rss
mobile
Feeds
"Our friends had scoured the East Coast looking for the perfect place to retire and had settled on Beaufort," said Kingsley, "and my husband Jim and I, being the efficient-minded people that we are, decided they'd done a good job."
Instantly captivated by the Lowcountry's beauty and year-round use of the water it affords,
the couple packed up their
Connecticut family home of 30 years and headed south, boat in tow.
"Our children were dismayed when we announced that their childhood treasures, long stored in the attic, would be disposed of if not claimed," recalled Kingsley with a chuckle. "My son was crestfallen to learn that his 'invaluable' Beatle's album collection had melted!"
Floating leisurely through retirement wasn't quite what Kingsley, recipient of this year's City of Beaufort Mayor's Award for the Arts, had in mind, however. Always an active volunteer, it didn't take her long before she signed up to head a committee at the fledgling Creative Retirement Center, now a part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
"The beauty of volunteering is that you can be worth whatever your co-workers and beneficiaries think you're worth," said Kingsley. "Your value isn't determined by a paycheck."
BACK TO WORK
It wasn't long before her extraordinary efforts on behalf of the institute garnered her a full-time position with the University of South Carolina Beaufort promoting continuing education. With the support and encouragement of Dr. Marge Yanker, continuing education director, and Dr. Jane Upshaw, chancellor, Kingsley's brainchild, the Lunch with Author series, was born.
Commenced in the fall of 2001, the series was Kingsley's response to a real need to promote the literary arts in the community. "There were lots of programs for the visual arts," said Kingsley, "but no forum for writers to showcase their works.
"My 'ah-ha' moment, when I realized that we were providing a real service for authors, came when award-winning mystery writer Carolyn Hart sent me three of her books."
Thinking at first that it was her daughter who had forwarded the books to her, Kingsley was thrilled to learn that it was the author herself who was interested in appearing in the series. Once Kingsley realized that writers were eager for an opportunity to share their works and to enter into a dialogue with their readers, there was no stopping her.
The series, which has featured eight to 12 authors per season since its inception, has hosted such internationally acclaimed talents as Geraldine Brooks, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for her novel "March." It initially focused on local authors and creators of works set in the Lowcountry but is now expanding to cover a wide variety of works, from photographical compilations such as "Daufuskie Island -- Photographs" by Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe to this December's offerings on children's books.
Covering fictional novels, as well as non-fictional works, the series has broad appeal. "We make every effort to hold the events at locations both north and south of the Broad, so as to reach a wide audience," said Kingsley. "Beaufort County is really such a unique place, with so many interesting and talented people."
Through this series, she hopes to foster a feeling of community at the county level and to encourage residents to embrace their diversity.
Growing from a handful of attendees to presently over 200, the series is one of Beaufort County's most popular events. "There are a surprising number of avid readers here," Kingsley boasted.
When asked if she herself is an avid reader, she said, "Oh, yes, I have always been a reader. And all my children and grandchildren are avid readers. They're favorite Christmas present was (and) is from my husband, because he always picked out a special book for each child and he still does.
"My eldest daughter informed me recently that my 'bribe' for them when we were out shopping was, 'If you're good while I shop, then I'll take you to the library for books.' "
BUSY BEE
While her work on the Lunch with Author series would be enough to warrant her recent recognition, Kingsley has also been a driving force behind the growth and popularity of the Arts Council of Beaufort County.
Serving on its board for years, she saw ACBC grow from a nascent organization struggling to make ends meet to a driving force for the promotion of the county's richly varied art community. With the hope that new, younger talent will replace her, she is no longer serving ACBC in an official capacity, but her commitment to its purpose remains strong. She is most excited about the growing popularity of ACBC's artist studios and the open-air Port Royal Concert Series.
Kingsley is also a volunteer at Historic Beaufort Foundation and Beaufort County Historic Society, as well as being the organizing force behind USCB's Community Outreach enrichment program of historical tours.
"We are so very proud to have such an estimable slate of historians," she proclaimed. The historical tours are hosted by Dr. John M. McCardell Jr., Dr. Lawrence S. Rowland and Dr. Stephen R. Wise, each an expert in their field and eminently knowledgeable about the South and Beaufort, in particular. This fall's program will offer an in-depth look at the role this area played in the Revolutionary War.
When asked about his decision to bestow this award on Kingsley, Mayor Billy Keyserling stated, "She is a wonderful person who sets an example for others to engage in building up our community. Her various programs are but few examples." He continued by acknowledging that Kingsley went "above and beyond" in creating a partnership with the Beaufort Three-Century Project for the historical lecture series.
In speaking with Kingsley about her plans for the future and the challenges she's facing, she points out, "There is no tax money available for continuing education, by law it must pay for itself." Accordingly, USCB must work diligently to provide the kind of quality programming that its members want at a price point that is both affordable and sufficient to cover their expenses, including staff salaries.
An avid rose gardener (she has over 40), Kingsley is used to adversity. "The thing about roses is to never get the first one," she quipped. "Like volunteering, you just can't stop."
