TUPELO- Following Mayor Jason Shelton’s executive order, all people inside the Tupelo city limits must now wear a mask in indoor public buildings. Not all Tupelo residents are happy with this.
“It sends a mixed message,” says Rusty Rollingham. “I work hard to give people a certain impression about myself, and wearing a mask just disrupts all of that.”
Rollingham was asked to elaborate.
“Well as you can see by my shirt, I am a supporter of the ALL LIVES MATTER movement. BUT, if I were to wear a mask, then it would appear that I actually mean that seriously and care for everyone’s well-being; it would seem like “ALL LIVES MATTER” is a creed I truly strive to live by and not just thinly-veiled racism.”
Additionally, Rollingham believes that a mask would truly interfere with his everyday life.
“Before the ‘virus’,” he goes on to explain with air quotes, “I could go out to the bar with my buddies and laugh at how stupid science is while breathing each other’s air. But now, if I show up to a bar wearing a mask, people will think I’m a rational person who may not always understand science but still believes it and trusts the experts who actually know what they’re talking about. They’ll think, ‘Dang, that there Rusty must not be getting his information from Facebook no more; he obviously has respect for and values all lives.’ And I just can’t have people thinking that.”
Rollingham was asked his opinion on the effectiveness of masks.
“If the virus was real, a mask ain’t gonna stop it. Bill Gates just wants to thin the population out by making people breathe their own carbon dioxide. Now I know it sounds stupid that a mask is too porous to minimize viral transmission but can magically keep oxygen, which is atomic and therefore smaller than a virus, from getting through, but that’s what I believe. And making me wear a mask is taking away my right to look like a dumb dumb.”
This week on our Facebook page we asked the question to all of you that participate in simply sitting in the audience and enjoying gospel music. The question was: Does how a group or soloist dress determine how they are received? The answer to our question from you was interesting. 100% it seems that no one is interested in seeing anyone present their message in a suit anymore. However, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. A good many of you stated that you wanted them to be casual but comfortable. Some of you went a little further to describe casual as not shorts but a nice pair of slacks or even jeans and a nice shirt. A few people who are members of actual groups said that the possibility of over dressing is not a good thing in their opinion.
Does what you wear in front of people matter? As a matter of fact – it does. If you remember a few podcasts back we talked about your presence on stage as being ministry oriented or entertainment and how we did our best to tackle that? Well, as it turns out – how you dress communicates your message just like singing the right song or how you present the message you are trying to present.
In fact, what you wear can actually make the difference in how you are received by an audience. Over the years a lot of smart individuals studied this and found that your audience subconsciously becomes attentive or is not fully attentive merely based on what is in front of them at the moment. It’s not only the clothes you are wearing – but the colors AND how those colors are contrasting with the lights and the background. When asked about it people tend to say they don’t care, but in the moment what they do isn’t being registered the same way as when they are asked about it.
Here is an exercise. When you are getting ready to go to an important meeting do you pick a wardrobe that is comfortable or that makes you feel confident – or both? Do you think for a moment about the situation you are about to walk into? If you are going to be in front of an audience does that play a roll in how you pick your wardrobe?
It almost sounds silly when you say it out loud, but it’s the truth. We have all heard the saying; “You only have one chance to make a first impression.” We discussed this as well in our podcast about approaching your set list and the importance of a first song. Now, you have gone out of your way to study your sound system, learn your music, create a set-list that speaks the message you are trying to convey, and now you want to tell me that what you are about to wear in front of your audience doesn’t matter? It all matters. BUT, it does NOT have to be complicated.
Why do quartets wear suits? I bet no one has every really thought about why? Think about it for a second. Quartets became popular during a time when going to church meant you wore your absolute best and then some. People already dressed a certain way during the week, but on Sunday’s they did better than that out of respect. Therefore, when quartets came along it was only natural to look your very best for church since that was the type of music they were doing. They usually wore the same type of suit, same tie, and same shoes. The look of uniformity was attention getting to say the least. They were presenting themselves as 4 people doing 1 specific thing and therefore the uniformity in what they wore made that statement. This isn’t just the norm in gospel music but in other forms of music like classical and jazz. The bottom line is that what you wear in front of your audience matters – more than you think.
Now, let’s talk a little about how we should approach this. A lot of people said on the Facebook question that if you are doing a benefit or maybe an outdoor event that you should relax it bit and not dress up too much. While we want to agree with that – AND the venue is important – what you walk on stage to sing in still impacts the message you are trying to convey. You can still dress the part, be comfortable AND not be flashy at the same time. It takes a little bit of thought and that’s the most important thing about what you are wearing says. It most importantly says that you care!
When you walk on stage to sing or present your music what you are wearing tells the audience whether you cared enough about them to be presentable. Or did you choose to wear what you did to be flashy or did you care enough at all and just wanted to be comfortable. Now – I bet we have your attention.
The type of music you are performing, the types of songs you are singing, and the message you are conveying should match how you act on stage and what you are wearing.
A great rule of thumb for us has always been: If the Pastor is wearing a suit then we need to at least meet there. We might not all wear a tie, but we are going to dress ourselves to match the level the Pastor did. Why? Because that is what the audience is used to seeing. If a tie makes us feel uncomfortable then by all means don’t wear one. Here’s the kicker – if you were invited to sing there and you have never worn a suit in your life – then chances are they already know this. You see where this is going? Your presentation started before you walked into the building.
Find a look that suits you and whether that look is going to be suits, business casual or a presentable pair of jeans. You also have to think about your audience, the lighting, the stage background and the message you are conveying. We have witnessed a lot of people that are out there singing go from suits to jeans with an attitude that they don’t care anymore. Let us remind you – that your audience does. You shouldn’t shell shock them like that. If you have a plan to present yourself a certain way at live events then you slowly work them into it. Take for example someone like Gold City – they have traditionally worn suits to present their message. The few times I’ve seen them deviate from that norm their audience seemed to be more opinionated about what they were wearing than what they were singing. Brian Free and Assurance has been deviating away from suits on stage for so long now that no one cares anymore. If any sitting President walked on screen to do a televised meeting in anything but a suit no one would ever hear the end of it and the memes would go far into the next lifetime.
What you wear tells your audience that you cared. What you wear conveys the message your songs are tying to convey. What you wear should take the emphasis off of you and help the audience listen to the message in the music. What you wear should not distract anyone during your time in front of them. What you wear should not create a conflict with your audience. There have been times traveling with the quartet that we were invited to sing at churches. The person that was our contact at the church would make it completely clear that if we even thought of putting on ties that we’d be asked to leave. (in a joking but serious sort of way).
We have said all of that in hopes that you begin to take it seriously for your own ministry or message. Understand that whether you are singing in a large fancy venue – church or theater; a nursing home, benefit at the community center; or on a facebook live presentation – what you are wearing matters equally as much as how your sound, what you sing and how effective you have mastered your sound system. Remember that! Because IT ALL MATTERS!
If you would like to discuss this further – comment on our podcast – on this YouTube podcast or Facebook. DON’T forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel, our Facebook page and shoot us an email at shayandmichi@gmail.com. In the next few weeks, we are looking for anyone that will video their performance for an upcoming podcast. We will present your video and during your performance talking about ways to improve or even just to brag on how well you do. We’ve had a few people on Facebook point us to their videos so if you want to take part in that – let us know!
Helping you further the message MATTERS TO US! Thanks for watching!
Temperatures will be in the low to mid 70s Sunday morning. There could be multiple chances of showers/ thunderstorms on our Sunday. Im keeping a 50% chance in the forecast at this time. A few of these could be strong to severe. The Storm Prediction Center has North and Central Mississippi in a Level 1 out of 5 severe storm risk. Otherwise, skies will be partly sunny, with a high near 91. West wind around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Sunday night there is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8pm and 10pm. Skies will then become mostly clear, with a low around 73.
These guidelines were created with a group of 10 superintendents across the state, and list three options for how schools should reopen: traditional, hybrid, or virtual.
Traditional reopening would mean students are physically present in school so long as districts can continue to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state department of health guidelines. A hybrid reopening would mean some combination of in-person instruction and distance learning. Virtual reopening would have students return to school entirely through distance learning. The state is not mandating which option districts take.
School districts must decide on an option by July 31.
Mississippi Today wants to know where our readers who are educators and parents stand on this issue. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the below survey:
A major state agency – charged in part with marine law enforcement – remains in limbo over a power struggle over spending Gulf restoration money, and because of a coronavirus outbreak at the Capitol.
Lawmakers set the rest of a $6 billion budget and left town July 1 still at an impasse over the Department of Marine Resources roughly $23 million state budget. They had plans to return within a week and haggle out DMR’s budget, but a COVID-19 outbreak at the Capitol has infected at least 26 legislators and 10 staffers, and the Capitol and Legislature are now shut down for at least two weeks.
Without a budget, DMR Director Joe Spraggins on Wednesday said the agency that regulates fisheries and provides marine law enforcement is operating at a bare minimum, meeting federal mandates and emergency patrols and rescues. He said most of the agency’s 175 employees are furloughed until the Legislature can return and come to agreement and pass DMR’s annual budget.
Local law enforcement and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks are helping cover DMR’s patrolling duties.
The impasse is over control and oversight of projects for nearly $52 million in Gulf oil and gas revenue Mississippi is receiving this year.
Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas receive money from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA), a revenue sharing program for offshore oil and gas producing states in the Gulf. GOMESA funds can be used for coastal protection, conservation, restoration and other projects. Revenue has increased in recent years.
DMR and other agencies vet projects for the GOMESA funds, with the governor’s office having final approval. But some GOMESA projects funded in the past – under new Gov. Tate Reeves’ predecessors — have been questioned as to whether they are helping coastal restoration and protection or just pet political projects.
Millions in GOMESA funds have been granted to build boardwalks near casinos, a planned aquarium in Gulfport – including a tram system threatened to be “de-obligated” for not meeting GOMESA requirements — and other projects critics have said don’t meet the intended purpose.
Sen. Scott DeLano, R-Biloxi, said many Coast lawmakers and leaders wonder why with all the funds from GOMESA, BP oil spill settlements and other programs, the Coast continues to have ecological problems not being addressed.
“All these programs and projects are supposed to go to restoration, but there’s no central game plan for protecting or mitigating natural resources, just little pot shots,” DeLano said. “We’re still having all these constant beach closures (from pollution), after all this money spent. How are we not able to address the problem of effluent, or raw sewage, going into the Sound? … Instead we’re building boardwalks and outfalls that don’t do anything to improve water quality or drainage, just the aesthetics of the pipes.”
Led by Coast lawmakers, the Legislature was moving to take more control and oversight of GOMESA spending through DMR’s annual budget bill. But Reeves viewed this as an attempt by the legislative branch to take authority that has been with the executive branch for nearly 15 years.
Reeves said: “House leaders are dug in on earmarking favored projects with recovery funds – huge change” and criticized the legislative stalemate as shutting down DMR.
“With no budget, DMR can’t operate,” Reeves said last week. “It has shut down.”
DeLano said the Senate, because of so many other pressing needs, agreed to back down on taking more control of the spending and give the new governor “a chance to fix things.” But House leaders remained entrenched and lawmakers left without approving a DMR budget.
“We’ve put the governor’s office on notice we’re watching, but the Senate backed off and agreed to give him time to fix things and in deference to all the other thing’s he’s got going on right now,” DeLano said.
DMR Director Joe Spraggins on Wednesday said the agency that regulates fisheries and provides marine law enforcement is operating at a bare minimum, meeting federal mandates and emergency patrols and rescues. He said most of the agency’s 175 employees are furloughed until the Legislature can return and come to agreement and pass DMR’s annual budget.
Local law enforcement and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks are helping cover DMR’s patrolling duties.
On Wednesday Reeves said his office was able to work with DMR to find federal and emergency funds to keep operating the “critical part of the agency” and would continue to try to keep it afloat. But it’s uncertain when lawmakers can safely return to pass a permanent budget for the year.
“In my opinion it’s too high of a risk for the Legislature to come back in now and deal with that issue,” Reeves said Wednesday. “It’s not fair to staff.”
Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Magee Elementary School teacher Deonne Wittman works with students in a whole group phonics exercise on Dec. 6, 2019.
The vast majority of Mississippi teachers in a recent survey said they understood what was expected of them when schools abruptly closed and switched to distance learning this spring, though many also expressed concerns about students’ ability to participate in virtual learning this fall.
This is according to a survey conducted in April by Teach Plus Mississippi in collaboration with the Mississippi Department of Education to find out how nearly 2,500 teachers felt about the impact of the pandemic on school closures, access to virtual learning, and reopening of schools.
In total, 70 percent teach in schools that serve low-income students, and the teachers teach in elementary, middle and high schools.
Survey findings include:
86 percent of teachers reported communication efforts about students, teachers, and schools have been effective; 64 percent “strongly agreed” that they felt well-informed what was expected of them concerning virtual instruction this spring
83 percent of teachers said they had the tools to do their jobs when the switch to virtual learning happened. However, they expressed concern about the challenges students face with virtual learning, including lack of access to support, internet and devices.
87 percent of students engaged in online learning through virtual assignments, but only 49 percent engaged in online learning with teacher-led instruction. Additionally, 88 percent were given packets or paper based lessons or activities.
“There’s a concern about whether or not school administrators will adopt appropriate measures to reduce the risk of a new outbreak, such as social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting of the building and supplies, and innovative class/school policies,” the report said. “Teachers also worry that despite preventive measures, there may still be a new outbreak, thus forcing schools to abruptly return to virtual learning.”
This prediction falls in line with what health officials are predicting. This week, some of the state’s top health officials urged Mississippians to take the virus seriously as the number of confirmed cases continue to climb.
“We’ve got more virus than we’ve ever had and I hate that our predictions have been true, but we’re predicting more in the fall,” said State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs in a press conference Wednesday. “So it’s going to be worse in the fall than it is now.”
In addition to distance learning, educators worry about students’ physical and emotional health including trauma, isolation, food insecurity and “learning loss.”
The Mississippi Department of Education announced in June that schools have three options for the new school year: They can operate in a traditional, face to face setting, virtually, or some combination of the two. It is not mandating which option districts should choose. On Thursday the department shared a message with superintendents that districts are required to create a plan approved by their local school boards, and post it publicly by July 31.
Gov. Tate Reeves, who has the authority to close schools through an executive order like he did in the spring, said this week he is still “100 percent committed to schools reopening in a safe, responsible way.”
“We are a state that is different than some other states in that we give great autonomy to our local school districts … this is a topic in which we want to give each school district the opportunity to set guidelines and plans,” Reeves said.
With a strict deadline looming, school districts are faced with tough decisions on how to reopen schools. Some school districts are planning a mix of virtual and traditional instruction while others are allowing parents to decide.
For example, the Desoto County School District, the state’s largest district with about 35,000 students, will allow families to choose virtual-only or traditional-only models for return. Elementary schools will stay on a traditional schedule and secondary schools may possibly move to a hybrid schedule, the Return To Learn plan stated. The plan details academic, child nutrition, transportation, facility, parental guidelines and more.
“Every family is unique so we’re trying to work with families, students have health conditions, and students live at home with family members who have health conditions and we’re just making sure we’re meeting the needs,” Cory Uselton, superintendent, said.
Students’ first day is August 6.
In the Clarksdale Municipal School District, Superintendent Joe Nelson said they are currently “in draft mode” with their reopening plan, but are leaning towards virtual and hybrid models.
“It’s difficult to go back to traditional because of social distancing … transporting students on busses,” Nelson said. “Right now, we’re putting together prerequisites of what that looks like and what we should do and how that looks, like a lot of professional development around it for everybody. We want to make sure we have clear expectations of what we want to accomplish.”
In a letter posted on the district’s website, hybrid instruction consists of in-person with limited students in the classroom and on busses whereas virtual instruction focuses on distance learning with a device for every student and teacher and internet access.
Additional barriers to implement virtual learning for the Clarksdale schools like other rural districts in the Mississippi Delta is access to rural broadband. Nelson adds the real challenge is when funds will be released to help in executing their plan.
“How quickly we get that solved is important to our students in the Delta and Clarksdale,” he said.
I will be the first to admit that I am a morning person, or I used to be. Even in childhood, I got up as soon as my alarm went off and I got my day started. I created a morning routine as early as middle school that I have used some form of even to this day. I was not the typical teenager that you had to beg to get up and threaten to pour cold water over. I just simply loved the mornings. As I got older, I actually did away with my alarm clock. I haven’t owned one in at least thirty-five years. I naturally wake up when I need to get up…I have come to realize it is a rare gift that is not genetic…now that I have two teenagers myself. However, I do realize not everyone loves the morning time. As I have gotten older, I will also admit that I sleep in more than I don’t. I tend to not want to jump up out of bed first thing and sometimes I need more coffee to get through the morning than I ever used to need. I like to blame that on my nineteen month old son who still likes to wake me up most nights at some point. Whether or not you are morning person, a morning routine can help you create a fail proof mindset for the day.
Looking back to my middle school routine, my early adulthood routine and my now mom with bed head stumbling to get coffee routine I have come to realize all of my mornings consisted of three things. Three major things that made my day easier when I stuck with my morning routine.
I always take time for me in the morning. Even as a single mom, I got up just a bit before the kids to take fifteen to twenty minutes to myself. Usually I spent it drinking my coffee, fixing my hair and putting on makeup. If I felt extra good that morning, I would sit and look out our window to watch the birds or squirrels play in the trees. First and foremost, I always took time for me. It isn’t selfish and it is important. No matter who you are, I can assure you, that you probably do not take enough time for you. We live in a society that is rushed. We live in a corporate frame that is stressed. We are always thinking about the next thing on our to do list. A simple fifteen to twenty minutes every single morning made me feel a bit more centered. A bit more in charge of the day. When the kids fought me to go to school…I was a bit calmer. When I got to work to find all hell broke loose…I handled it a bit better. I encourage you to take just a few minutes to yourself every single day to see how things shift for you.
I always spend five minutes in my journal. Some mornings I spend more time, but let’s face it…as a mom of three kids I don’t have a lot of spare time. I always spend at least five minutes jotting down some things in my journal. It starts with three things I am most grateful for in my life that day. On the days I feel crummy, it might be some real basic stuff, but they are entries of gratefulness none the less. As I write down how thankful I am for my children, or my parents, or my spouse…(crummy day entries might be how I am thankful coffee was invented) things tend to look a bit brighter and I adjust to a higher vibe almost immediately for my day. I end my journal entry with one amazing affirmation for my day. It can be something as simple as “I am always on time” if I am already in fear of being late that day. I create a positive spin to my day right away so that I can assure that I am ready to embrace the day with the best attitude I can.
I create time for some fun. This one can be easy if your mornings revolve around kids, because honestly some of them need a little fun added to their morning too. My teenagers groan even now when I walk into their room and start singing to them in the morning. They roll their eyes when I drop them off at school and joke with them as they get out of the car. If you don’t have kids around…try to find something that gets you in the mood of fun. Fun breeds creativity and our childlike nature. It can be refreshing in the morning to set you up for a much better day. So, turn up the radio on the way into work and sing. Dance around your house as you get ready. Tell a joke to someone you work with or just simply laugh. Having fun is essential to any day and especially any morning.
There are a few other things I dabble into my mornings, but I can assure you that the above are staple items I do no matter what. I don’t care if I wake up feeling like hell, I still do them. They create an instant vibe of pep into my step. Remember those pep rallies? Why do you think they worked? What about them can you bring into your life now? It is one of the main reasons we always had a staff meeting first thing in the morning for my team. It can make or break your day. Step on out there and try some morning routine high vibe…oh, don’t forget your coffee, I forgot to mention it is essential too.
Blair Hayse is an author and publisher from the local Tupelo, Mississippi area. She enjoys writing, reading, yoga, lake life, her kiddos and shopping (perhaps a bit too much). You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/blairhayse
Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today, Report For America
Gov. Tate Reeves speaks to media about his shelter-in-place order for Lauderdale County, as Executive Director of MEMA Col. Gregory S. Michel listens during a press conference at the State of Mississippi Woolfolk Building in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, March 31, 2020.
As Mississippi’s number of COVID-19 cases continues to hit all-time highs, Gov. Tate Reeves is imposing a mandate to wear masks in 13 counties – including some of the state’s most populous.
During a Thursday news conference, Reeves said the criteria for counties chosen include having seen 200 new cases within the last 14 days or having had an average of 500 cases per 100,000 residents over that time.
“We’ve got to take additional measures or our health care system is going to be overwhelmed,” Reeves said.
The mask order goes into effect Monday, but during Thursday’s news conference Reeves pleaded with residents of all counties to wear masks when in public places and to also social distance.
The counties in the order touch most areas of the state. The counties are Hinds, DeSoto, Harrison, Rankin, Jackson, Washington, Sunflower, Grenada, Madison, Claiborne, Jefferson, Wayne and Quitman.
In addition, the mandates limit social gatherings to 10 people indoors and 20 outdoors.
Reeves had hoped to lift all restrictions put in place to combat COVID-19 by July 1, but during the past weeks the number of cases has soared, resulting in strains on the state’s health care system.
On Thursday, the Department of Health reported 703 new cases with 16 new deaths. The state has now reported 33,591 cases with 1,204 deaths.
“We went for literally months having no more than 400 cases in a day,” Reeves said. In recent weeks, the state has routinely reported more than 500 cases per day and has exceeded 1,000 new cases in a day.
Reeves’ new executive order does not change existing mandates limiting capacities at businesses such as restaurants, bars and casinos.
“To my fellow Mississippians: Please take this as an alarm,” Reeves said. “Our numbers are getting worse. We need your cooperation … The little things can make a difference. Please be smart. Stay safe and protect your loved ones.”
Despite the increasing number of cases Reeves continues to maintain his goal is to have schools open for the upcoming school year.
