DATE: Friday, September 5, 1997             TAG: 9709050628

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   98 lines

MILESTONES

CHESAPEAKE

Bob Powers of Chesapeake has been chosen governor-elect of Kiwanis International's Capital District, comprising 218 clubs with about 9,100 members in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia.

Powers was elected Aug. 24 by delegates to the district's convention in Hagerstown, Md. He will assume the office of governor of the district in 1999.

Powers has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Great Bridge since 1986 and served as the club's president in 1988-89. In 1991-92 he was lieutenant governor of Division 21, which includes Kiwanis clubs in Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Franklin, Smithfield and Suffolk.

He is a defense contractor, specializing in computer-based simulation and training and an adjunct professor of the Naval War College. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, the Navy Post Graduate School and the Naval War College, Powers retired after 21 years of naval service during which he commanded four ships.

NORFOLK

Virginia Wesleyan College President William T. Greer has received the Liberty Bell Award from the Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association for his role in establishing The Center for the Study of Religious Freedom at the college.

The award, given annually to someone outside the legal profession, recognizes outstanding public service that has contributed to the community's understanding of the rule of law, said Norfolk lawyer Charles Johnson, chairman of the committee that presents the award.

The Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, said Greer, ``will involve people of many faith communities and enable them to recognize their common ground through open discussion and debate.''

Last spring, the center offered its first symposium of nine lectures, a panel/forum and a series of six informal conversation/brown bag luncheon meetings. The events, which are open to the public, will continue this fall.

Greer embodies what the Liberty Bell award is all about, Johnson said.

``Through his own energy, he's created a functional and sophisticated organization that helps all of us understand the role of religious freedom in our democracy,'' Johnson said.

PORTSMOUTH

The 34th Masonic District of Portsmouth recently announced the recipients of the Community Builders Awards.

Each lodge in the district can choose two businesses or individuals for a Community Builders Award, which recognizes non-Masons for doing outstanding community service work.

The American Fellowship Lodge 176 chose Richard Trumble, Portsmouth Public Schools superintendent, and Victoria Edwards Hecht, editor of the Chesapeake Post, Portsmouth Times and Virginia Beach Sun. Churchland Lodge 276 chose Waverly Clyde Smith III for his work with the youth at Centenary United Methodist Church. Portsmouth Naval Lodge 100 picked Mark Karika, minister of Victory Baptist Church and active volunteer with the Portsmouth Police Department's Chaplain Corps. Seaboard Lodge 56 chose E. Anne Stokes for her work with the arts and fine arts in Portsmouth. Tidal Wave Lodge 273 chose Joseph G. Brissom, tugboat captain who saved the life of a man who drove off the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and the Chesapeake Bay Diving Center, owned by Bill and Donna Santabar.

The winners will be honored with a dinner at 6 p.m. Oct. 4.

SUFFOLK

Cheryl Langston, a senior at Nansemond River High School, was the American representative at the 15th annual John M. White Youth Camp, sponsored by District 24-D Lions Club. The youth exchange program brings students from foreign countries to the United States for at least 30 days - 15 with a host family and the rest in a camp atmosphere at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk.

It attracted 30 exchange students from 19 countries.

Cheryl was recommended by her English teacher, but final selection was by Youth Exchange counselors and the placement chairman, John Berryman of Suffolk. She was interviewed and wrote an essay, ``Creating and Fostering a Spirit of Understanding Among the People of the World.''

Cheryl is the daughter of McCoy and Gladys Langston.

An honor student, Cheryl is a member of the Beta Club, CHROME, and the International Club. She has taken two years of French and is beginning her second year of Spanish.

Cheryl's hobbies are working with her computer, collecting stamps and coins, going to the mall and going to the movies.

In college, she wants to major in computer science.

VIRGINIA BEACH

Viola M. Madison, a local day-care center volunteer and former board member for the Norfolk Day Care and Child Development Center, has been named to the board of visitors at Norfolk State University by Gov. George F. Allen.

Madison, a Virginia Beach resident and a Norfolk State University graduate, is a member of the YMCA board of Virginia Beach and past president of the Chesapeake-Virginia Beach chapter of the Links Inc.

John M. Carlock, director of physical and environmental planning for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission in Chesapeake, and Michael Benedetto, executive vice president and owner of Tidewater Fibre Corp., have been named to the Virginia Recycling Markets Development Council by Gov. George F. Allen.

Carlock, who is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the American Planning Association, also has served as an adjunct associate professor of geography at Old Dominion University.

Both live in Virginia Beach. ILLUSTRATION: William T. Greer

Bob Powers

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu