Many made symposium great

To the editor:

Thank you for your thorough coverage of the Poverty Symposium in the News-Tribune prior to the events Sept. 25-27. That coverage was helpful in assuring excellent attendance at all events.

I would like to thank publicly the many others who also contributed to the Poverty Symposium success. Donna Russell, Hospitality Committee Chairperson and her assistant Elizabeth Meadows; Fred Wright, host for National Urban League speaker Marc Morial; Linda Arbogast and Nancy London, Community Voices Day; Steve Hammond, Policy Makers Session; John Petersen, Food, Energy and Poverty; A.G. Miller, host for Chicago speaker Rev. Jennifer Kottler; Pawan Dhingra, Final Saturday session.

The entire Poverty Symposium Planning Committee gave dedicated service for well over a year and deserve our sincerest thanks. Rev. Greg McGonigle, Director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life at Oberlin College and Marvin Krislov, president of the college have earned deepest gratitude as well.

Those who attended learned a great deal about the economic stresses of people who live in poverty, especially in our own county, thanks to presentations Friday and Saturday. Special thanks to Chubby's for the picnic Friday and to Joyce Randleman and her catering crew for the delicious luncheon Saturday at First Church. Thanks to Pastor David Hill and the congregation for allowing the Poverty Symposium to use First Church for various events, and to Daniel Gillespie and his many student helpers for managing child care. Other churches, individuals and sponsors helped also.

Last, but definitely not least, I would like to thank Benny Wheat, our office assistant who has handled publicity and arrangements for the three-day symposium with amazing skill. Smart, patient and dedicated, she is a marvel. What a privilege to work with such fine people.

We must continue to be alert to circumstances that cause and relate to poverty. The symposium was a first step. Shall we walk on?

Carol Longsworth

Oberlin