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Young Professionals Organize To Help Photo Archives

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 8, 2007

Updated: 09/06/2007 05:33 pm

PLANT CITY - Under the sponsorship of the Plant City Photo Archives, area young professionals have formed the Bailey-Eastman Group in support of the archives' mission to preserve the history and heritage of the community.
Photo Archives President Ed Verner said the group was named in honor of D.E. Bailey Jr., a retired Plant City educator and historian, and co-author of 'Plant City, Its Origin and History,' and George Eastman, the father of modern photography. He said the idea was derived from the Eastman Foundation, which sponsors a similar young professionals group.

Plant City Photo Archives Executive Director Gil Gott said the group is a network of individuals between the ages of 25 and 49. The group will support the mission of the archives, its museum and its activities. Members will serve as advocates and ambassadors for the archives and interact with the community and civic leaders. The group will sponsor events during the year and assist in lining up off-site exhibits.

At its meeting Aug. 30, the group elected officers for 2007-08. David Davenport will serve as the organization's president, Doug Driggers fills the position of vice president, Steve Schultz was elected secretary and Jean Ann Davenport is the public relations director. Candy Owens, the archives' receptionist, is the staff coordinator for the group.

The organization, officers and board members will have a planning meeting at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the Photo Archives Exhibit Gallery at 119 N. Collins St. The meeting is open to interested young professionals in the Plant City area and to the public.

The photo archives has scanned and digitized thousands of photos from the greater Plant City area, but the young professionals group is interested in gathering photos from the 1970s and 1980s.

To help collect photos from that period the Bailey-Eastman Group is holding the Drive-n Drop-Off Reception at the archives from 5:15 to 7 pm. Sept. 20. Anyone having photos from that time period, or anyone interested in learning about the young professionals group, is welcome.

The reception will include wine tasting, refreshments and hors d'oeuvres. Owens, the staff coordinator, asked contributors to be sure to identify submitted photographs with name, address and telephone number, and the photos will be returned after they have been scanned, digitized and added to the archives' collection.

A selection of the photos from the reception will be on display as part of a new exhibit to be unveiled at the Bailey-Eastman Group's Party in Black & White scheduled for October.

For information, call Owens or the archives office at (813) 754-1578.

Unity Plans Gospel Jamboree

PLANT CITY - Unity in the Community, a Plant City organization that helps the needy, will host its annual Gospel Jamboree at 7 p.m. Sept. 22. This year, the event will be at the Cornerstone Center, 315 N. Collins St.

Among those who will perform are: The Faithful Men Quartet, Gulf State Gospel Quartet, The Shepherd's Four quartet, The Gospel Echoes with Joe Ramsey and Faye Capper, and Randy Scott. Mike Franklin will be the master-of-ceremonies.

Tickets are $2 with reserved seating available for $15. Tickets may be purchased in advance at five Plant City locations: Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 S. Evers St.; Brown's Jewelers, 1705 James L. Redman Parkway; Brown's Wrecker Service, 206 Waller St.; Sweetbay Supermarket, 205 N. Alexander St.; and Sweetbay Supermarket, 507 S. Wheeler St.

Another highlight of the evening will be the Dress a Bear contest. Bears can be obtained in advance from Unity by donating $15 to the organization. Participants can dress the bear and bring it to the concert and receive $5 off the ticket price at the door.

The decked-out bears will compete and 10 will be chosen. The top three will bring prizes for their owners. The 10 bears will be auctioned.

All proceeds from the concert and the bear contest will go to Unity for its work in assisting those in need.

For information, call Joyce Jordan, (813) 752-1275, or Linda Fuhrman, (813) 752-2727.

Author Signing Her Book Sept. 15

PLANT CITY - Dorothy Johnson Jones, a Plant City poet, will sign copies of her book, 'Hidden Treasures in God's Word,' at 2 p.m. Sept. 15 at Barnes & Noble bookstore, 122 Brandon Town Center, Brandon. For information, call (813) 650-8629.

Festival Steer Weigh-In Today

PLANT CITY - Looking forward to the 2008 Florida Strawberry Festival, which will be Feb. 28 through March 9, preparations for the event are in full swing.

The weigh-in for the festival steer show and sale will be from 6:30 to 11 a.m. today at Durant High School, 4748 Cougar Path. Each steer will be tagged and must weigh a minimum of 550 pounds. The maximum weight is 800 pounds.

Each exhibitor must complete a record book on the steer. The book must be submitted March 4. All exhibitors must use the official festival record book. It will be distributed at today's weigh-in.

The steers will be judged at 6 p.m. March 5. The sale will be at 7 p.m. March 8.

Celebration Helped Health Care Program

PLANT CITY - A percentage of food and craft vendor sales from Plant City's July 4th celebration was collected for a local charity. The annual event was sponsored by Bill Heard Chevrolet and presented by the city Recreation and Parks Department at Plant City Stadium.

Sarah Saluja, coordinator for the Wellness of Wheels program at South Florida Baptist Hospital, accepted the $878 contribution from city officials and a dealership representative.

Columnist Barbara Kent reports on community news. Items submitted must include a telephone number. Send a fax to (813) 865-4441 or mail to Neighbors, 101 N. Wheeler St., Plant City FL 33563.

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