New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 13

HtalbrUnd'i flings to py LyrdA BPW Clubs spotlight business week; sponsor teen unity career session The Seventh Annual Spotlight on Black Business Week, sponsored by the Senior Pittsburgh Club of Negro Business and Prnfpccinnal Unmon Mav JUST AFTER THE column went to press last 15.20 promiSeS t0 be a most weeK i received a can miorming me tnat former significant happening. Courier Women's Editor, Toki Schalk Johnson had died. Toki's sister Bali said Toki died in her sleep early Saturday (April 23) morning. TOKI HAD BEEN confined in the Law Den Nursing Home, Detroit, for the past five years. And according to Bali, there would be no funeral or memorial services.

Toki had willed her body to science. The observance will kick off with the 18th Annual Founder's Day Breakfast at Hotel William Penn Sunday, May 15 at 9:30 A.M. The excellent program planned is geared to conclude in time for morning church worship. "The Business a rama," Tiiocfou Man 17 af Contra HOWEVER WHEN THE Pittsburgh Chapter Avenue ymca from 7 to 9 of Girl Friends met later that same night, members voted to snesend a contribution in Toki's name to NEED (Negro Educational Emergency Drive) a Pittsburgh organization that aids worthy and needy Black youth further their education. TOKI WAS A pioneer journalist.

She was one of a handful of Blacks earning their living as freelance writers during the thirties. Before coming to Pittsburgh to assume the position of Women's Editor, when the late Julia B. Jones became ill, Toki wrote a column on "Beantown Society" in her hometown Boston. SHE WAS ALSO successful writing for the "pulps" and confession magazines, earning enough to travel all over the country and abroad. She continued to travel after joining the Courier here in the early forties.

It was Toki who named my column and she also introduced me and the rest of the editorial staff to Alex Haley when he visited the old Courier over a dozen years ago. WRITING ABOUT SOCIAL editors in her recently published book, "Black Society," Gerri Major says of Toki, "The Courier's ace society editor whose trademark was her 'incredible once said: "To be a social editor, you must have a strong constitution, cast iron stomach, a private income, lots of good clothes, and the ability to say 'dahling!" BY THE WAY, I plan to review Gerri's book which was written with the aid of Doris Saun ders, book editor of Johnson Publishing Co. It is PM. will feature Harvey Adams as keynoter and moderator for the panel, which will include: Att'y Byrd Brown, Mrs. LaRue Frederick and William Tita.

The panel presentation will spark discussion from the floor. A free Champagne Reception will conclude the evening. A Tour of Black Businesses and A Career Clinic is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18 from 8:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. and is designed to involve the participation of 150 eighth graders, who will be led by the sponsoring group on a tour of Black and equal opportunity business establishments.

These youth will be treated to a free lunch and may take part in career interest groups. Charleen Brown, the chairperson explains that last of the immediate family and is now alone. I J.L. truly hope her friends in Detroit will rally, Qf niOlllr Of VSOr around her to give that much needed sustenance during her bereavement. ALL OF US here at the Courier were saddened to hear of Toki's death.

But she has gone the route that all of us must travel some day. I understand she went peacefully. It is hoped science will benefit from her generous gift of her body. AS IT SHOULD, life goes on. And on a brighter note, the Pittsburgh Chapter of Gay Northeasteners hosted its annual Champagne Sip and combined it with a gala dancing party with music by popular Bill Gambrell, his organ and ensemble.

HELD IN THE Gold Room of the Holiday House in nearby Monroeville, the drizzling rain failed to keep a merry group of socialites from attending and enjoying all of the festivities including hot hors d'oeuvres, sparkling cold champagne and dancing from 4 until 7 p.m. THE GAY NORTHEASTERNERS lived up to their name of being as sparkling as the beverage they served. My hostess, Virginia Carter Lewis, greeted me wearing a gorgeous knee length white pure silk gown with gold embroidery over pants of the same fabric which came from India. Virginia immediate past president of the chapter, will attend the Boston store on the South side, says Conclave as delegate May 20 21. OUT OF TOWN guests included Dr.

and Mrs. Christopher Jeffries of Altoona, Pa. Carter who recently moved back to Pittsburgh from Cincinnati, Ohio, came to the party alone. Her husband, Al was on a business trip to Boston and New and Mrs. Marshall (Juanita) Johnson planto attend his 30 class reunion at Lincoln University, Oxford, Pa.

where UN Ambassador Andrew Young will be commencement speaker. Mary Alice Gillespie James is the first black woman to be selected Mother of the Year from Mississippi and to represent her state in the national American Mother contest. Mrs. Gillespie, 61, lives in Starksville, Mississippi and is the mother of nine children. She was sponsored for the contest by Ebenezer Baptist Church of which she has been a member for many years.

All of Mrs. Gillespie' children have a college degree, except one, who is a successful businessman. Her children are close in age, from 41 to 24 years. All of the children who supported the mother of nine are especially proud of 'her church and civic duties. She has served on various committees for the church and has been an active leader in the church PTA.

Her youngest son, Louis, who owns and operates a his mother has been an in spiriation to all her children. "It's very rare for a hard working fmaily in the South to send eight kids through college," said James. "She encouraged all of us to go as far as we could in life." Mrs. Gillespie came from a large family, thirteen brothers and sisters. She became an expert seamstress by necessity.

She not only raised her nine children, but also helped raise her brothers. In May, Mrs. Gillespie will go Ho New York where she will compete for the national title of Mother of the Year and her family and friends are confident that she will win. "We were surprised that she could win in Mississippi because of the state's racial history," said her son, Louis. "But now we know she will go all the way." Mrs.

Gillespie's husband, Thomas, is a contractor and cement finisher, who has aided in the development of his community and area. He and his wife have been the underlying purpose of the day is to stimulate Blake youth to think positively about themselves, their community and their future. Business proprietors are invited to display their wares at the Business a rama and at the Career Conference. For further information, please call Mrs. Davis at 687 1458 or Bobby Fulton at 771 2424.

The Pittsburgh Young Adult Club of the National Association of Business And Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. will sponsor a "Teenage Black Unity Career and Beauty Seminar" May 7, at the YWCA, 6907 Frankstown Ave. from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M: The purpose of this How it all began: Forty six years ago, flight attendants were unheard of. It was not until 1930 that the idea dawned of having women as crew members on an airplane.

They were called sky girls and were given vast and varied responsibilities. The profession started under circumstances making it risky for any infant ideas. The nation was plunged into the Great Depression. Nineteen however, had witnessed the greatest growth of commercial air transportation since the industry began in 1926. Until that time the co pilot of the aircraft took care of business and pleasure travelers.

He fed them with box lunches, held their heads and their when air sickness and the white knuckle syndrome set in. He was a busy man. Boeing Air Transport, a predecessor of United Airlines, was planning to add couriers, men who would look after the passengers. Lufthansa German Airlines examples, not only for had done so two years children, but for the entire i earlier. That was the plan community.

The James are until Ellen Church visited members of the NAACP and. the Boeing San Francisco of have been active in breaking fice under the pretext of racial barriers in Mississip inquiring about vacation travel to Iowa, her home MARY GILLISPIE state. A nurse and a student pilot, Miss Church talked to Steve Stimpson, the firm's district manager, about her interest inflying and opportunities for work as a pilot. After several con versations, she used the tactic on Stimpson, "Don't you think that it would be good psychology to have woman up in the air. How is a man going to say he is afraid to fly when a woman is working on the plane." Stimpson seminar is to acquaint students with traditional and non traditional careers.

Representatives of or persons employed in different careers will be available to provide information such as education requirements, salary ranges, duties, future of the career, etc. in their respective area. The beauty cultural por tionof the seminar will consist of discussions and demonstrations of hair and skin care, makeup, on the job attire, etc. It is hoped that by sharing with expressing students this type of information, they will be better able to realistically prepare for and choose future careers. Refreshment will be served.

i 'til "ih d. i mM 1 1 i mSttl rv i riftMn i jm nnflfti i ti mf mt aim i urn iiw mm PITTSBURGH This committee is involved with plans for 8:30 A.M. to 3 P.M. Left to right, they are: Josephine the Health Seminar to be sponsored by the Pittsburgh Sec Roberts, Louise logging, Betty Robinson, T.Y. Jackson, tion of the National Council of Neero Women at Pitt's Joan Walker.

Grace Ware and naulette Biankev. Don a book that one Can't read lightly. It has a lot Of Graduate School, 5th and DeSoto Saturday, May 7 from Thomas valuable historical photographs and background material about some of the pioneer Blacks who helped to make this country great. I know every college should have it and everyone, especially all Blacks should own a copy GETTING BACK TO Toki, I was switched from the news department in 1947 to become Toki's assistant. We worked together for almost 20 years.

When the work load became too heavy for Toki, I was made Woman's Editor in 1965. Toki continued her popular "Toki Types" even after she moved to Detroit. Illness forced her to give it up entirely about three years ago. That's when this column took over this spot. ALTHOUGH CRIPPLED BY arthritis in her knees, Toki struggled to keep going until she lost her husband in 1969.

Somehow, after Johnny's death Toki lost her zest for living. She seemed to give up. HER MANY FRIENDS here begged her not to leave Pittsburgh. But feeling she could get better medical aid in Detroit, she took her sister Bali's suggestion and moved to the "Motor City." BALI CERTAINLY HAS my sympathy and that of all of Toki's friends. I believe Bali is the Job, a career for stewardesses They're heavier, some are male and they now look at their position as a profession.

They are today's flight attendants and in their 46 year history they have taken on a new profile when compared with the "sky girls" of 1930. When Miss Ellen Church founded this profession for young women, a stewardess had td be single, female, a registered nurse, not over 25 years of age, weigh 115 pounds or less, not be over 5'4" tall. Miss CHurch flew for 18 month which was about average for these flight at ln Mississippi: tendants. Average seniority did not change much for many years. In 1965 18 months was still the magic number.

The nursing requirement had been dropped. The girls and they still had to be girls) had to have two years of college or one year of college and one year of business training. They still had to be single. United required that the women be at least 20 Today forty six years after, the first stewardesses took to Flight attendants no longer have to be single and there are no age restrictions. The median seniority for agreed.

Stimpson then sent a letter to headquarters in Cheyenne presenting the idea of female flight attendants is now six stewards years, nine months. Ten received a years ago annual resignations ran about 30 per cent. This year, annual resignations are about 3.8 per cent. Changes in requirements have contributed to the increase in tenure of flight attendants as well as the decrease in turnover. These the air, flight attendants can people now can pursue their be up to 6' tall and must be jobs as career professionals.

high school graduates. Pick black woman THE COURIER, SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1977, PAGE 13 and promptly reply of However, he pursued the idea with W.A. Patterson, then assistant to the company president at Seattle, who agreed to a three morth trial. Mr. Patterson later became president of United Airlines and remained in the position until his retirement in 1963.

Stimpson immediately hired Miss Church as chief stewardess and she went out to hire seven more nurses, three in San Francisco and four in Chicago. They were to fly the 20 hour, 13 stop route between the two cities. Cheyenne was the halfway point; four would work San Francisco Cheyenne, four the Cheyenne Chicago leg. today where many, many women around the world actively pursue this coveted job, Miss CHurch found "much to my surprise, the girls were not as enthusiastic about the idea as I thought they would be. We really had to do a selling job.

If we gpt the girl, her parents or boyfriend objected." Miss CHurch, who married Leonard D. Marshall in 1964 and died in a horseback riding accident in 1965, find herself another surprise this 46th year. In 1930 she was hard presseQ to find seven new crew members. The worle wide airline industry today employs approximately 83,000 flight attendants. United has 7,600.

Another contrast is the reception of the "flying nursemaids" as a Boeing veteran pilot called them when he first heard the idea. "Keep 'em in the hospital where they belong," he said. Miss CHurch said, 'Pilots, dressed in their big fur coats, goggles and holsters, did not, want women aboard." However, after three or four months, the crews found the nurses quite helpful and passengers enjoyed having them on board. As the commercial aviation industry, aircraft technology and the interest of the traveling public have grown and changed, so has the flight attendant profession. 5 i 1 ii 1 St i it ill i 4 EVELYN SLADE FREEMAN i Husband wife team to participate in Nat' I UL program Candace Caruthers, local and national press Editorial Director with relations with both print and WABC TV in New York, and her husband Roy Morrow of Westinghouse Electric Cor porations New York Public Relations Office are visiting Paul Quinn College in Waco, Texas, April 28 29, to guest lecture in a Business Management class.

Caruthers and Morrow are participants in the National Urban League's Black Executive' Exchange Program. BEEP was created in 1969 to encourage and prepare black college students for business and professional career opportunities. Over 200 top black executives from around the country visit thirty black colleges each semester to share their expertise in courses developed by BEEP. Employers donating the services of their; black executives further endorse BEEP by picking up their expenses while on the road. At Westinghouse Electric, Morrow is responsible1 for 'Enough is better than too much.

broadcast media. An English graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, he also studied graduate TV Radio at Syracuse University. Prior to joining Westinghouse Electric, Morrow was Producer of "Black News" for WNEW TV. Caruthers, Formerly the Director of Community Relations at WABC TV, was just recently named Editorial Director of the station. Before coming to WABC, she was a producer with WNET TV public broadcasting station.

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