Apr/May 2003
Skater of the Month
Ruby Thomas, Essential Sister NetworkEssential Sister Network (ESN) is a non-profit organization for women of any race, economic level, occupation or location. It was formed in 1999 by Ruby Thomas of Atlanta Georgia who began by conducting monthly meetings for women on topics such as AIDS awareness, financial planning and breast cancer.A year later, Ruby developed and built a website for her organization and called it e-worldsisters.org. The site allows women to network more efficiently and easily than through other means of communication. Ruby’s view is that more and more women should avail themselves to the many advantages of utilizing the world wide web. “I saw a need for women to expand on the use of the internet to help themselves by sharing helpful information with each other...Networking is the next wave to ride in taking care of ourselves,” she said via email. She feels so strongly about this point that, in 2003, ESN decided to stop conducting their monthly meetings in order to focus all efforts toward the website and online communication. This one change enabled the network to reach a much wider audience and in a very short time period. The primary goal of ESN is the sharing of helpful information whether relating to job opportunities, health, scholarships or housing. Even though ESN is an organization for women, Ruby does not consider herself a feminist in the political sense of the word, however, she does relate to the struggles many women are faced with and the fact they sometimes need a hand up. “Networking with each other gives us a better array of choices to consider as we journey,” she said. FEMALE ISSUES Even though it is fulfilling for women to help each other, there are some who may have the tendency to avoid extensive interaction with other females. It is stereotypical and false to say that ALL women are drama-queens or tend to “keep up mess,” but the reality is that SOME women do which causes others to keep their distance. Ruby offers words of wisdom for those who are afflicted with this mindset. She believes networking should not involve your personal life and women need to become more professional in their understanding of the term while realizing the strength of positive information flow. Men seem to be able to do this with ease and women would benefit from learning to operate the same way. “Men in general keep their private lives to themselves but will still give another man a hand up...Why? Probably because they foresee interference or serious interruption in the way their life flows....We must regard our life stability just as important and learn to give a hand up without meddling in each others private lives,” she admonished. ESN’s FUTURE ESN intends to be a shining example of the above concept for many years to come. Every month more and more women are connecting with the network and the helpful information available through it. In coming months, Ruby plans to host online and land-based events “where information and women can come together in a positive way and make things happen.” SKATING
Ruby began skating at the age of 42 and has been skating 12 years now. She remembers skating in the streets of Chicago as a child wearing metal clamp-on skates, but did not experience rink skating until 1991. She decided to try skating again because she was looking for a regular exercise program that would also be fun. The empty nest syndrome also led her to return to rolling on eight wheels after four of her five children grew up and moved out on their own leaving her with much more spare time. She enjoys skating because it allows her to dance and exercise with the thrill of rolling while also allowing her to go solo according to her own time schedule. Most Sundays she is rolling at her home rink in Atlanta, but she has also skated in various other places including: New York, New Jersey, New Orleans, North Carolina, Birmingham, Phoenix, and Chicago. MOST INSPIRATIONAL FIGURE
“My husband Marty has been a source of great peace and happiness.
He does everything he can to make my life easier therefore I have been
able to do what I do best.” FAVORITE QUOTE/SAYING
"There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving"Acts.20:35
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
“I consider my greatest interest to be Art. I paint, abstracts mostly
but can do realistic subjects also. My art is very colorful, afrocentric
in nature with lots of textured surfaces.“
PERSONAL
Native of Mississippi, (also has lived in Chicago Illinois and Flint
Michigan)
CONTACT
For more information about Essential Sister Network, contact Ruby,
rubyt2000@earthlink.net
or Percy Grant, percy1115@netzero.net
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