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LOD Legends Ball Honors Selfless Service
by Lesli Frazier
The Ladies of Distinction at the Legends Ball
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In their way of recognizing Women's History Month, the Ladies of Distinction held their third annual Legends Ball on Thursday March 6, at 6 p.m.
Redway Dinning Room, where the banquet was held, was decorated in black and gold to support the Ladies of Distinction's theme. "Anyone can be elegant in black, but you can be distinctive if you add a little gold."
The Ladies of Distinction, a community service organization, sponsors the "Legends Ball" as a way "to give back to the community at school and give credit to where it is due."
Mistress of Ceremonies Amy Brock introduced the night's speaker, Professor of Philosophy Katharine Meacham. Meacham spoke on the night's theme, "Selfless Service."
Katharine Meacham
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"Being selfless is hard, but it really works." Meacham said. She told the crowd a story about how her children used to have this record that sang, "Some kind of help is the kind of help that helping's all about. Some kind of help is the kind of help we could all do without."
She went on to explain that, "When we're talking about service… it's important that we pay attention, that we listen, that we're doing service that people want, so that the kind of help that we give is the kind of help that help is all about."
Meacham then told a story about child psychiatrist Robert Coles. It was 1962 in Atlanta during school desegregation. Coles was a researcher and interested in helping out with an organization that trained and organized high school and college students involved with the civil rights movement. The group was called the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
Coles wanted to interview the leaders of SNCC, but they would not let him. Instead, Coles was offered a janitorial position. He still wanted to help, and although surprised, he accepted. Cole's job consisted of sweeping floors, dusting, scrubbing and washing dishes. He was serving in the way they wanted him to. While he was cleaning though, he listened.
About a year later, Jim Forman, a leader in SNCC, came forward and asked Coles if he would like a cup of coffee. During their coffee, Forman asked Coles what he had learned from his "janitorial research." What Coles had learned was that "service depends on where you're standing, how you're listening and how you understand it." Coles took the time to perform a service where service was needed, even though it was not the service he had wanted to perform.
Meacham concluded with a quote from the late social justice advocate Dorthy Day: "There is a call to us, a call of service -- that we join with others to try to make things better in this world."
"So listen hard," said Meacham. "Listen well, listen to those voices. Sort them out and hear your call. You will and are making things better in the world."
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Listening for the call: women's soccer team
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Following Meacham's speech, Jessica Young presented certificates to women who had been previously voted on by each organization present for their acts of selflessness throughout the year.
Certificates were awarded to Cindy Whitt, nominated by Delta Zeta; Nancy Fosson, nominated by IXA; Courtney King, nominated by Soccer Girls; Carrie Vann, nominated by Delta Phi Zeta; and Nadine Hayes, nominated by the Ladies of Distinction. Nadine Hayes is also the treasurer of Ladies of Distinction.
After photos were taken, thank yous and goodbyes were said, and the third annual Ladies of Distinction Legends Ball came to an end.
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