Association for Women Journalists - DFW Chapter

January 2003 NEWS

It's a wrap: AWJ members and friends wrap gifts for tipsby Jessica DeLeon, AWJ Secretary

On a cool Sunday afternoon in December, Angela Brown was working alone at the gift wrapping table at the Bookstop on Inwood Road in Dallas when a man asked if she would wrap his presents.

``As I peered into the bags, I saw calendar after calendar,'' said Brown, the Fort Worth correspondent for The Associated Press, ``some small, the kind for your desk, and larger wall calendars. There were 52 in all.''

Brown, as well as other members of the Association for Women Journalists, experienced similar adventures as they wrapped presents for donations at area Barnes and Noble and Bookstop stores during the holiday season.

The hard work turned into a gift. The AWJ raised more than $1,500 for its scholarship fund, which will be distributed to aspiring journalists at its April banquet.

Of course, making that money came with its share of surprises.

Brown, the nonprofit organization's co-president, spent several hours wrapping the more than four dozen calendars -- but ended up with an $80 tip. The organization earned $372 during a single day of wrapping Dec. 21 at another Dallas store.

Nancy Schaadt, food writer for the Fort Worth Weekly, and freelance writer Pennie Boyett made nearly $200 during a three-hour shift at the North Richland Hills Barnes and Noble.

Her technique?

``What I do best -- talk, talk, talk,'' said Schaadt, a board member. ``I talk about the books I'm wrapping and praise the purchaser on his or her good taste. I also wrap quickly.''

Two Channel 8 anchors, Debbie Denmon and Cynthia Vega, grabbed some attention when they worked at a Dallas store the Sunday before Christmas.

``More than one person seemed to be in awe,'' said Linda Franklin, an Associated Press editor and AWJ board member who coordinated the gift-wrapping project. ``One lady told Debbie that she was more beautiful in person, if I remember her statement correctly.''

Jessamy Brown, a Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter and AWJ co-president, also used her talking skills while wrapping gifts. Gayle Reaves, editor of the Fort Worth Weekly, bought ribbon and demonstrated her excellent ribbon-curling skills. Schaadt made mad dashes to stores on several days to fill in at the last minute.

And on the day of the 52 calendars, Ed Sargent, Franklin's husband, came in to help a stressed-out Angela Brown.

``He ended up with the large calendars featuring shirtless, muscular firefighters,'' Angela Brown said, ``but I reminded him that we were wrapping for a good cause.''

Franklin added, ``I understand there were (women's) swimsuit calendars, too.''

--Jessica DeLeon is a reporter in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Northeast Tarrant County bureau.

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