June 2017 Meeting Highlights!

Highlights of the June 2017 Meeting

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Membership

Forty (40) of our seventy-six (76) members were present at our June Membership Meeting. First-time guest, Elizabeth Genco, was welcomed and Doris McNorton became our newest official member.

Author Tea/Luncheon

A meeting is scheduled with the Flanders to discuss the menu for the Author Luncheon. The date for the luncheon is Wednesday, October 4, and the author will be announced in August.

First Day of Kindergarten

Materials are being ordered for the bags. The bags will be assembled on Wednesday, August 30, in Room N116 from 10:00 to 12:00. Linda Robie and MaryAnn Mozzo will meet with Sun Rose Books to firm up the free book coupon requirements. An expiration date of November 15, 2017, will be placed on the coupons.

Reading Trees

The Reading Trees—prepared by Carole Candy and Merry Wagner—feature the themes of Flag Day and Flags of the World.

Special Projects

The display case features shore bird carvings by Dave Rhodes. He is a well-known US shore bird carver and has won many shows and contests. He is self-taught and teaches classes in bird carving at the library.

OLD BUSINESS

A custom-designed, free book table has been constructed and installed by a local contractor. The table is our gift to the community and library. The contractor also cut down a study carrel to allow it to fit properly in the area for book donations.

NEW BUSINESS

A discussion of the history of the organization was begun with Leslie Clarke, an original member, reporting that the Friends and Volunteers began in 1989. One of their first activities involved preparing the library collection for a move to the new library by placing security strips in all the books. Barbara Weber continued the discussion bringing us back to a much simpler time for the organization. She stated that the author luncheons began in 1998, with only about forty people attending the first event. She also remembered that one luncheon had to be cancelled due to lack of sales—something that is unimaginable in our current, sell-out era. She recalled past scholarships and donations to Indian Reservations. The trip down memory lane will continue next month with Rose Marie Ricci and Sandy Crescenzo recalling past events and activities.

May 2017 General Meeting Highlights!

Highlights of the May 2017 General Meeting

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Membership
Thirty-nine members (39) were in attendance at the May general membership meeting. There are seventy-three active members in the Friends and Volunteers’ organization.

Author’s Tea
A very successful Author’s Tea was held on May 4, 2017. Local author, romance novelist, Jennifer Shirk, spoke to a sold-out crowd. Organizers, Joan Sambucci and Pat Levis thanked the members of the committee, Roberta DeVries, Angel Smith, Carol Dotts, and Chris Wilson, as well as, advisors Barbara Weber and Rose Marie Ricci for their help. Also recognized for their help were Linda Robie and Joanne Romano for publicity, Elaine Wilson for tickets, and Tina Moschella for the program.

Hospitality
Forty-five (45) members attended the New Members Luncheon following the April general membership meeting. New members honored were: Phyllis Bonner, Gayle Davidson, Bert DeVries, Doris DiCorcia, Cecelia Gallelli-Keyes, Marilyn Heck, Yvonne Thies, Merry Wagner, Chris Wilson, Joan Wolf, and Kathleen Woodring. Special thanks were extended to Joanne Romano who set up a special program to allow members to RSVP online. The brief bios of new members presented by Debbie Moreland as she introduced each new member were appreciated.

Book Room/Book Sales
One-hundred seventy-eight (178) books were sold at the book sale held during the Block Party on May 6.

The first summer book sale will be on Friday, June 23, 2:00 – 8:00 and on Saturday, June 24, 9:00 – 2:00 in the Library atrium.

Book donations have slowed a bit. There is a need for recently published books in good condition. Donations may be placed on the study carrels or in the bins across from the restrooms on the first floor of the library.

First Day of Kindergarten
Preparations are under way for the First Day of Kindergarten community service project. Since a ten dollar ($10.00) coupon to Sun Rose Books will be included in this year’s bag of goodies for kindergarteners on the first day of school, contact has been established with the book store to coordinate implementation.

Special Projects
The display case will feature a collection of bells from around the world this month. The bells belong to Pam Manning’s 93 year old uncle. He served as a consulate in the State Department from the 1950s through the 1980s and collected the bells from around the world.

Third Grade Reading Club
The final book read for this year’s program was Strange Case of Origami Yoda, a book about a sixth grader and bullying. The participants made origami creations after the meeting. The final meeting in May will be an opportunity for the group to eat and have fun.

Reading Trees
Babs Stefano thanked Elaine Novello for the May trees displaying the themes of Mother’s Day and the military.

OLD BUSINESS

Patti Phillips has been approved for the newly created Member-At-Large position.

A custom made table with bookshelves on top and a moveable shelf like table underneath will be made by a local contractor. The table is being constructed for the free books area and will be our gift to the library and community.

NEW BUSINESS

Debbie Moreland recognized the past presidents of the organization and asked that they talk a bit about the history of the Friends and Volunteers at the June meeting. Their unique perspective and knowledge will help provide members with a sense of appreciation as to how events and activities started.

Four (4) scrapbooks have been donated to the historical museum. They cover the years of 1998-2007, 2007-2010, 2010-2011 and 2012. The scrapbooks contain photos and news articles. Everyone is welcome to view them at the museum.