Photo by S. Nowlin
by Shawn Nowlin
Local community leaders, elected officials, business owners and longtime residents gathered at the Holiday Inn Hotel on Ordway Drive on Oct. 11 for the Annual Melrose Rugby Neighborhood Forum (MRNF). Now in its 36th year, the event celebrated the organization’s many years of service.
In addition to focusing on economic development and public services, the MRNF also participates in neighborhood crime watch activities and supports the city’s code enforcement efforts as a priority.
Last Saturday’s event was filled with recognition, entertainment and opportunities to support MRNF’s mission. A full-course meal, courtesy of Hamm’s Fine Food, was given to each guest.
By the time things concluded, nearly a dozen people were recognized. Among the awards given out were Loyalty Legend, Executive Board, Service of the Year, Welcome Wagon, Neighborhood Spirit, Community Hero, Preserving the Legacy, Mrs. Estelle McCadden and Mr. Walter Fizer Sr.
Setting a tone for the evening was Delvis “Mac” McCadden, who served as the event’s emcee. “We have some incredible leaders in our community. All of tonight’s honorees have shown exceptional dedication, service and commitment,” he said. “To paraphrase a motto of a well-respected clothing manufacturer, Melrose Rugby Neighborhood Forum wanted this celebration to be ‘For us and about us.’”
The guest speaker was Stephanie Fowler Benson, a longtime community advisor.
“Part of my work started with this forum. This is an emotional night for me because I have watched you guys take an idea and turn it into something special. I remember when Mr. Fizer and Mrs. McCadden went to Earl Reynolds, who said, ‘Stephanie, you should go and talk with them.’ We had many conversations about what the vision should be and discussed how we were going to accomplish it.”
“It has been my pleasure as Chairman and Coordinator of the Melrose Rugby Neighborhood Forum to work with the members over the last year. I’ve enjoyed getting to know all of you and look forward to more collaborations in the future,” Mollie DeBerry said.
A winner of the National Physical Revitalization Award from Neighborhoods USA for renovation work by volunteers, the Melrose-Rugby neighborhood covers the area west side of 10th Street Northwest and east side of Lafayette Boulevard Northwest.
The MRNF Executive Board currently consists of McCadden (President), DeBerry (Event Coordinator), JoAnn Hayden (Treasurer), Rodney Brown (Project Manager), Jerome Hayden (Project Manager), Mary Riles (Secretary) and Elta Wilson (Chaplain).
