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Mesa County Spellbinders School Year 2011-2012
Greetings!
Wow! It's almost 2012! I hope you are having as much fun as I am! Please share any story suggestions to share or a story about the great things that happen when a storyteller enters the classroom. We hope to make this one of the most useful newsletters that arrive in your mailbox! That means that if you have something to share or comments to make be sure to contact me and let me know! Have you sent your statistics information to Janice Shepherd? Keep those numbers coming! It's important for us to know just how much our storytelling impacts the students! Through the art of oral storytelling, Spellbinders®, an award-winning non-profit organization, enhances literacy, builds intergenerational community and develops character.  |
| Profiles in Storytelling
Bill Bailey
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Submitted by: Judi Sammons
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Hi, my name is Bill Bailey. I have been in Colorado for 40 years  but come from Massachusetts. As an Army brat I spent three years in France and three years in Germany which was the longest time I spent anywhere until I moved to Colorado.
I have a daughter and a 6 year old granddaughter who enjoy listening to me practice stories. This is my third year telling stories but I have entertained for years as a bluegrass musician. I have done volunteer work with children at the math and science center, Girl Scouts, and Hospice's Camp Good Grief, as well as, working three summers as a camp nurse. I also am assistant director with the children's theater.
I have always enjoyed working with children and watching them learn and grow. I like to tell stories with the emphases on entertainment and fun rather than trying to teach, as they get that all day in class. My three favorite stories to tell are, Pony Tail, Billy and the Tiger and Gunnywolf. I really enjoy seeing the kid's bright shining eyes as they listen to the stories.
I spent several years in the Army, as well as, two years in Viet Nam. I worked as a professional photographer for the Bureau of Reclamation for five years, and recently retired as Registered Nurse, mostly in emergency medicine. Other volunteer work I have done include working as a firefighter, Colorado Mounted Ranger, mountain rescue, ski patrol, and as a victim advocate for the Grand Junction Police Department.
Besides telling stories I enjoy scuba diving and have traveled to Mexico and Jamaica several times. Other hobbies include rafting, skydiving and exploring caves. One thing that might surprise people now is that I used to have bright red hair. I'm slowing down but hope to tell stories for many years to come.
And we hope you do continue for many years! Thanks Bill!
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| Workshop News
August workshop
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Story Sharing! submitted by Mary Lou Palmer
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Listening to stories is a wonderful part of our workshops and in November we happily heard from three seasoned Spellbinders
 Evelyn Kyle treated us to a lovely tale she wrote herself. A little scarecrow doll found in a second hand store inspired her to create the story of Sammy Scarecrow . After long seasons of keeping the crows and raccoons out of the fields, Farmer John discards his scarecrow to the side of the road. Jimmy discovers him and brings Sammy to school for Show and Tell. Sammy befriends the children and tells them that his heart is stuffed with so much Love that he must find a way to show that love to others, and that they should, too. Thank you, Evelyn, for sharing your sweet story with us!
Linda Pryor told us a favorite poem by Ogden Nash :  The Tale of Custard the Dragon a poem about Belinda and her menagerie: Ink ,Blink Mustard and Custard, the shy and cowardly dragon who surprisingly finds the hidden Hero in himself.
Thank you for your Realio, Trulio delightful telling, Linda!
(Note: you can find more Ogden Nash poems here.)
 We heard Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester from Steve Skoglund. This is a story about a shy young rat who, because he can't pronounce his R's is bullied and excluded by the other students of the PS142 Elementary School for Rodents. A new student, Camilla Capybara appears on the scene, trying to convince the others that she is meaner ,smarter and tougher than they are. Much to Camilla's consternaton,she meets her match when Wodney is chosen to lead a game of Simon Says. Hooway for Wodney!
Thanks, Steve,for telling us this funny story. We weawwy appweciate you!
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Bits and Pieces
| Some New Bits:
At our November workshop Laurie Kollasch lead us through a terrific exercise to help us with any of our stories that we wanted to improve by exploring a character in the story in more depth. It involved writing a letter to the character asking a question. We then wrote a reply from the character using some specific methods. It was awesome! Many shared the results and it was quite amazing how well this technique works! If you would like some more details just email me and I will get the information to you.
Some Old Bits:
A request was made to include links shared on our MCS Group Facebook page in the monthly newsletter. There have been quite a few! Copying and sharing them in a newsletter sort of defeats the purpose and convenience of social media. I also do not have the time to add this task to my already full dance card :-) If someone would like to volunteer to learn how to do this using our newsletter platform (Constant Contact) I would be happy to train you to do this. In the mean time, if you are a Facebook user just go to our page and request to join the group.
On September 20th a group of MCS met to do some brainstorming about our Chapters future endeavors. You can read the results at the left: "MCS Planning Session Results." MCS Board President, Lois Becker sent out a summary and a request for input from all chapter members. Lois has compiled the results of the input received. The Board will have a special meeting in January to establish a plan for implementing the suggestions! Thanks to all who participated!
A Few Reminders:
Janice Hogue, School Coordinator
All Classes now have an assigned storyteller! THANKS EVERYONE!
2011-2012 School Calendar: Click on link to download the pdf file
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: jinglejanow@aol.com Remember: Statistics Reports do NOT get sent to Janice Hogue, but to Janice Shepherd (see below.) ********************  Janice Shepherd is our keeper of statistics!
Keep those numbers coming!! Demonstrating the impact we have as an organization is important! 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: a.and.j.shepherd@gmail.com 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 July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012 ******************* Back to top |
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I would like to thank Judi, Mary Lou and Lorna for all their help in getting the newsletter out! Could not do it without you.
Sincerely,
Karen Hurst
Mesa County Spellbinders  |
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