Transcription
Mar 25 '70
AFS
Walk Together Talk Together
By Joanne D. Mason
According to the minutes of the Snow Hill PTA, on October 20, 1959, under the gavel of President Mrs. George Engle a panel discussion took place which led the way for the formation of an American Field Service Chapter as an association project. The chapter was formed with the following members: Chairman - Ben T. Truitt, Vice-Chairman - Dr. James Cabler, Mrs. John Q. Perdue, Mr. Ernest Holland, Miss Suzanne Jones, Miss Grace Jones, Rev. Howard Evans, Mrs. William Dykes, Mrs. Paul Hauck, Mrs. Roy Timmons, Mr. Don Tatterson and Mr. Ralph Brown.
Time passed as this group of people strove to raise the $650 necessary to sponsor the first foreign student. They searched for a family willing to host this first student for one year. Evidently they were a group which accomplished their goals for at the September, 1960, meeting Miss Brit Magna Hanses-Stomner of Norway was introduced to the PTA group. She was living with the Cleveland Bounds family near Neward and attending Snow Hill High School as a member of the Senior Class.
In the intervening years families in our community have hosted students from eight other countries and four SHHS students have won AFS scholarships in the Americans Abroad program. The Chapter has grown and changed with older members dropping off and allowing others to widen the circle of those interested in promoting the work and goals of AFS. The amount of money needed to sponsor a student has increased slowly through this period of time and is now $950. Americans Abroad charges are also up.
This month the first student, Brit, will return to visit old friends and places. She brings with her, her husband and sister. Many letters have crossed the Atlantic between our community and Kongsvinger, Norway. It will be wonderful to greet Brit once again.
Also, this month letters will go out to businesses, clubs, and churches in the Snow Hill area soliciting funds for next years work. Snow Hill High has two young women as finalists in the AA program who, if placed, will go abroad for ten weeks during the summer, 1970. The chapter along with the family helps pay the $850 for each of these candidates. A Snow Hill family has volunteered to host a foreign student next year (70-71) and we tentatively need $950 for this student. It is to be understood that the foreign student's home chapter or family pays another $950 to help get him here. We have, as you can see with simple addition, a large projected budget with no funds left over for operating expenses. PTA is our major supporter but without the generous help of the service clubs, churches, businesses and individuals AFS cannot function. Any and all financial assistance may be directed to Finance Committee Chairman Roger Richardson. Ten years of walking together and talking together are a fact in our community. Help it to continue.