By Henrik Eger
Nancy Brooks next to DCCC President Dr. Jerry Parker
on her farewell day.
For Nancy Brooks,
Without whom we would not be speakers and seekers,
Without whom we would not have become towners and gowners,
Professors and administrators at DCCC who connect with our communities
In Delaware and Chester County, and sometimes even beyond.
Like my colleagues, I’m a speaker, a seeker, who values invitations to speak to folks
in Delaware and Chester County, and sometimes even beyond:
Members of church groups and synagogues, Rotary Clubs and Toastmasters International, Masons and widows, seniors and singles, community groups, Republicans and Democrats who meet in libraries and community halls, fellow human beings of all colors and shades,
and even folks who seem to think at times that the guest speakers from Delaware County Community College might have all the answers to solve the puzzles of life.
Like my colleagues, I’m a speaker, a seeker, who values invitations to speak to folks
in Delaware and Chester County, and sometimes even beyond:
But no matter how wonderful, how brilliant we all might think we are
(yes, we do have our moments!), we would be nothing but teachers and administrators without an audience, if it were not for
Nancy Brooks, Director and Good Spirit of the Speakers Bureau at DCCC.
Few people probably know that Nancy is one of the most popular, one of the most beloved people for miles. Without Nancy there would be no outreach programs. Without Nancy there would be no town-gown relationships, no ties that bridge gaps. Without Nancy there would be no regular get-togethers of minds.
Nancy, I’ve often asked myself: What’s your secret of success in bringing all of us together and sending us out into the world the way Mother Theresa sent out her nuns, radically different as we seem to be, but without you ever acting like a Mother Superior?
Nancy, what were all the great things you did in your quiet but highly successful way to gain and build and sustain the confidence and trust and admiration of hundreds of program directors in the area over many years, so much so that over the course of time, thousands of people were waiting for us, trusting you completely with your Speakers program?
Nancy, you utterly reliable colleague, you very special Mensch, Nancy, you unobtrusive background boss at the Speakers Bureau, our gentle, our beautiful talent agent, and sometimes even our tour guide through DelCo’s cultural neighborhoods, Nancy, quite frankly, I do not know how to thank you for all that you did for us, except to say:
Nancy, you represent the kind of America that still exists in some corners, here and there.
Like my colleagues, I’m a speaker, a seeker, who values invitations to speak to folks
in Delaware and Chester County, and sometimes even beyond: in this case, speaking
to Nancy Brooks herself, the woman who gave us both gowns and towns, who gave us
some of the best of America:
Nancy, the beautiful—America, the beautiful.
Without whom we would not be speakers and seekers,
Without whom we would not have become towners and gowners,
Professors and administrators at DCCC who connect with our communities
In Delaware and Chester County, and sometimes even beyond.
Like my colleagues, I’m a speaker, a seeker, who values invitations to speak to folks
in Delaware and Chester County, and sometimes even beyond:
Members of church groups and synagogues, Rotary Clubs and Toastmasters International, Masons and widows, seniors and singles, community groups, Republicans and Democrats who meet in libraries and community halls, fellow human beings of all colors and shades,
and even folks who seem to think at times that the guest speakers from Delaware County Community College might have all the answers to solve the puzzles of life.
Like my colleagues, I’m a speaker, a seeker, who values invitations to speak to folks
in Delaware and Chester County, and sometimes even beyond:
But no matter how wonderful, how brilliant we all might think we are
(yes, we do have our moments!), we would be nothing but teachers and administrators without an audience, if it were not for
Nancy Brooks, Director and Good Spirit of the Speakers Bureau at DCCC.
Few people probably know that Nancy is one of the most popular, one of the most beloved people for miles. Without Nancy there would be no outreach programs. Without Nancy there would be no town-gown relationships, no ties that bridge gaps. Without Nancy there would be no regular get-togethers of minds.
Nancy, I’ve often asked myself: What’s your secret of success in bringing all of us together and sending us out into the world the way Mother Theresa sent out her nuns, radically different as we seem to be, but without you ever acting like a Mother Superior?
Nancy, what were all the great things you did in your quiet but highly successful way to gain and build and sustain the confidence and trust and admiration of hundreds of program directors in the area over many years, so much so that over the course of time, thousands of people were waiting for us, trusting you completely with your Speakers program?
Nancy, you utterly reliable colleague, you very special Mensch, Nancy, you unobtrusive background boss at the Speakers Bureau, our gentle, our beautiful talent agent, and sometimes even our tour guide through DelCo’s cultural neighborhoods, Nancy, quite frankly, I do not know how to thank you for all that you did for us, except to say:
Nancy, you represent the kind of America that still exists in some corners, here and there.
Like my colleagues, I’m a speaker, a seeker, who values invitations to speak to folks
in Delaware and Chester County, and sometimes even beyond: in this case, speaking
to Nancy Brooks herself, the woman who gave us both gowns and towns, who gave us
some of the best of America:
Nancy, the beautiful—America, the beautiful.
Dr. Henrik Eger, organizer of the annual International Women's Day at DCCC,
where students, faculty, and staff read poems by female writers from countries around the globe.
Addendum
“People who spoke to her on the phone or received an e-mail would ask me ‘Who is Nancy Brooks,' said Dr. Henrik Eger, Professor of English/Communication. “She helped to build the ‘town and gown’ relationship between the college and local communities.”
Click here for more details about Nancy Brooks.
“People who spoke to her on the phone or received an e-mail would ask me ‘Who is Nancy Brooks,' said Dr. Henrik Eger, Professor of English/Communication. “She helped to build the ‘town and gown’ relationship between the college and local communities.”
Click here for more details about Nancy Brooks.
If you are interested in publishing or adapting this copyrighted poem by setting it to music, staging or filming it, etc., please contact the author.
