FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:
July 18, 2003
Young Harris, GA -- The organizational meeting of the Byron Herbert Reece
Society was held on Saturday, July 12th at Young Harris College in Young Harris,
Georgia.
For the past nine months a steering committee, chaired by Dr. John Kay, has been
working to lay the foundation for the organization. One of the first items
addressed by the committee was the development of a mission statement: "The
purpose of the Byron Herbert Reece Society is to preserve, perpetuate, and
promote the literary and cultural legacy of the Georgia mountain poet/novelist,
Byron Herbert Reece. In addition to enhancing both knowledge of and an
appreciation for his writings, efforts will be made to honor his way of life,
with particular emphasis on his love of nature and his attachment to farming."
The July 12th meeting began with Dr. Thomas Yow III, president of Young Harris
College, welcoming the group which consisted of newly appointed Board of
Directors members and Advisory Council members. Attendees introduced themselves
and made note of their connection to the Byron Herbert Reece Society or to Reece
himself. Dr. Kay introduced and recognized the efforts of the steering committee
and then recounted a brief overview of the committee's work.
Fleming Weaver of Gainesville presented the report of the Nominating Committee,
which resulted in the election of the following officers for the Society's
initial year: Chair, John Kay; Vice-chair, Lamar Paris; Secretary, Dawn Lamade;
Treasurer, Bud Hill; executive committee members-at-large, Charles Hill, Janice
Moore, and Fleming Weaver. Committees were then named and directors and Advisory
Council members present were given an opportunity to join the committee(s) of
their choice.
Proposed projects of the Society in the near future include the development of
an oral history of Reece, which involves gathering valuable information from
those who knew him, and a determination about the utilization of the Reece
family property on Wolf Creek in Union County.
The Society will soon launch a drive for membership enlistment. Anyone
interested in supporting the Byron Herbert Reece Society's mission is encouraged
to become a member and get involved through one of the committees. Information
about this and other important aspects of the Society's work, such as broad
goals, membership criteria, bylaws, a description of the various committees, as
well as information about Reece, may be obtained by visiting its website at
www.byronherbertreecesociety.org.
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