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Windham honored
This International Woman of Distinction Award is given every two years to a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the fields of education, humanities, sciences or arts on a national or international level. Some previous recipients include First Ladies Barbara Bush, Rosalyn Carter, and Patricia Nixon; Astronauts Eileen Collins, Sally Rhea Seddon, plus other notable women such as Mother Teresa, Sandra Day O'Connor, Shirley Temple Black and Margaret Mead. In addition to her honor in California, Windham will also be recognized for her achievements here in Thomasville, Sept. 29 at the Thomasville Campus of Alabama Southern Community College. The party will celebrate her storytelling talents and her legacy to Alabama literature. A new printing of her book Alabama, One Big Front Porch has been made available. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. when Windham and friends hold a story telling session. There will also be a "Story Booth" for people to record their own tales. At 11 a.m. will be a book signing of the new edition of Alabama, One Big Front Porch and tours of the Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum. At noon there will be a barbecue dinner complete with dessert provided by the Thomasville Research Club, Extraordinary Women of Color and the Junior Woman's Club. Attendance to the storytelling and book signing are free. The dinner is $20 to attend. Call 251-575-8226 for a reservation. Kathryn Tucker Windham, grew up in Thomasville, lives in Selma, and is a member of Church Street United Methodist Church. Mrs. Windham is the mother of three, grandmother of two, and a friend to many. She has told stories in 28 states as well as in Canada and Germany; has written 26 books in addition to the publication of telling her stories in numerous audiocassettes and compact discs; Recipient of the Helen Keller Literary Award; Recipient of President's Award for Service to Alabama Libraries; Recipient of the Storytelling Circle of Excellence Award; Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Storytelling Association. Some of her best storytelling ventures have been as an actress…especially in her one-woman show as 'Julia Tutwiler' in "My Name Is Julia". Windham is also an accomplished photographer, renowned historian, popular public television and radio personality. As a contributor to National Public Radio, Windham won national acclaim for her segments for "All Things Considered." Windham's community, state, national and international recognitions include: emcee & featured teller annually at the Alabama Storytelling Festival; World premiere of documentary, "Kathryn: The Story of a Teller" which won the 2004 Audience Choice Award; First Presentation in 2004 of the Kathryn Tucker Windham Excellence in Storytelling Award to be presented annually by Sidewalk Moving Film Festival; Induction into the University of Alabama's College of Communication Hall of Fame; Dedication of the Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum in 2003; Induction into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 2003; Featured Storyteller at the 2001 Smithsonian Affiliations Conference in Washington, D.C.; and selection as one of the "40 Things We Love About Alabama" by Southern Living Magazine in 2006. She was selected as one of thirteen Alabama Artists to travel to France and whose work, sponsored by the N.A.L.L. Art Foundation and the French Government. Was first exhibited in France and Monaco (2000) and is ongoing around the world today; a Teller In Residence at the International Storytelling Center's "Storytelling Live" (2004); and a 'Featured Teller' at the International Storytelling Center's "National Storytelling Festival" where she appears regularly. Todd Harvey, Folklore Specialist-American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, said, "We value the creativity of Kathryn Tucker Windham and celebrate her profound influence upon the storytelling revival- both in the style and content of her storytelling- and also her ideas about the role of storytelling in society". Fred Nall Hollis "Nall", American Artist and creator of the N.A.L.L. Art Association in Venice, France, states, "Kathryn Tucker Windham's compassion for the common man and a sense of justice comes through in all her words, images and deeds. She is a dynamic source of inspiration to our younger generation, and has extended a supporting hand to the arts, and raised children that are carrying on her insistence. She is a dear friend who has touched not only the soul of her State of Alabama, but has allowed her magnificent love to extend to the entire world. What a fine ambassador she was in France for the Alabama Art exhibition in 2000". Jimmy Neil Smith, Founder and President of the International Storytelling Center, shares, "The Jonesborough Festival (National Storytelling Festival) ignited an international renaissance of storytelling, and Kathryn Tucker Windham is a pioneer and leader of that movement. Without hesitation, I can tell you that Kathryn is considered one of the mostrespected and best-loved storytellers in America and the world." Norton Dill, Dill Productions, said, "I had the privilege of working on a documentary film about Kathryn Tucker Windham and she is, without a doubt, an amazing person. I was first drawn to her as a subject for my film because of her national and international recognition as one of America's foremost storytellers. To me, one of her greatest traits is her determination to eliminate injustice and assure that all people are treated equally." Dr. Michael Carrigan, current President and CEO of Sacred Spaces Liturgical Designs, Inc., states, " It was while I was the Director of Affiliations for the Smithsonian that I became acquainted with Kathryn Tucker Windham. In 2001, for our annual Smithsonian Affiliations Conference in Washington, D.C., I asked Kathryn if she would attend and share a few of her stories with the directors who would be in town from museums all over the country. She graciously accepted, and without exception every one of those museum directors recognized what an extraordinary educator Kathryn was and how powerful storytelling was as a teaching tool. …Later I learned that every one of the museum directors who had heard Kathryn that evening at our conference had later traveled to see her in Jonesborough at the International Storytelling Festival in October. Each has since introduced storytelling onto their museum's education curriculum." Kathryn Tucker Windham explains, "I think storytelling is a way of saying I love you enough to tell you something that means a great deal to me."
Alpha Delta Kappa, founded in 1947, is an international honorary organization of women educators dedicated to educational excellence, altruism, and world understanding. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri,
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