| Today's Feature Marching Cobras To Perform.
Maple Leaf Festival activities
will include a special appearance of the Kansas
City based Marching Cobras. The group is
comprised of over 150 inner-city youth ranging in
age from seven to seventeen, and coming from over
forty different public and private schools. The
group will be in the parade and also have a
special performance at 1 p.m. on the Square.
Members must meet eligibility
standards of good conduct and scholastic
achievement. A grade average of "C" or
better is required and they must also complete a
rigorous six-week training session. A positive
attitude is considered a must.
According to information
provide by the Boys & Girls Club, members
receive benefits that surpass the average
student. They a said to include special classes
on personal health and development, cultural
enhancement and the achievement of realistic
goals. Cobras are able to receive counseling on
drug and alcohol prevention and learn
responsibility to others as well as themselves.
The performance is sponsored by
Goodman Manufacturing.
(see accompanying article
below)
Goodman Manufacturing Company
is pleased to bring the Kansas City Marching
Cobras to the Maple Leaf Parade. This is our way
of saying thank you to the people of the Carthage
area for supporting our business over the years.
We believe the spectators will enjoy their
performances. We admire the efforts of Willie
Arthur Smith and the Kansas City Boys & Girls
Club.
Connie Goodman
The Marching Cobra History.
Provided by the Kansas City
Boys & Girls Club.
Founded by Willie Arthur Smith,
the Marching Cobras are a precision drill team
that have become renowned as Kansas City's finest
ambassadors. Since 1969, Willie has dedicated his
time, talent and life to the successful
development of the Cobras, and remarkably, he has
contributed this while holding down a full-time
teaching position with the Kansas City, Missouri
School District. Over 200 inner-city youth make
up the internationally-known marching and
performing unit.
The Marching Cobras were
founded because of Willie's vision to offer kids
a safe alternative to the streets, and a positive
place to grow up. With 13 kids and almost no
money, Willie Arthur Smith founded the Marching
Cobras. Willie knew that idle time often led to
young people getting into trouble, and so, the
Cobras were formed. As well as teaching young
boys and girls about hard work and good health,
the Cobras also gave Willie an arena to pursue
what he calls "his own personal
ministry" of developing values, a strong
work ethic, and self-esteem in young people.
For many of these kids, Willie
Smith is the only "farther" figure, and
often the only positive male role model they've
ever known. Over the years, many young boys and
girls have been taken in by Willie during crises
in their lives. They stay for 2 weeks, 6 months
or several years. Two of his "sons"
were abandoned children. Willie found them,
raised them and sent them into the world. Many of
the children Willie takes in are Cobras, but they
don't have to be. He just cares about children.
He's gone to court with his kids when they've
gotten in trouble, and promised the judges to
keep the kids "clean," and he does.
He's acted as guardian more times than anyone can
count. Most of all, he's there for them, rain or
shine, day or night. Willie's kids always know
they can count on him.
From 1969 to 1986, Willie
supported himself professionally as a high school
Social Studies teacher for Lincoln Junior High
School. In 1986, with the Cobras in financial
trouble, Willie made the difficult choice of
walking away from 18 years with the School
District to work full-time with the Cobras. It
was then that the Boys & Girls Clubs of
Greater Kansas City invited the Marching Cobras
into their organization. The mission to promote
youth development for the disadvantaged was the
same, and so, the Cobras became a program of the
Boys & Girls Clubs. After 17 years of
volunteering, Willie spent the next four years
working solely with the Cobras, earning a
moderate living with the Clubs. Even during that
time, Willie's commitment never matched his 40
hour a week salary. He worked 80 hours a week or
more, often performing 2-3 times in the same day.
In 1992, Willie returned to
Lincoln Academy at the request of the new
principal to work as the In-School Suspension
Coordinator. No matter where Willie goes, he's
always working to turn the lives of troubled kids
around. With Willie's support, children rarely
get suspended more than once at Lincoln Academy,
and the kids are almost never Cobras.
Since 1992, Willie has received
a stipend of $12,500 annually from the Boys &
Girls Clubs for his work with the Cobras.
However, between practices and performances,
Willie spends 40-50 hours per week with the
Cobras. He also pays the majority of his own
expenses.
Gwen Long's Paintings Showing
Opening Reception
Tonight 6-8 pm.
by Robin Putnam
new release artCentral
Hey....we hope to see you out
here tonight!! It's our seventh show this year!!
Gwen Long, Bella Vista, AR will be showing her
paintings with us from now until November 13th.
Gwen is a native of Oklahoma and has lived and
taught all over the U.S. She has won several
awards and has been featured in galleries from
Virginia to the four-state area. We'll be hosting
a reception tonight from 6-8 p.m. Refreshments
will be served, and as usual there is always the
great company to round out a cultural
evening....come by before you head out to
dinner...it's fun!!
Can you believe we have been
doing 'this' for a year! Our one year anniversary
in the Geranium is this month! One year, seven
shows, more than a dozen different mediums and
almost 40! different artists!! Something to
cel-e-brate!!
By the end of 1998 we will have
brought you 40 artists.....not bad, huh? Thanks
for the support from all of the great art lovers
out there and the artists!!
We've also had numerous classes
and or...and still a few more yet this year.
Kit Tuck will be holding a
two-day paper mache workshop Oct. 12 & 19,
two Monday nights, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Kit is an
artist from Lamar, she sits on the board of Spiva
Center for the Arts in Joplin and travels to
third world countries teaching the local women
the art of hand-made paper. She shows her
original paper paintings locally as well as
throughout the country and has won numerous
awards. Don't miss this great opportunity!! Call
and reserve a space for you and a friend! See you
there!
About renting the Geranium
House for a Holiday shin-dig...our enviroment...a
beautiful gallery....limited floor space, metal
folding chairs...doesn't exactly scream formal,
sit down, catered diner...however...socials for
about 30, family gatherings and snacks, cocktails
and hors d'oeuvres (again about 30), potluck
gatherings (family or friends, co-workers, club
members, card players!)..lots and lots of
possibilities but remember..we can only provide
our premises, some set-up, and some clean-up.
Caterers, bartenders, foods,
and beverages and wait staff is all up to you! We
will gladly work with any of the above mentioned
persons!! Thanks to everyone who called and asked
for more details...we appreciate the thought!!
A big THANK YOU to Debbie Reed
and her family, Richard and Stephanie (Eric &
Tim escaped be being away at college!)....they
hosted the October meeting of the Art Forum!!
It was sooo nice of them to
invite us into their lovely home!! AND they have
a great collection of original art!! We all
checked out Debbie's studio, ate (and ate) and
Stephanie played something wonderful on the
piano!
We welcomed new comers Carol
and Carrie Ackelmire!! Jorge's all smiles these
days..glad to see he's feeling better.
Again thanks to everyone who
has shared their home or studio with this great
group of people!! Thanks to Jane and Jorge for
doing the nitty-gritty stuff that keeps it
flowing!
Call if you have any questions
or if it's YOUR turn to have 'the ladies' to your
house...maybe we can be of service!!
More..................next
week.
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