European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 14, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday february 14, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3 Black history events Don t end feb. 28 by Nancy l. Turner . Bureau african american groups Are very visible during Black history month activities in february but they operate year round members say. From luncheons to theater productions every base in the United King Dom has various events planned this month. However promoting Afri can american Cul Ture is not a part time Job for these groups. We need to know about Black history All Yea Rand not just in february said Debbie Walton a family member Straf Lakenheath England who is Walton chairwoman of the base s Black Heri Tage society. The main goal of the group is to get away from the slavery period and into the present and for All races to be unified and riot just for special  the african american groups May seem More visible during february their purpose involves con Stant education social interaction an Community involvement according to the groups leaders interviewed at Var ious Navy and air Force bases in the United  example Many of the groups Spon Sor luncheons throughout the year with Black speakers. There Are also school essay and Art contests with themes that relate to african american cultures a Dave do Many groups also give College schol rehearsing for a Black heritage fashion show at a club in Newmarket England Are warships to High school students and do clockwise from front Tammy Miliner Roxanne Thompson bar Nadette Christmas Nate Money to local shanties. To do this and Tina Bethel members raise Money through fashion shows Talent contests and gospel con certs among other activities. The reason our club exists is to pro Mote the awareness of Black heritage said master sgt. Tony Cooper president of the african american heritage club at Raf Chicksands England. It allows other people to see that there is Worth Winall heritages.". As members do research for programs they also learn about african american history and culture said tech. Sgt. Min. Nie Barkley vice president of the Blac heritage committee at Raf Alconbury England. Organizing activities takes time and Effort. However most of the groups Are Short of people the groups leaders said. The More members we have the More we can do said master sgt. Gerry Smith who leads the Ebony heritage commit tee at Raf Mildenhall England. Although the groups predominantly have Black members membership is not limited to african americans. The current draw Down of . Force from Europe has Hurt membership bark Jey said. But one exception is the african american heritage association at the London Headquarters of the . Naval forces Europe. Its group has about 75 Active members while most other groups average Only 15 to 25 members. When Gary Rowe a Navy chief Petty officer arrived in London last june there were about 15 Active members. A they members did before was throw parties he said. We wanted More Community involvement and to do More cultural things. We re learning As we go  now Rowe is president of the Londo association. Groups a by Nancy  . Bureau multicultural committees on two bases in the United kingdom Are helping to spread knowledge and understanding of the world s varied and numerous ethnic groups. Multicultural groups Are designed to promote awareness of a variety of Dif Ferent cultures rather than focusing on a single culture according to the groups leaders. By their nature these organizations tend to draw their memberships from a variety of different heritages they said. We try to have functions for All Cul Tures said Petty officer 2nd class Lisa Wimbush with the cultural awareness society at the . Naval facility in Brawdy Wales. The intent of the group basically is to support All cultures and to make peo ple aware of everyone s  As the Only cultural group at Brawdy the society tries to hold a monthly even focusing on one particular heritage with such activities As luncheons featuring ethnic foods. It also organizes Multi cultural activities featuring a variety of heritages on the same program Wim Bush said. At Raf Chicksands England a Spe Cial observances committee was formed about three years ago to pro Mote cultural awareness said sgt. Mar Garet Rhodes chairwoman of the com Mittee. The base also has an african american heritage club which meets year round. The special observances committee is designed to reach out and get other people involved that normally Aren t involved in special observances Rhodes said. The committee has a representative from each unit on Chicksands but it is always looking for volunteers to help with activities such As cultural fashion shows poster and essay contests and luncheons Rhodes said. At Raf Mildenhall England plans Are being discussed to expand the Martin Luther King  heritage Obser Vance committee into a multicultural organization. The existing committee meets Only to organize events for the King holi Day in january and for Black history month in february. However the multicultural committee would meet year round said it. Col. Sandra Walls committee  also has an Ebony heritage committee that meets year round. Despite the King committee s name Many of the events it holds Are Multi cultural Walls said. For instance i Celebration of the King Holiday the committee played Host to an even called hands across  the event featured a wide Range of activities indicative of particular cultures including appearances by a nigerian storyteller and a Bagpiper. For this month s Black history Cele bration the committee is putting to Gether an original play by its members called locked in time that depicts How people of different heritages dealt with different issues in history. History is for All people Wall said. We Don t want to dwell on the negative. We want to promote the Posi  americans make a clean sweep of la Maddalena by sue Palumbo Mediterranean Bureau la Maddalena Sardinia americans in la Maddalena do More than talk trash. They clean it up. Last year military and civilian volunteers began hit Ting the streets to help keep the tiny resort Island Beautiful. We started where we live said Petty officer 1st class Daniel l. Moran the environmental coordinator for naval support activity la Maddalena. We got some people together to clean up near housing and then we re moving to the beaches and other Public  Moran said City workers Are Able to keep garbage at Bay in the town but with winds that easily hit 45 Mph it s difficult for them to get the less travelled areas. Armed with trash bags gloves and other cleaning items about 35 volunteers Battle Island winds for pos session of the refuse. Moran said local townspeople seem very appreciative of the extra hands and usually join in. This year we re planning to make this a quarterly event for the command said it. Gregory Zielinski Public works officer. The project is More than a Goodwill gesture or an environmental concern Moran said. Tourism is la mad Dalena s main Industry. The economic depression that has gripped All of Italy meant fewer tourists and fewer tourist dollars last year. We try to help clean up before tourist season starts Moran said. Tourism is really important to the local inhabitants. They can t afford to let the Beauty of the land go or people will Stop  la Maddalena s population of about 16,000 swells to More than 65,000 during the summer months. Its clean Clear Waters and sunny weather draw some of Europe s wealthiest sightseers