Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 2 September 1999 — Page 3

The Muntie Times, September 2, 1999, page 3

DOLLISON, from page 1 them to do. Members of the community helped a lot. They did wonderful tilings. “I am almost afraid to name those who helped so much for fear 1 will leave out some names. “I asked a lot of people to help and also to become members. Our membership grew during that time. The interest was really there. At one time I had become disillusioned a little, but many people came through to help and become, a part of the organization.” Cornelius Dollison, who represents the Muncie Black Expo chapter on the statewide Indiana Black Expo board of directors, was equally high on how things turned out. “I think we did really well. We got a lot of support from a lot of people. (Indiana General Assembly Rep.) Tiny Adams helped us get a second tent. A lot of new people became involved. Like voting, you can’t make a difference without being involved,” she said. “We were pleased with how the planning meetings went and with the turnout. We started with prayer, but refused to have things fail. We refused to deal with unnecessary baggage. We are pleased with how things worked and with the many people who helped us. “We learned so many things from this event and we have so much information to pass

on to those who will organize it next year.” For the first time in more than 4 years, MBE included a parade. Mrs. Dollison said there were about 50 entries in the parade, including a band and floats. The parade started at the downtown Horizon Convention Center and ended at Heekin Park. At the park children and adults were entertained to presentations dealing with the Underground Railroad— depicting the clandestine methods and routes used by blacks fleeing slavery in the South. The Underground Railroad terminus was in Canada, where slavery was illegal. The weekend activities were preceded by a Health and Employment Fair, which attracted hundreds of people. Weekend events included an ecumenical service, a scholarship beauty pageant, children’s activities and a basketball tournament. “I think many people were surprised by the turnout. The crowd in the park was good. There was a good turnout at the basketball tournament. 1 think we had a good running start,” Dollison said. “We had been worried about the turn out because there had been a shooting the week before (at a Muncie Homecoming) basketball event. “I think (ecumenical services keynote speaker) Terrance Bridges did a good job. The Health Fair was good. Things turned out very-

well, although there is always room for improvement. A lot of good, positive things came out of this event. Overall, things worked out very well. “We are meeting to evaluate how things worked out this time, to see where we should go and how we should plan for next year.” Mrs. Dollison said her widespread contacts enabled her to call on so many people from different sections of the community to help with the planning and the organization. Mrs. Dollison, a veteran Muncie school teacher who retired in June, said, “I was really pleased with the support of Muncie Schools Supt. (Marlin) Creasy. He was very helpful in getting (school) bands, teachers and schools involved in this community event. “I was also very pleased with the City of Muncie. We went, at the last minute, to City Hall and Mayor (Dan) Canan helped make some calls for us. The Community Foundation helped bail us out by giving us some money for some of our expenses. We had started out with no budget. “I know we prayed a lot during that time—and our prayers were answered. Many people helped us, volunteered to help us, for no pay because they knew we had no money.” Among those others she singled out for helping were former Ball State University basketball great Chandler Thompson and O. C. Miles,

who was instrumental in organizing the basketball tournament and bringing teams together. “There were rumors that the basketball tournament might be canceled because of the shooting the previous week. Some people were afraid. But O. C. Miles went to work and brought teams together,” she said. Mrs. Dollison said Carmichael, Faulkner and Gholar and Gholar Funeral Homes, best-selling author Greg Williams, the Whiteley Neighborhood Council, Williams Carpets and Chandler Thompson came to the rescue as team sponsors. “Some of these teams had not wanted to participate. Without these sponsors these people would not have participated,” Mrs. Dollison said. “I think the event was successful because of the total cooperation of the community. The community really came together at last to make this event successful. “Churches helped. Most churches had their youth groups in the parade. Businesses helped. Individuals helped. It was a very diverse group of people that helped.” She said next year’s Summer Soul Fest can be even more successful if the organization and planning start early. Would she do it again? “I am willing to help, but my mother would not want me to co-chair this again,” she said, laughing.

“It should be a little easier for next year because we have the documentation from this year’s event. We have folders with all kinds of information, including names, addresses and phone numbers of volunteers, that we will pass on to those who will do it next year so they do not have to start from scratch. “If we start planning immediately, and we set a date and a timeline, I would be willing to help, so we do not have to wait until the last minute to get police permits and other things. I think the president of the organization would take on the responsibility of getting this organized early, setting up the committee and delegating responsibility. “One of the problems I faced was I took on too much responsibility because of the time factor. I was not good at delegating. “I hope whoever does it next year gets going early, sets up committees and gets people and corporations involved early. It is embarrassing to ask people at the last minute to help. I will pass on the folders, help in any way 1 can, but I am not ready to be co-chair again.” Mrs. Dollison said she will finally be able to relax after the evaluations are completed and she has written and sent thank you notes to those who helped this year.

Urban League dinner

Evern Cooper (center), vice president and executive director of the UPS Foundation, is shown at the Urban League’s Whitney M. Young Jr. dinner with Hugh B. Price (left), president of the National Urban League, and Bob Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer of BET Holdings, inc. The dinner, concluded the League’s 89th annual conference, which was held in Houston. Cooper was one of the more than 100 UPS employees from across the country that participated in the conference, “Agenda 2000: Equality and Power for the New Millennium.”