Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 6-28-19

Feature
Bay Area Is Site For National Convention Of Black Women’s Social Club —- The Carrousels
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Feature Writer
Florida beaches are known for beckoning vaca- tioners and organizations away from their homes and down south for a delightful getaway. Our own Clearwa- ter Beach has scored a coup - national friendship organiza- tion, the Carrousels, Inc. is having its national summer convention here.
Founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1956 by Glenna Watson and the late Betty Brewer, the Carrousels, Inc. was incorporated in 1964. The group is one of many so- cial organizations for African American professional
women.
With 600 members in 25
chapters, they remain small and cozy. Unlike familiar or- ganizations such as The Links, Incorporated, the Charmettes, or the Girl- friends®, the Carrousels are strictly social.
Many of the members al- ready belong to volunteer or- ganizations and appreciate that the Carrousels allows them to just have a little fun with like-minded personali- ties.
The Carrousels are con- vention-driven in that they get together in a host town and treat all the other chap- ters to a weekend of activities and parties. Their husbands,
DR. ANGELA GASKIN ...National president of the Carrousels, Inc.
known as the “CarraFellas”, have activities like golf and
tennis while members con- duct business during the day. At night there are balls and dances, leading all to have a great time.
Their national President, Dr. Angela Gaskin of Nashville, Tennessee ex- plains that the chapters pre- fer a laid-back atmosphere of fun.
When she joined, Dr. Gaskin was a young physi- cian working in the emer- gency room of Nashville General Hospital at Meharry Medical School. The appeal of getting together with other young mothers for some fun was particularly inviting.
Today, the goals are much the same. The organi-
zation intentionally remains small although Dr. Gaskin would like to see more chap- ters in the future.
The Carrousels are a strictly social 501(c)(7) or- ganization. They encourage generational membership, inviting daughters to join them in membership, and have members as young as 30andasoldas90.
Tampa natives, Dr. Susan Andrews and Dr. Nancy Andrews Collins are members of the Sacra- mento and Memphis chap- ters. Dr. Susan helped to charter Sacramento’s chapter along with her best friend, Barbara Ross a few years ago.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A