Girls, Inc. on Kolb Avenue in Columbus was once called the Girls Club. Last Saturday dozens of women who used to call the club home jammed the fellowship hall for a reunion.
They enjoyed seeing each other again. But the main focus of their attention was on their former program director at the club, Martha Stanford. Her girls call her "Beaver." She directed the activities of the club from 1963 to 1979.
The reunion started with a demonstration in the gym by a group of award-winning jump rope artists...current members of Girls, Inc. They dazzled the alumni with their incredible agility.
Lunch followed...but not before they all joined in singing a prayer Beaver taught them back in the day. Each table was decorated with some "remember when" moments from the 60's and 70's. The memories of those days flowed like lemonade at summer camp.
Roz Dupass, a former club member recalls, "Beaver was a lifter-upper. Her spirit was always jovial. So I can think nothing but good things about Beaver. She was a great leader. I just thank God that He placed her in my life."
Brenda Self-Medlin describes Beaver this way. "She taught me no matter how much you think you've burned your bridges, there's always a way to swim across that river. And I always loved that because that taught me forgiveness for myself and other people and that has meant everything to me."
Skitch Danielson was also a member of the Girls Club at Kolb Avenue and has the fondest of memories of Beaver. "She was our hope. With hugs she gave us freedom. And with her kindness she believed in us. And so it gave us the ability to believe in ourselves."
During the surprise luncheon for Beaver, she sprang to her feet and reminisced with this anecdote. "One of the funnest things to me that we did was camp that we went to for two weeks. (One summer) this was presented to me," said Beaver holding up a wooden cane. "In the back of my head I thought what in the world am I ever going to do with that thing? And now, I can't do without it."
After the hugs had ended and the scrapbooks were closed, it was time for a fitting gesture of thanks to Beaver...the unveiling of a portrait that will permanently hang in the club as a memorial to Beaver's immortal work.
Each former club member left the luncheon with a glow in their hearts for having been touched by the life of such an inspirational leader and friend.
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