Submitted by: Judi Sammons

Some things that you notice right away when you meet Chuck is his winning smile, twinkling eyes and shiny head, as well as a grand sense of humor. Chuck exudes excitement and enthusiasm for life and for telling stories.

He was born in southeast Colorado in a small town named Kornman. Most of his growing up years were spent in Colorado and many of those years in Delta County. He graduated from Cedaredge High School, (I'm a Cub) and continued his college studies in Iowa, Colorado, Missouri, culminating with graduate work in philosophy at the University of Kansas. His chosen career was serving as a missionary for 38 years.

He has traveled to Texas, Canada and Scandinavia for 8 years. He would say his favorite place is where he happens to be living at any given moment and....Colorado would have to receive the nomination for most favorite!

Chuck's hobbies, beside storytelling, include making fudge and baking bread. He also enjoys reading Western stories.

We would like to celebrate and congratulate Chuck for the award recently received for spending over 30,000 hours on call as a Victims Advocate with the police department (VAP)

Chuck's serendipitous introduction to Spellbinders happened while waiting to speak to Lois Becker regarding another matter. There was some Spellbinder materials on the table and while waiting for Lois he began to read the material and as they say,"the rest is history."

Chuck has told to 4^th graders and currently tells to 1^st graders and soon will begin with Kindergartners. His three favorite stories to tell are: "The Three Cabritos" (a rewriting of the Billy Goat Gruff)," Snearly the Raccoon who loved eggs:", and "Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock." He loves it whenever the children ask, "Is that a real story?" The moment that brings Chuck great joy is when he is sitting in his chair waiting for the children to arrive and then.... the 1^st graders come running in yelling "Chuck!" His smile lights the whole classroom.

He shares this wisdom with all of us: "Don't just tell a story. Tell the stories to the kiddoes!"

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At our September workshop we were priveleged to hear two wonderful stories from two very talented Spellbinders

Wesley Matice ("was Nuts!") made a lasting impression on him during his high school years in Pueblo where he worked as a newspaper stuffer at the Star Journal Chieftain.

Thank you Pat for sharing this genuine and humorous story. You reminded us to be grateful for those people who have made us who we are and have become a part of our stories.

Volunteer Forms:  This form needs to be completed for EACH school you are assigned to.  You also need to list EVERY teacher you will be working with at each school.  These forms will be available at September's workshop as well as at the school offices.  As a reminder you must fill one of these out if you tell at a Special Event at a school you are not regularly assigned to.  

If you need to contact Janice Hogue about volunteer assignments you can click on her name above and your email program will launch.  It would be a good idea to also put her in your address book:

[email protected]  

Remember: Statistics Reports do NOT get sent to Janice Hogue, but to Janice Shepherd (see below.) 

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Janice Shepherd is our new keeper of statistics!  She discussed the reasons we need to keep accurate records.  This information is valuable for grant applications, encouraging new tellers, and encouraging new schools to invite Spellbinders to their classrooms.   

Janice will share an updated Excel spreadsheet if you email her by clicking on her name above.  Also, it would be great if you added her email to your address book:  [email protected]

You can also give her your information via email.  She needs the following information for each time you tell:

Date, School, Teacher(s), grade(s), # of children.  Also remember to include special events and other venues in your statistics.  The time period for current reporting is June1, 2011 through May 31, 2012  

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Spellbinder's Updated Standards and Guidelines Commitment 

If you missed the meeting, you will need to get this form from Ruthmary at a future workshop.  This form needs to be signed by all Spellbinders.  I do not have the PDF file for this to attach, but perhaps I will be able to get this for a future newsletter.  Ruthmary will have these forms available at the next workshop.