J C staged thefi,rst eaer birthday celebration
ng Kong for American writer
arud poet
en Poe, organíser Dan Kubiske reports The decision to hold the party had nothing to do with the Burns Supper that was held in the same room the next night and to send up an American writer before the Scots. Rather it
originated with
a
challenge from Club President Tom
Crampton.
For years I have worn a small raven on my label in honour of Edgar Allen Poe. Crampton, a graduate of the University of Virginia (UVA), one of the schools Poe attended, said if I enjoyed Poe so much I should organise a birthday party for him.
conspirators was a logical move. The
leave immediately for seven days if they show any symptoms of flu or
co-sponsor the party and association chairman, Peabody Hutton, came up with a brilliant suggestion: rather than ruin the night with amateur readings
-
Measures addressing terrorism
Safetv Awareness training sessions have been scheduled with membeq Tracy Walton. All department heads, staff at
air
conditioners and air cleansers are now
cleaned twice
the FCC implemented additional security and hygiene measures on March 26 as a precaution against possible terrorist attacks and to protect
the Club against the outbreak
of
Acute
Respiratory Syndrome
-
All kitchen workers
and stewards must wear masks during duty
hours and their masks should
be
changed on daily basis.
-
All
week and sterilized. exhaust fans, venliìalion
systems and air cleansers turned on at all times
will
be
staff have been provided
with a mask and should wear the mask whenever at risk of infection, particularly when taking public transport. Extra masks are in stock and will be provided to staff on request. - The Club telephones and door
Staff Terrorism
supervisor levels and security guards to pay high attention to strange parcels, misplaced
have been instructed
baggage and odd smells. Ary
-
The Ìatest advisories from the Health Department has been posted on
the Club Notice Board and
atypical pneumonia, They include:
Measures addressing Severe
All
a
coPies provided for members to take with them. - The latest advisories from the Health Department has been posted on Staff Notice Boards and copies have
suspicious strangers approaching the
Club should be reported to
the department heads or duty managers. - The water tank supply will be locked at all times.
-
The Club's closed circuit
been given to each of our 100 staff
television system has been put into full operation and we may consider
members.
upgrading it.
A memo has been issued to all
department heads calling for high attention to the disease and personal hygiene. If anY staff or member of
his/her family or relatives symptoms
of
shows
Pneumonia theY must
report this immediatelY'
-
Staff are also advised to wash
- For emergency situations, when people get hurt or sick, department heads or duty managers are instructed to call 999 whenever necessary.
-
Frequent fire drill
and
evacuation training for alÌ staff and fire alarm testing will take place. I THE CORRTSPONDENT APRIL/MAY
UVA Alumni Association agreed
to
from fans of Poe's work, Hutton
The filters
the
2OO3
successes.
with the "autobiography" were samples of
Interspersed
While many know Poe as the writer of The Raven, the poem that made him famous, and the short stor¡ The Tell Tale Heart - both of
whenever possible. Staff are advised to take sick
in
and his literary Poe's works.
cleaned with sterilizers three times per da¡ in time.
and
Calling in the UVA crowd as co-
hands with liquid soap at all
pneumonla.
the tragic death of his wife
finally to his own mysterious death. He discussed Poe's ìiterary enemies
So challenge accepted.
handles are now
the morning, after lunch and at dinner
After the meal was concluded the few remaining modern lights were dimmed and as they came back up Baker walked to the riser dressed as Poe. Pausing ever so briefly at "his" coffin, "Poe" then delivered his own eulogy. Baker took us from Poe's troubled childhood through his problems with his adopted father to
proposed that we get an actor to do the
honours. After much searching we hired Strategic Entertainment to prepare a one-man show for the evening. The celebration was for a writer that created a new form of literature -- the detective novel -- and whose poetry went from the heights of passionate love to the darkest reaches of a human soul wracked with depression and self-doubt.
The crack team at Strategic Entertainment researched and wrote a performance for local actor and drama instructor Doug Baker. The dress code for the evening was black and most guests accommodated that request. The tables were draped in black and the room was darkened. A few candles at the tables mingled with the subdued house lights to provide a sombre atmosphere. On the riser was a small table with a bottle of cognac and a rose. Next to the table was a casket. Even though this was to be a birthday celebration, we were clearly in for a wake. The mood was set and the guests arrived. To add a more festive touch - after all it was a birthday celebration - word puzzles related to Poe's life and works were distributed. Whoever could answer the most questions by the end of the evening won a case of Raven beer. The libation was flown in especially for the event. It is a microbrew from Baltimore, the city where Poe is buried. THE CORRESPONDENT APRIL/MAY
2OO3
which were read at the "wake"
- Poe a poet of great passion. Baker sharpened this point throughout the monologue. He
was also
delivered selections from Annabel Lee and The Bells with such emotion that even those who were lukewarm to Poe as a poet were moved. (Or so they said after the performance.) Will the Poe birthday celebration become an annual event at the FCC? That is hard to tell. It will be up to Mr. Crampton and his UVA compatriots to make sure Poe's 195th birthday is celebrated in Hong Kong. As for me, I will be arranging a similar party on the beaches of the Dominican Republic. Or maybe I'll fly to Baltimore where the largest Poe celebration in the world is held each year. I Orrce upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Ouer many a quaint and curious uolumc offorgotten lore, While I nodded, nnarly napping, suddenly there catne a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my
chamber d,oor. ''Tis some uisitor,' I muttered, 'tapping at my chamber d,oor -
Only this, and nothing more.
- Thc ßøoen bg Ddga,r Allan Poe
tt