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Let me introduce the most awesome group of team mates anyone could ever have! Not only are they my very good friends, but I also have the pleasure of working with them to bring this forum to all of you, each and every week;

and myself;

Here are the qualifications that will be used in the selection of each honoree. People that are selected will be recognized based on:

So, if you know of anyone here at AdlandPro that are not necessarily "high profile" people per say, and that don't get the recognition that they deserve, let us know. We will be helping to get people recognized that should be *A SHINING STAR*. All nominations must be in by Saturday and please tell us why you believe the person deserves to be recognized.

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The meaning of the name BETTY;

*NOTE - For more information on this name , or any other name, please refer to the following website; http://www.behindthename.com/

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Here is BETTY'S bio;

My name is Betty Jean Allbritton Strange, and I still live in Shreveport,  LA, where I was born 74 years ago, back on March 26, 1933.  God gave me the most wonderful Momma and Daddy in the world!  I lost my Dad, my very best friend, on July 15, 1982, to a massive heart attack.  He lacked 9 days being 70.  Yes, I was one of those "Daddy's Little Girls".  My Dad never spanked me but once in my life  - - at the age of 5, when I sassed him!  You know how little girls do!  I miss him very much.  I lost my Mom on May 29, 2004, to the horrible disease of Alzheimers, at the age of 91.  She was a sweetheart - one of those  prim and proper southern girls, who thought that every hair should be  in place and nothing that you have on can be wrinkled.  and I took after her, more than I like to think sometimes!  And the more I age, the more I look like my Momma.

We were always a close-knit family.  We all ate our meals together at the table, went to church together, listened to the radio together (there was no TV back in the 40's),  played games together, and always hugged each other when we left the house and also, when we returned.  My brothers and my sons and I still do that, whether they come to my house, or I go to theirs.

I have two  younger brothers, one 70 and the other,  63.  No one could ask for better brothers.  I feel blessed to have them.

 I was married to my high school sweetheart, Bobby Joe Strange, for 46-1/2 years.  He was  in the Navy when we married.  About 6 months after we were married, I went to Newport, RI and stayed there about 5 months, until he was shipped out again.  We had a great time in Newport.  When he was discharged in 1953, we moved to Melbourne, FL, and lived there 4 years.  His parent's health was not very good so we came home. We were married 8 years before our first son was born. 

John-Michael loved singing, and was singing solos in our Baptist Church at the age of 13.  After high school, he went to Northwestern State University and got his batchelors and masters degrees in Vocal Performance.  He loved opera, and after several years of training, went to New York City  to try to break into the big-time opera, and wound up working in the Event Coordinator's  office at Carneige Hall for 10 years.  During that period of time, he DID join an opera group that toured Europe for a month. 

Three years after the first son was born, a second son came along, Patrick Wayne.  Patrick loved to sing, as well, but it was country music that he liked.  He went to Nashville to audition, and made a record, but it never went anywhere, unfortunately.  His health now  is bad, and he is unable to work.  But  he is the happiest  person, to have encountered so much bad health in  his life, and it amazes me.  

Bobby was a Maintenance Supervisor at the largest hospital in Shreveport, for 18 years.  Due to all the illnesses he incurred while there, he was unable to continue working and had to retire in 1982.  He loved to hurt and fish, and did all of that for as many years as he could before finally being confined to the house, unable to drive because of his heart.  He died July 6, 1998, after 4 major heart attacks, quadruple by-pass surgery, a kidney failure, and chirrosis of the liver. 

I worked for several attorneys, a couple of manufacturing companies, was an  information operator for South Central Bell ( as it was called back then, in 1951), was the secretary to a Chemical Engineer in a Government office in Florida that made sonar for submarines, retired from the State of LA after working as Administrative Assistant to a Dean of a Nursing College for 10 years, and for the City of Shreveport for 18 years, where I was secretary to the Director of a garden and art center.  I retired at the age of 62, back on October 31, 1995.  I told them I was retiring on MY day - - Witch's Day! I loved working, but at the time I retired, my husband's health was worsening, and I knew it was time for me to be home, full-time!   I was able to spend 3 years with  him, every day, before he passed away.

Now, I'm just living the "good life".  I an into an old friend back in 2001 at the funeral service for one of my brothers-in-law.  This old friend, his wife, me and my husband all used to run together and go to conventions together.  He lost his wife to cancer in 1994, and I lost  Bobby in 1998.  He was going with someone else when I ran  into  him, but that all changed within a few weeks!  He is 81 years old, still golfs, still dances (when his knees don't  hurt), still takes care of mowing 3 acres of his 6 acres on the lake where he lives, and is just the most wonderful person I've ever known.  I always thought, way back in the 70's, that he was a nice sweet guy, but I didn't realize how kind and generous he truly is.  He treats me like a queen, and I'm enjoying it, to the hilt!  My kids love him and he loves them.  He has 2 sons of his own, after just losing  his oldest son, July 21, 2007.

I bought my first computer 2 years ago, not knowing what I was getting  into.  My kids thought I was crazy and awfully brave, but I was determined to find out what the computer was all about! And I'm STILL trying to find out!  ha ha   I'm so thankful for finding my AdlandPro Community friends.  I'm in "hog-heaven" every morning when I crank it up and chat with all you wonderful people who have taken me in,  just as you do everyone else.  What a great bunch!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!  I can't tell you how much you all mean to me.  God  is truly good, to have put you all into my life!

Oh, and I forgot to tell you about my other "child"!  I have a gorgeous 9 year old female Siamese cat, named Sable.  I love her and she loves her "momma".  She sleeps with me and wakes me  up every morning, nudging my hand or head, trying to tell me it's time to eat.  Those of you  who  have cats know exactly what I'm saying, don't you?

Well, I guess that's enough about me.  Thanks for letting me tell you all about part of my life.  I could write a book about my life, my marriage, the good and bad experiences, my jobs, and experiences with secretaries and bosses, and you can bet, it would be a Best Seller!  But who has time?  I'm too busy chatting with my treasured ALP friends!  Thank you all again for allowing me to be your friends.  I love each and every one of you!

Betty 

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Let's all Congratulate BETTY on being named one of this week's *SHINING STARS* If you are not a friend of BETTY'S please send her an invitation to become your friend today! Here is BETTY'S link;

http://community.adlandpro.com/go/BettyBoopShreve/default.aspx