James Diamond – A Profile

James Diamond grew up on a 600 acre farm between Masontown and Smithfield in Fayette County Pennsylvania. James traveled to Doylestown in Bucks County to pursue his degree at Delaware Valley University. It was in Doylestown that James met his wife Betty, a partnership for decades that spurred an amazing array of activity in support of local and global causes. Diamond earned his bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry from Delaware Valley University in 1961; his master’s degree in counseling from Lehigh University and his Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from The Pennsylvania State University.

The Diamonds settled on Cedar Brook Farm in Ottsville Bucks County Pennsylvania where they raised sheep while James taught at Delaware Valley University and Pennsylvania State University. For most newlyweds this would be enough, but destiny had something else in store for the Diamonds. They traveled the world with the Peace Corp, served with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, The United States Agency for International Development. Traveled and advised educators in the area of agriculture in Chad, Mali, Cameroon, Swaziland, Tanzania, Ethopia, China, Bulgaria and The Netherlands. The Diamonds traveled to over 46 nations. Wherever they paid a visit, they left behind hope for the future and the knowledge for those they met to improve the agricultural needs of millions of people. They always returned to Cedar Brook Farm.

In their senior years the Diamonds leased out Cedar Brook Farm, building Clearwater Dell on the edge of the farm. The Diamonds are active in the Grange, Open Space Preservation in Bucks County and many of the farmers in Upper Bucks County were once students of Dr. James Diamond. They established The Jim and Betty Diamond Endowed Scholarship Fund. Annual interest to be awarded to DVU students majoring in one of the agricultural or environmental science majors.

As an author, James Diamond has published numerous technical papers, nine instructional booklets and five books, most recently Poetry from the Heart, I Did What I Had to Do about his adventures with Betty and the Peace Corp, and Domestic Animal Bells from Around the World. His poems have been published in a number of literary and newspaper publications. The Diamonds are avid bird watchers and keep a list of all the birds they encounter on their adventures. James Diamond has been a guest lecturer at numerous venues on a wide range of topics.

Now you would think James and Betty Diamond, together for five decades would take comfort and live out their days at Clearwater Dell. They are not. Currently they are planning for a trip and adventure to South Africa. James is pursuing the craft of poetry and was kind enough to share this poem with us.

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The Great Blue Heron

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Early morn mist hangs low,

with a sun peeking over horizon

boldly casting its rays into a brisk invigorating air.

A Great Blue Heron awkwardly floats downward

landing on elongated legs at water’s edge.

Slowly and effortlessly it steps into shallow water

where small fish do swim.

Stoically, standing in shallow water at rigid attention

stalking fish images in a watery ecosystem.

Together with a fixed stare at rippling water

with beady eyes on each side of its long yellow beak likened to a bayonet,

accurately aimed to toward a watery surface.

Ready to discharge its long-pointed yellow bayonet

that will pierce an unsuspecting fish in a flash.

Watch closely for the ruthless quick zing of the Heron’s yellow bayonet.

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If you would like to contact the Diamonds about their adventures and a speaking engagement you can contact them at jandbdiamond@frontiernet.net

You can find I Did What I Had to Do on Amazon at this link: http://www.amazon.com/Did-What-Had-Do/dp/0533163250/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1435793911&sr=1-6

-g emil reutter lives and writes in the Fox Chase neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pa. He can be found at:

About g emil reutter

 

First Annual Ryerss Poetry Workshop a Success

First Annual Ryerss Poetry Workshop with Poet in Residence Diane Sahms-Guarnieri

The first annual Ryerss Museum and Library Adult Poetry Workshop was held on October 4^th. The workshop was booked up almost immediately when announced and attracted poets from the Philadelphia area, Delaware and New Jersey. Poet in Residence Diane Sahms-Guarnieri led the workshop that was held between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Attendees included, Wendy Schermer, Maria Keane, Bert Moniz, James Diamond, Melanie Eyth, Michele Grottola, Linda Texter Hall, Siobhan Gannon, Chris Chandler and Jane Miller

 

 

Sahms-Guarnieri began her service as Poet in Residence with a reading at the Ryerss Christmas celebration, conducted a Youth Poetry Contest with winners reading at Ryerss for National Poetry Month and wrote a poem  in honor of Robert W. Ryerss birthday that was read at the celebration.