Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 9-21-18

Features
Local Woman Earns Recognition As ‘Distinguished Toastmaster’
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
All of us have a ‘bucket list’ of things we’d like to, or make plans to do. In many instances, it takes some stamina or stick- to-it-ism, to get this done. That’s what Mrs. Angelina Alexander had to do in order for her to earn the title of “Dis- tinguished Toastmaster” for participation in the Toastmas- ters International Educational Program. “That was a mission I wanted to accom- plish.”
Mrs. Alexander said she “put everything on hold” last year so that she could totally concentrate on this project – one that she wanted to com- plete.
The Distinguished Toast- master recognition is the greatest honor that members can earn. To receive the honor, a member must participate in Toastmasters’ Communication and Leadership programs and meet other rigorous require- ments.
According to information from Toastmasters Interna- tional, members must conduct several seminar-style pro- grams, serve as a leader at sev- eral different organizational levels, form or rebuild a Toast- masters club and complete other challenging tasks. Achieving Distinguished
DISTINGUISHED TOASTMASTER ANGELINA ALEXANDER
Toastmaster status involves years of study, dedication, self- discipline and active participa- tion in the Toastmasters organization.
“By achieving Distin- guished Toastmaster recogni- tion, Toastmaster Alexander has developed and sharpened effective communication and leadership skills and applied these skills in professional and community activities to the benefit of others,” wrote Daniel Rex, Chief Executive Officer.
Although this was one the items on the bucket list for Toastmaster Alexander, many government, corpora- tions and businesses have started Toastmasters clubs to help their employees become better speakers, better listen- ers and better leaders.
Toastmaster Alexander
isoneofonlyafewofthemore than 332,000 members of the organization to ever achieve the recognition of Distin- guished Toastmaster.
A Tampa native, Mrs. Alexander retired from the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court in 1995. Since then, she has traveled with her husband, Robert Alexander, a Civil Engineer, to Maryland, Daytona Beach, back to Tampa, Southern Cali- fornia, Northern California, and officially returned to Tampa in 2015. She has a daughter, Lisa, and a grand- daughter.
When asked about what she does with all the free time she has since retiring 23 years ago, Mrs. Alexander said with a chuckle, “I’m a profes- sional volunteer. I enjoy help- ing others – that’s my gift. God just keeps calling me to do these things,” she said while driving to return laundry she had done to an elderly resi- dent.
Mrs. Alexander volun- teers with the Progress Village Senior Center as the Birth- day/Activity Coordinator (writing skits for their events), and her passion is volunteer- ing with Clym’s Clothes Closet at New Mt. Zion M. B. Church (where she is an active mem- ber), as a statistician and in- take person.
Popular Retired Boys & Girls Club
Director Dies
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A Tampa woman who touched the lives of countless youth has died. Mrs. Shirley Housley-Foster was 68- years-old.
Her daughter, Ms. Veevee Burgess, said her mother suf- fered a stroke on Tuesday and died last Friday at a local hospi-
tal. Mrs. Housley-Foster came into contact with thou- sands of children and their par- ents during her 34-year tenure with the Boys & Girls Club. She retired from the Nick Capitano Boys & Girls Club in 2012 as a Unit Director.
Mrs. Housley-Foster
began her career that spanned 34 years at the Ybor City Boys & Girls Club. Throughout her tenure with the organization, she worked at several locations of the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa, including the North Tampa, West Tampa, and Rob- les locations.
A native of Byromville, Georgia, Mrs. Housley-Fos- ter moved to Tampa with her family at the age of 4. She at- tended the public schools of Hillsborough County.
She was also very active in her church, First Baptist Church of College Hill, where she was a member of New Be- ginning Domestic Violence Ministry and the Jolly Seniors.
MRS. SHIRLEY HOUSLEY-FOSTER 3/17/1950 --- 9/14/2018
Ms. Burgess said her mother loved being active at church, the movies and spend- ing time with her family. “She loved being involved in our family’s “The Sisters Family Club” and she enjoyed enter- taining. People would say, ‘Shirley was the life of the party.’”
She had also recently started gardening and enjoyed working in it.
In addition to Ms. Burgess, Mrs. Housley- Foster is survived by her hus- band, Melvin Foster, daughter, Traci Housley, and son, Arthur James Young, Jr., along with stepchildren, grandchildren, other family members and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday. Ray Williams Fu- neral Home is in charge of han- dling arrangements.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A