals have the knowledge,
skills, and dedication neces
sary to achieve professional
and organizational success in
the dynamic association and
chamber industries.”
Since its commencement
in 1921, the Institute program
has been educating tens of
thousands of association,
chamber, and other nonprofit
leaders on how to build
stronger organizations, better
serve their members and be
come strong business advo
cates. Institute’s curriculum
consists of four weeklong
sessions at five different uni
versity locations throughout
the country. Through a com
Amberle Godfrey
bination of required courses
and electives in areas such as
leadership, advocacy, mar
keting, finance, and member
ship, Institute participants are
able to enhance their own or
ganizational management
skills and add new fuel to
their organizations, making
them run more efficiently and
effectively.
Institute for Organization
Management is the profes
sional development program
of the U.S. Chamber of Com
merce Foundation. It is the
premier nonprofit profes
sional development program
for association and chamber
professionals, fostering indi
vidual growth through inter
active learning and
networking opportunities.
The U.S. Chamber of
Commerce Foundation
(USCCF) is a 501 (c)(3) non
profit affiliate of the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce ded
icated to strengthening
America’s long-term compet
itiveness by addressing de
velopments that affect our
nation, our economy, and the
global business environment.
institute.uschamber.com
@IOMeducates
Perez is member of
Honors Program at UNG
The Honors Program on UNG's Dahlonega Campus began
in 1995. The program began on the Gainesville Campus in
1998, with Honors courses in English dating back to 1985.
"It's really amazing that the program has been producing
notable UNG alumni for 25 years," Dr. Royce Dansby-
Sparks, director of the Honors Program in Dahlonega since
2019, said.
Garrett Perez of Jasper, is a member of the Honors Pro
gram.
While Honors Program students make up less than 2% of
the nearly 20,000 student population, a high percentage of
them earn accolades at UNG and beyond.
"Some of our notable alumni have become politicians, di
rectors of clinical research, Army medical doctors, nurses,
teachers, directors of community service organizations, and
even UNG faculty," Dansby-Sparks, professor of chemistry
and biochemistry, said.
Connecting academically motivated students with each
other to develop a competitive and supportive community is
one segment of the Honors Program. It also is designed to
enhance students' learning experience through research proj
ects, volunteer activities, study abroad opportunities, and na
tional scholarship applications.
"In the Honors Program, we teach them research skills to
prepare them for graduate school," Hartsfield said. "We want
to teach them about service as well, which helps build a sense
of community."
L u
heat toy's tfowu
ak • *
sweet ttom-e
lira
By Kathy Fellows
Christmas Past
I catch myself fussing
about how much there is to
do in preparation for the up
coming holidays. But in real
ity, I do love it. It gives me a
chance to reflect.
This morning I began
prepping my vegetables and
fruits for the delicious foods
we will devour on Thanks
giving Day. I was just about
to toss my orange peels when
I remembered Mama telling
about how hard times were
when she was growing up
and how getting one orange,
a couple of walnuts, some
chocolate drops and a single
stick of peppermint candy in
one of her daddy's (Pa Crowe
to the grandkids) socks the
kids hung up were their only
Christmas gifts. But the kids
treasured those treats and
looked forward to them each
year.
She told of her mother
(Ma Crowe to the grandkids)
saving the orange peels and
adding some cloves and cin
namon to a pot of water, then
leaving it to simmer on the
wood stove to make the
house smell good.
So today, I did not toss the
orange peels. They are sim
mering with cloves and cin
namon on my modem
electric stove and I am think
ing of my sweet mother. How
she always made Christmas
somehow happen for her
three girls, and my Ma
Crowe and Pa Crowe doing
the same for her family.
In fact, my grandparents
had 11 children and 28
grandchildren. There was
simply little money for gifts
or decorations. I vividly re
call visiting their home at
Christmastime and adoring
their huge Christmas tree. It
was only the top of a scraggly
Virginia Pine Pa Crowe went
into the woods to cut down
but I didn’t know that. I just
knew it had huge lights that
clipped on and would bum
your finger if you touched
them and melt the plastic ici
cles strewn over it. It had a
crooked homemade card
board star atop that was cov
ered with aluminum foil. I
thought it was beautiful.
Their gift to the grandchil
dren was always ONE huge
log of peppermint candy that
Pa Crowe most likely pur
chased from the Piggly Wig
gly in Tate. They lived in Tate
and he never learned to drive
so they didn’t own a car. He
walked to work at the marble
company and to the store for
their groceries. They occa
sionally caught a ride into
town to go to the bank or the
dime store.
Orange peels simmering
with cloves and cinnamon in
a pot of water.
He would put a little ham
mer with that log of pepper
mint candy for all the
grandkids to take a whack at
it to break us off some
chunks of candy to take
home. That’s it. One log of
candy for 28 kids to share.
And we loved it. And I treas
ure that heartfelt gift.
He taught us to cut a hole
in the center of an orange and
insert a stick of old fashioned
Red Bird peppermint candy.
We sucked the juice through
the candy like a straw then
ate the orange.
He delighted in having us
climb up into his lap and ask
him to “squeeze it again” for
us. That wording and tradi
tion was carried on by
mother to her grandchildren.
I plan to keep it going.
Ma Crowe gifted each of
the 11 families with food she
had canned over the summer
and occasionally one small
gift like a bath towel for the
whole family to share. She
cooked a huge meal for us all
to enjoy. The kids would all
play together while their par
ents visited. What I wouldn’t
give to go back there and do
that all over again.
Folks, can we all stop with
the spending and buying un
necessary gifts and just cher
ish the simplicity of family
and friends, and just give
from our hearts? Spend time
together. Visit. Let the kids
play with each other, not
electronics. I encourage you
to carry on old, treasured
family traditions with your
children and grandchildren or
start some new ones. Just
keep it simple. That’s what
they will remember.
Kathy and her husband Joey
are native Pickens Countians
and enjoy beekeeping with the
help of their son, CJ. They enjoy
Jeeping, traveling, camping, hik
ing and gardening. Kathy is a
Registered Nurse, avid reader,
baker and enjoys making jams
and jellies. She will have an oc
casional column in the Progress.
Daisy Troop visits firefighters to earn petal
Photo/Daisy Scout Troop 22059
Troop Leader Tashina Arnold, with (L-R) Daisys Aubrey Howard, Lettie Arnold, McKenna Maton, Learalt Arnold,
Rilee Bassett, Adela Cox, and Troop Leader Carrie Tegeder, along with firefighters (L-R) Jon Jones, Josh McMillan,
Chris Buckner, and Jordan Burton.
Submitted by Daisy Scout Troop
22059
Our Daisies are learning and earning
their petals. Each petal carries its own
meaning. The "Gerri" germanium petal
is a respect for yourself and others and
authority figures in your community.
When the girls were given a choice be
tween meeting the police or the fire
fighters, they chose the firefighters.
The girls drew pictures for the fire
fighters of what they thought the fire
fighters did in order to serve and protect
our community. We made a presentation
board with the pictures and gave it with
Thanks to the firefighters for their ef
forts.
While we visited the firehouse, the
girls got to tour the firetruck and ask
questions about tools the fireman use.
They also got some fire safety tips. The
firemen were so thoughtful and accom
modating and made the visit such fun.
They gave the girls some junior firemen
activity booklets, stickers and pencils.
December events at Pickens Library
Winter Wacky> Wonderland
Storytime
December 1, 10:30 a.m.
Join Miss Crystal at Pick
ens County Recreation De
partment in classroom one
for a winter wacky wonder
land storytime. We'll have
themed stories and a themed
craft. To register, call 706-
692-5411 or visit calendar-
wiz.com/sequoyahreglib
Let It Snow-Man Storytime
December 8, 10:30 a.m.
Join Miss Crystal at Pick-
Grieving?
Know someone
who is?
When you are grieving a
loved one’s death, the holi
day season can be especially
painful.
GRIEFSHARE, a nonde-
nominational grief recovery
support group, is providing a
one-day seminar to encour
age individuals through this
season. “Surviving the Holi
days” will meet Sunday, No
vember 7 from 3 to 5 p.m. at
King of Kings Lutheran
Church. Address: 45 Ap
palachian Circle, Talking
Rock, GA. Individuals expe
riencing grief are welcome.
To request additional in
formation, leave a message
with the church at 706-301-
9191, or search online at
https://www.kingofk-
ingslcmsga.org
ens County Recreation De
partment in classroom one
for a "Let It Snow-Man" sto
rytime. We'll have themed
stories and a themed craft! To
register, call 706-692-5411 or
visit calendarwiz.com/se-
quoyahreglib
Holiday Open House
December 16, 6p.m.
Join Pickens County Li
brary for our Holiday Open
House at Chattahoochee Tech
for an evening of holiday fun.
The festivities will kick off
with a magical reading of
The Polar Express, followed
by a performance from the
Harmony Elementary School
Choir. Stick around to visit
with Santa and participate in
holiday games. All patrons
are invited to wear their paja
mas. To register, call 706-
692-5411 or visit
calendarwiz.com/ sequoy-
ahreglib
Weight Loss
Group meet
Choose to Lose -
Weight loss group meets at
the Pickens County Com
munity Center Room #1
every Friday morning.
Weigh in time is between
9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Meet
ing runs from 9:30 a.m. to
10:30 a.m. No charge. Call
Pat Groves for more infor
mation at 1-417-413-
8025.
This week's recipe brought to you by
Rooster's Markets
54 Roosters Way, Jasper, GA • 706-301-8176
Cheesy Ham & Potato Casserole
1.5 lbs Red Potato - cubed ***
2 large Carrots - sliced ***
3 stalks Celery - sliced ***
3-4 cups water
12 oz fully cooked Ham - cut and cubed
1/2 Med. Green (or Red) Bell Pepper -
chopped ***
1/4 cup chopped Onions ***
2 Tbsp Rooster’s Market Mushroom
Lover’s EVOO
4 tbsp Butter, salted ***
3 Tbsp. all-purpose Flour
1.5 cup Milk (2%)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
*Cooking spray
Tips
You can top the casserole with 1/2 cup of
bread crumbs or crushed crackers (such as
Ritz), and/or some extra cheese.
Directions
1. In a large sauce pan, bring 3-4 cups of
water, potatoes, carrots and celery to a boil
(be sure there is enough water to cover the
vegetables). Reduce heat, cover and sim
mer for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain.
2. In a large skillet, saute the ham, green
(or red) peppers, and onion in 2 table
spoons Rooster’s Market Mushroom
Lover’s EVOO until vegetables are tender.
Add to the potato mixture. Transfer to a
lightly greased 1.5 - 2 qt baking dish.
3. In a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of
butter, and gently stir in 3 tablespoons of
all-purpose flour until smooth. Gradually
add the milk, salt and pepper. Bring to a
boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until
thickened. Reduce heat, add cheese and
stir until melted.
4. Pour cheese sauce over the ham and
potato mixture. Bake uncovered at 375 de
grees F for 25-30 minutes.