Seventh Annual Meeting to Feature Dr. Helen Lewis

This year’s meeting will be held in Wilson Lecture Hall in the Goolsby Center on the Young Harris College campus, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 22nd.

We welcome a charter member of our board of directors, Dr. Helen M. Lewis, as the keynote speaker.  The title of her presentation is “Byron Herbert Reece and Don West—Two North Georgia Poets:  Same Time, Same Place, Divergent Paths.”  Not only did West and Reece share the same Appalachian background, but they were also friends and correspondents.

Although Don West was born and grew up in Gilmer County, his mother was part of the Mulkey family from near Blairsville.  He published six books of poetry among other publications.  In addition, he was a preacher, educator, and labor/community organizer.  In fact, he was a major actor in the progressive social movements in the South and Appalachia, and his poetry inspired his audience to action. He urged Reece to become more involved in social action.

Dr. Lewis, who now lives in Morganton, Georgia, has a comprehensive knowledge of Appalachian life and studies. As an educator, writer, filmmaker, and activist, she has lived and worked most of her life in the Southern Appalachians.  She received an M.A. degree in sociology from The University of Virginia and a Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. She has served as a professor at several major colleges and universities, including The University of Virginia (Wise), Berea College, Appalachian State University, East Tennessee State University, and The University of Tennessee. A long time member of the Appalachian Studies Association and a much respected author of numerous articles and books, Dr. Lewis is in much demand as a speaker.

In addition to the keynote address by Dr. Lewis, Dr. Bettie Sellers, also a charter board member of the Reece Society and well-known scholar of the writings of Reece, will present a quick look at Byron Herbert Reece as a novelist, using for her focus his fine novel The Hawk and the Sun.

The business session of the meeting will include several reports, including an update on the construction activity underway at the Reece Farm & Heritage Center.  Directors for the 2010-2011 membership year will also be elected.

Following the morning program and business, a delicious buffet luncheon will be served in the Young Harris College campus restaurant.  Detailed information about the meeting and the luncheon has been sent to members in a special mailing.  If you are not on our mailing list, please refer to the annual meeting registration form on our website. 

The deadline for registration for the luncheon is Wednesday, May 12th.   Registration Form