Angie Summers 
Angie Summers: Writing about worthy causes has been quite the party
Previous Columns
Angie Summers
- Medical mission trip to Nicaragua inspires Dallas-Fort Worth doctors
- Community activist wants place for homeless veterans
- Arlington Woman's Club honors exceptional youths
- Exhibit has Fielder House museum bursting with color
- CPR makes difference, one life at a time
- Girls Inc. honors its supporters at annual luncheon
- Cancer foundation awards $130,000 to organizations
- Giving back to the community as a voice for neglected kids in court
- Local woman plans devilishly good chat with author
- Former POWs to gather so nobody ever forgets sacrifice
- Time to get on board for 'Train in the Distance' concert
- Couple reap what they sow: kindness and compassion
- Celebrating a teen's victory over challenges that not many face
- High school seniors honored at scholarship fundraiser
- Recognize a woman who works for the common good
- 3,000 bighearted volunteers help make olympics special
- Rack up a good time at group's 21st annual quilt show in Arlington
- Teen Follies puts young Arlington performers at center stage
- Martin High grad gets prestigious Japan role
When I took this job 12 years ago, my sister asked about my job title. I told her that I was going to be working as a society columnist.
She laughed. "You?" she said. "A kid who is more at home in a cow pasture than a dinner table?"
I informed her that despite my Mississippi upbringing, I did know which fork to use.
My early etiquette lessons have served me well during the thousands of social functions I’ve covered for the Star-Telegram through the years.
I’ve always been the type of person who is not easily impressed by so-called celebrities. (Well, it happened just once. I was ecstatic to meet Andy Williams, who reminded me of every warm and fuzzy feeling I had during my childhood Christmas celebrations. And although you can be disappointed after meeting some celebrities you’ve admired, he didn’t disappoint. He’s the real thing.)
Status doesn’t impress me. After all, everyone puts his pants on the same way.
But I have to admit, I was nervous about entering the social scene in Arlington.
I shouldn’t have been. The community welcomed new faces — and still does.
And I learned that these parties didn’t include muck-a-mucks. The majority of people were there for one reason: to raise funds for a good cause. After all, Arlington "society" doesn’t party without a reason.
Thousands volunteer their sweat, and sometimes funds, to help improve the quality of life in Arlington. But many of you out there don’t. It doesn’t take much. You don’t need a fancy wardrobe, and you don’t need to be independently wealthy. Just give an hour or two of your time as a volunteer. Make a difference.
I’ve enjoyed my time as a Star-Telegram society columnist. In the past six months, I’ve also written a Sunday column that focused on community issues. Both types of columns let me tell you about fun events, organizations that are doing great work and people you might never have a chance to know personally.
It’s truly been my honor, and I thank everyone who let me share his or her story.
The Click page has been a place where you could learn about organizations that you might not have known were in the community and a place where good deeds could be recognized. That’s a rare commodity in a newspaper today. Now as the Star-Telegram has moved into the Internet age, people and groups from right here in little ol’ Arlington can get global attention on the World Wide Web.
Although my face appeared on the page, many people did the hard work. Photographers covered many events a night and never complained. Page designers and copy editors made sure my Southern English was correct in print. Editors backed my ideas.
This is my last column for the Star-Telegram — and I thank you all for the experience.
