Chatham County…. Betty and Herb Bailey were honored for their volunteer work and will receive the Governors’ Award for their outstanding volunteer service. They were one of five chosen from Chatham County out of twenty-two submissions. The Chatham County United Way Volunteer Center organized and administered the competition. The award ceremony is on Thursday, November 15, at 3pm, at Seabrook Auditorim , Fayetteville University, Fayetteville

   For the past six years, they have served as volunteers at the Silk Hope School. Betty in the pre-school Day Care Center for children three to five, and Herb in reading and writing programs of the sixth,, seventh and eighth grades. Betty received her BA in English at Smith College in 1943; was a pre-school teacher for 17 years; and was president of various boards including University Nursery School, PTA, and the Princeton Day Care Center. Herb’s BA was from Princeton University in 1942. He has honorary doctorates from Yale and Princeton Universities and was editor and director of the Princeton University Press, member of the Princeton Board of Education, and President of the American Association of University Presses.

   Betty Bailey helped to establish the Day Care Center at Silk Hope School. The center operated from 7 am-6pm serving children aged three to five until they enter kindergarten. It is a Smart Start facility providing a range of activities including artwork and reading readiness. As Betty say,’ When these students enter kindergarten they are far ahead of others who have not had the benefits of the Day Care Center." Known as ‘Miz Betty’ by the students she does everything from making curtains, to helping with reading, art work and reading readiness. Because of her pre-school experience and because she is a volunteer, she can be an advocate for the staff, because she is parent and grandparent she can communicate sympathetically with other parents.

   Herb Bailey’s contribution is equally remarkable. His whole career was spent at the post graduate level at Princeton University, feels it is important to work at the Junior High School level, a time of transition in a student’s life. Consequently, he has volunteered in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades at the Silk Hope School. Always interested in reading and writing he volunteered for two years with the sixth grade class working with the whole class rather than one on one. Most recently, he has worked with the advanced students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades on creative writing, poetry and prose. He likes to go beyond what the teacher must cover for examination purposes. He says to them " you don’t have to attend, but if you drop out you cannot come back." In all the years, he has only had one student drop out from his class. Teachers at the Silk Hope School value his enrichment

   As a couple they illustrate the unique contribution that retired people can make to the community, particularly to children. The value of their inter-generational activities is immeasurable.

   Contact:
   Rosemary Hutchinson
   Marketing Director
   (919) 370 - 7160