Editor’s Edict:

Helllooo friends! Happy October, no? It's such an exciting time for us right now...not only is the election days away, but so is Halloween -- which for me, is the kick-off to a great holiday season. My birthday is in November (the best month of the year), so October has always been the pre-curser jump-off for the special day, thus making October the second-best month of the year! Yipppeeee!

We had our Harlem's Night Cabaret show on October 4 -- another lovely Brown Bettie production. We only have two more shows left for the year (11/1 & 12/6)! Time is really going fast and has been great to us. I hope it has been the same for you. This month also marked the release of Beyonce's new video "If I Were A Boy" which features our very own Eddie Goines . Eddie guest-starred as "JOE" in the cabaret, and recently appeared in "Hey Joe" which featured six of our eight previous Joe's over our three-year history and tells Joe's side of the love story that is told in Harlem's Night Cabaret! (Congrats Eddie!)

So, let's get to it! Our featured Brown Bettie, marketing mavenesse Megan Hughes, kicks off the issue which is full of great stuff this month...from literary morsels like Tanya Alexander's Haiku and another fiction entry to Harlem's Love Story, to Cecilie Davis Carter's musings in "In My Solitude", you'll have great reading. We have wonderful contributors this month who run their own businesses: Sidney Gaskins, Margarette Purvis and my pops, Roscoe Chambers. Be sure to check out their links; you just may find something that will help make the remaining part of 2009 fantastic! And, don't forget the fun stuff: Dear Brown Abbey and words of advice in "Momma Said" written by my mother, Vicki Rogers.

Thank you for reading; please forward to a friend; and don’t forget to visit http://www.brownbetties.com/ for more on Brown Betties of Harlem’s Night Cabaret! If you have any comments, feel free to hit me up at brownbettiesgazette@yahoo.com

xo
The Hot One

www.peppurchambers.com

Brown Bettie Revs UP!

Megan Hughes
Marketing Mavenesse.

by Peppur Chambers

If you talk to anyone that has every worked with Megan Hughes professionally, they're sure to tell you that she is a class act. On the streets, (or behind closed office doors) some would say, "Damn, that girl knows her sh*t!" And, she does.

Megan is the type of person who works tirelessly, produces amazing results and does so without breaking a sweat. I met her during a dancer's audition for Chicago's now defunct Chicago Rockers men's CBA (Continental Basketball Association) team. She floated in, learned the audition routine and basically nailed every double turn, high kick, and hip roll with the greatest of ease while flashing her gazillion-watt smile. I made sure I stood by her during the audition process! We both made the team and later both made the World Champion Chicago Bulls "Luvabulls" dance team where we entertained thousands during the amazingly fantastic and historic Jordan-era.

Ms. Hughes still captivates audiences -- only now she does so in the boardroom. She still entertains thousands... it's simply behind the scenes!

Meet Megan. (And if you don't want to piss her off, pronounce her name as "Mehgan" - not "Meegan"!)

Please give your exact title and state how long you've been at your jobby-job. Marketing Director, Genesco Sports Enterprises. I have been in this role for a little over two years. I handle the motorsports marketing for Pepsi Cola North America. I love my job!

Sports marketing is seemingly sexy; are you Samantha, Carrie, Charlotte or Miranda at work? (or, Pam Grier's Foxy Brown, perhaps?)

Hmmm…that is a really good question. I have always thought I was Carrie, but sometimes I think I take work (and life) a little too serious, which makes me Miranda. Actually, I probably have a bit all the girls inside of me!

What is your favorite part about the NASCAR Race and do you have a favorite driver? (NASCAR is one of Megan's accounts)

Well, the best part is when the Grand Marshal says “Gentlemen, start your engines”! If you are on the track near the cars when they all start up their engines, it’s the most amazing experience ever! Your heart skips a beat…you can’t even hear yourself think…you get chills! My favorite Driver…I have two. Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. They are about as different as they come. Jeff is bright lights and paparazzi, while Dale Jr is a beer and video games!

Back in the day, you had a dream to be the first black female General Manager for the NBA. Is this still your dream?

While I still think that would be an awesome job and an incredible accomplishment, I don’t think it’s necessarily my dream anymore. I have since been introduced to so many new opportunities and new experiences.

What is the "Top" for you...either professionally, socially, personally...what are you reaching for?

I definitely used to think that the “top” for me had something to do with my professional life, but I don’t feel that way anymore. The “top” is that peak where you have achieved balance…professionally, personally, and spiritually. I am not there yet because my professional weight keeps pulling me down. I am really searching for the personal and spiritual right now…then I will be balanced enough to be at the “top”, the peak.

Who is your favorite designer?

That’s a good question. I don’t really have a favorite. However, I do like clothes!!!! Oh, and shoes!

If you could chose to live anywhere (and surely you can), where would that be? Why?

I have always wanted to live in Europe (Italy to be more specific). I was blessed to be able to live over there for about three months, but I would have loved to have stayed there for a couple years. I think it’s important to expose ourselves to different cultures and different ways of life. In the states, I would pick Dallas or Charlotte. They are both beautiful cities!

You went to Hampton University, what did you love most about being there? Growing up in the white suburbs of Kansas, I was often times the only Black in a classroom or on a sports team. There was rarely a chance for me to connect or identify with someone who had similar life experiences as me. Hampton allowed me to make those connections. Plus, there were some very sexy men there! :)

Is there anyone from Hampton who you lost touch with that you like to see again? There are a couple of my line sisters (Alpha Kappa Alpha) that I would absolutely love to see again! We went through so much together during our time at Hampton…it would nice to re-connect with them.

Your younger twin sisters were featured in the first issue of the Gazette...what's it like not being a twin? Do people ask you that as much as people ask me "Where's the salt?"

Ha! I love it! What do you say when people ask you about the salt? Editor's answer: I say "On the table!" I don’t mind not being a twin. I think my sisters have a very special and unique relationship with each other, but I am not jealous of that. People ask me if I feel left out sometimes, but I am such a loner, so I don’t feel that way at all. The hardest thing is when my sisters are mad at each other and they area both calling me telling me their side of the story and wanting me to agree with them. That puts me in an awkward position, but I guess I am used to it now.

You love food. I love food. What's knocking your socks off these days restaurant-wise?

Knocking my socks off…I used to be able to eat Mexican food everyday, but since moving to NYC I can’t seem to find a good Mexican restaurant (and believe me…I have tried them all). I seem to always have a craving for sushi! There are some great sushi spots in the city. I guess that is my weakness right now!

Editor’s note: There’s that one place near SoHo that I like. If I could remember the name, I'd tell you.

When you were the choreographer for the Chicago Condors Women's ABL (American Basketball League) team dancers, what were you thinking would be next for you?
At that time in my life I had no idea what would be next. That was when I was torn between entertainment and corporate. I would have loved to continue choreographing and going down that career path, but I felt like I was being pulled in this other direction. I really miss dancing and choreography. I miss being creative!

When you were a little girl, did you know what you wanted to be? Are you that...yet?
I don’t remember wanting to be anything specific when I grew up. I never dreamed of a certain career or of being famous or getting married or any of those things that little girls dream of. I do know that I ALWAYS wanted to make sure my parents were proud of me no matter what. I have this overwhelming fear of disappointing them. I think I have done a pretty good job of making them proud! Thank you!!

Love. Hate. Want. Need.

By Sidney Gaskins

Everyone is interested in what is happening in the United States today. Unless you are living under the proverbial rock or without a television, you have been inundated with information. These are times to take a breath, look at your Life, and then, choose. The election is the perfect place for me to look at my Life. What I love, hate, want, and need. Let me break it down.
LOVE. I love the conversations with people about the elections. Never in my Life have I been involved in information-gathering around an election before. When the opportunity arises, my little fingers are typing away to search for speeches, statistics, articles, and video clips on the web. Maybe the web-searching is wearing away at my Lasik surgery, but I think it happens to be a good cause! I love the passion that the election brings out and the opportunity to share history with another generation.

On primary election day in Georgia, my son and I drove to the polling place. When we arrived, I made it a point to allow him to cast my vote. He actually understands the historic nature of this election. Given the opportunity, this nine-year old will grill you about the political party which you align yourself – that’s Agape Love!

HATE. As seen through a town hall meeting with John McCain’s supporters, there will always be hate espoused by people who are ignorant. It is not wrong to be ignorant; my take is that to be ignorant and share your ignorance in the form of hate contaminates the World at large. At this time in our country, the last thing we need to see is the ugly head of that beast hate sitting overtly in the Presidential election.

WANT. Rarely can you find a multicultural, multiethnic, socioeconomic mix that agrees on the issues. Heaven knows that we do not naturally agree on everything. All I want is to see that all people have not only the opportunity, but the means to step up. No, not hand outs, but hand ups. I want to see people stand in their power to transform their Life and the Life of those around them through taking on their own fears, raising the bar for themselves, going beyond the norm, and doing things they previously thought were impossible. And in that, I hold the mirror to myself first.

NEED. The definition of the word need reads as follows, “a requirement, necessary duty, or obligation”. With that said, I challenge you to look at what you need for your Life, look beyond and see what your friends need, then vote with the person or party which will provide it. But, after November 4th has passed, I challenge you to fulfill your needs by taking an evaluation of your Life and then, raising the bar, going beyond the norm, and doing the impossible. You will be surprised at the Life you create. Maybe the Government can take a page from that book.
So, maybe this is not the column you Love, Hate, or Wanted to read this month, but it is the one you Need.

Sidney Gaskins, Personal and Business Developer/Consultant/Coach, operates Enterprising Life in metropolitan Atlanta, GA. Enterprising Life encourages individuals and businesses to look outside of the box to unleash their dreams and achieve success. For more information visit: http://www.enterprisinglife.com/ or call 678.886.3174 . Are you thinking of adopting, contact your local social services agency, Adopt America Network http://www.adoptamericanetwork.org/ and the National Adoption Center http://www.adopt.org/ .

In My Solitude
"In the Valley"

By Cecilie Davis Carter

My grandmother used to tell me that after every valley, there will always be a hill. Sometimes the valley will be deep and dark, but never the less; there will always be a hill on the other side.

In my solitude, I think about how grateful I am for those valleys. If it weren’t for the time spent there, I would never know how green and beautiful the hills are. I wouldn’t know how to appreciate the journey that leads to the top. If it weren’t for the walks in the valley, I wouldn’t have anything to compare the hills to.

I am thankful for the calluses on my feet, as they are constant reminders of the hard lessons that are learned while making my way over the sharp terrain.
It is because of the darkness of the valley that I have learned to value the things that mean the most: family, friendship and love.

In my solitude, I am thankful for the valley, as I am stronger each time I reach the top of that hill.

The New Haiku
Each month we'll feature a New Haiku from
Tanya Alexander, poet and director of Harlem’s Night Cabaret


Haiku #3:

Ice cream truck ring sings,

Kids scramble by and take chase.

Summertime has come.

Get Tanya's new spoken word album, "Pieces of Tanya", on Itunes or CD Baby. Some soothing samples are here:

Dear Brown Abbey,
This month, "Big Kim" is our guest Brown Abbey!











Dear Brown Abbey:What do think about online dating? I've been trying for a while with some luck but not a lot. Sometimes I feel like it's a waste of time, but don't want to give up hope because I have friends who've had great dates and even gotten married!



Signed, Desperately Seeking an Online Romance


Ooh girl, online dating! Well first of all you have to be extremely careful because you never know what you're gonna get! If you think men lie in person, you ain't seen nothing yet. My basic rules for meeting people online is: “Add/Subtract”! Let me give you some examples: he says, “I'm six feet tall”, subtract 4 inches. He says, “I'm 32”, add 4 years. He says, “I weigh 180”, add 30! You get the idea.

Now that you have the physical covered, you have to worry about if he is a serial killer, axe murderer, scam artist, child, prisoner, etc. Do you really need to go through all that? Yes online dating can and has worked for thousands of people, but there are just as many horror stories. I find that men are chasing women constantly, at the office, on the street, in bars, restaurants you name it. Us girls have it made because the man will do all the work. You've just got to sit back and decide which one's you like.

So basically what it boils down to is if you must, yes go for it but as a woman you can attract men just by being a woman! You don't have to roll the dice on the computer. Just put on your cutest outfit and add a huge dose of self-confidence and the men will do the rest. It works for me and you know I'm just faking it!

NEW!
Father Knows Best
Well. It’s about time. My name is Roscoe Chambers, the proud father of (you guessed it) Peppur Chambers. Our family has been in Human Resources and owners of an Executive Search firm for several years. And because “FATHER KNOWS BEST” I’ve been asked to contribute to the award winning “Brown Betties Gazette”. I will attempt to provide pertinent information pertaining to employment search strategy for job seekers, various employment articles, and postings of open job opportunities nationwide.

Dear Readers,

Have you been inundated with calls from executive search firm that claim to always have that perfect job opportunity? Well, if not just wait….. And when you finally take the chance to answer the call, disappointment sets in because this great position the recruiter speaks about is nowhere near what you are looking to peruse. Well now you can literally control the fate of your job search.

Although there are several resume blast companies out there, I found what appears to be the best in terms of providing the job seeker several search options. In my opinion ResumeSpider (http://www.resumespider.com/) is the best. You can control where you want your résumé sent by state, job title, industry and function. In addition, your credentials are in front of search firms that specifically place candidates in your area of interest. Overall, I think it's the best to help you acquire more job leads and contacts. Be sure to click on our business link to receive the company discount.

Go to http://www.resumespider.com/ and click on the big red "Run Search Now!" button then select your categories and click “Get Results”. You will then get to view your actual list of companies and contacts. Set up a free trial account first and review your actual list. Then you can upgrade and get 10% off by using The Kennedy Group discount code 460577.

Good Luck Hunting!

Sincerely,
Roscoe Chambers, President
The Kennedy Group

Roscoe Chambers II is the President of The Kennedy Group, LLC, an executive search firm that takes a broad approach in the staffing of various industries and disciplines covering levels from middle- to upper- management. Please contact him at Rchambers7@tx.rr.com

Harlem’s Love Story…
For your reading enjoyment, find the sixth installment of “Harlem’s Awakening”…This is the “True Hollywood Story” (as it were) behind the love affair between Joe and Harlem that plays out in the cabaret, “Harlem’s Night”.

Fine Time to See You - Chapter 7
Cora ran over to Joe, who, if it were really possible, woulda been as white as a ghost. Harlem imagined he knew he’d done wrong by humiliating her last night at The Coronett Lounge by inviting her and another woman to come see him play his upright bass.

Joe started to sputter, then completely changed is tune. He blurted, “Harlem, what has gotten into you?!”

Harlem, caught completely off-guard, whined, “Meeee?”

Cora joined in, “What the hell you talkin’ ‘bout Joe? Are you simple or somethin’? You invited Harlem down to see you and she thought you meant somethin’ by that ‘cause most boys mean somethin’ when they do somethin’ like that and then all of a sudden there’s this other dame there servin’ you --- and my boyfriend Harold – a load of champagne!” Cora was circling Joe; she was on a roll. “Why, I’d like to ask what has gotten into YOU, Joe?”

Joe was reaching a boiling point, “Why you gotta tell her everything, Harlem?”

Harlem could barely get out an utterance of a tiny syllable before Cora chimed in with, “Harlem didn’t have to tell me nothin’! When Harold got to my place, naturally I’m to ask him why he reeks of alcohol when I know damn well he ain’t got nearly enough dough for as much sweet juice as he smelled like. When he said some woman named Honey bought it, well then, again, NATURALLY I’m to ask who this ‘Honey’ is and he tells me she’s a friend of yours, Joe. Who is Honey and why she buyin’ champagne cocktails for the whole bar?”

Again, Harlem stared at her dear friend and smiled. She loved Cora. She was an Ace.

“If you must know, and I know you must, Cora, Honey is a woman who hires musicians – such as myself – to play in the studio. For big folks, too. For money. Not the measly pay I make at The Coronett.”

Harlem finally piped in, “So what you’re saying Joe is that she came there for professional reasons, not personal.”

“That is what I’m sayin, Harlem,” Joe said. “Had you stuck around, I woulda told you that.”

“Hmmm.” Cora mused. “How’d you meet this silky smooth Honey?”

“I met her at The Coronett last week. She was there to see some other cats and approached me. She was fine, so –-- oh.” Joe looked like he swallowed a raw egg.

Cora pulled Harlem by the arm, nearly pulling it out the socket. “C’mon Harlem. We don’t need to hear no more right now. Good day, Joe.”

It was July, but Harlem felt a cool breeze fall over her cheeks and down her spine like when it’s October in New York City. She stumbled after Cora but not before she got a good look at Joe.

She knew now for sure she was crazy, because in spite of everything, she secretly hoped this wouldn’t be the last time she’d see him.

(c)2007 Pen and Peppur LLC

Momma Said


by Vicki Rogers
(my Momma)


There were always things my Momma said that connected me to things larger than myself. They generally had some attached moral wisdom or guilt. Usually they just did not make a lot of sense to me at the time. One of those things was: "People in Hell want ice water."

In 1959, my best friend Judith and I were shopping in Weavers, the best store in Lawrence, Kansas, where I grew up. Judith picked out a pastel pink windbreaker (like what you wear jogging) and she called home and was able to put it on the family account. I was so jealous. It was so cool and pretty and new fashion. When I got home, I asked Momma for one and she said, “People in Hell want ice water”.

I used to look in the newspaper every weekend for horses for sale. I asked Momma -- a beautiful, graceful secretary bred in Lawrence and known for her love of scotch and Pal Mall’s -- for a Sorrell (beautiful, reddish-brown color). I even downgraded to the cheaper Pinto Colt (a baby Mustang horse with spots of brown, white and black). You can imagine what she said.

Perhaps it was just a matter of timing -- that is, either pre-payday or mild payday -- that I wanted things that were not in the budget. Of course some items may have been way over the top, (like the horse) but back then, they all seemed like reasonable requests to me!

"People in Hell want ice water"?? Why was it when I asked for something I really wanted, I was put on par with people in Hell? I could never figure out why she was talking to me about people in Hell. I was a fairly good Catholic girl. I went to confession, sometimes. I didn't know any people in Hell and if I did I probably wouldn't want to give them anything. I mean, really…this from a mother who loved me so much she would die and go to Hell for me.

I felt like we were the only people that never got what we wanted and often wondered would I, like the people who asked for “ice water”, end up in Hell or should I just not ask and be done with it -- thus improving my chances to go to Heaven instead? AND, why was it that people in Hell always wanted ice water? Why not iced tea or a slushy or a frosty mug of an ice cold beer?

I’m a mother of three who learned conditionally to not ask for much. I live in Tucson, Arizona now. It’s hot as Hell here sometimes. When I ask for ice water, I get it. When I want a cold beer, I get it. If I still wanted a Sorrell, I’d probably have it roped up in my backyard. Yes, Momma said something that was supposed to teach me I can’t always have what I want, but I’ve definitely learned to get what I need.