The 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee finished on May 31.  The winning word was serrefine (a small forceps for clamping a blood vessel), spelled correctly in the 13th round by Evan M. O'Dorney, a 13-year-old speller from Danville, CA.  I couldn't even come close to correctly spelling many of the words in the final rounds.  How do these children prepare for the spelling bee?  The Scripps National Spelling Bee web site offers some great resources.  First is the Consolidated Word List.  Next is Merriam-Webster's  A Dictionary of Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms.  And finally there is Carolyn's Corner, posted from mid-September through May, where Carolyn Andrews, the Bee's word list manager and educational consultant, provides helpful tips for preparing for the Bee.  Happy spelling!

Yes, we are supposed to keep working during the summer (see Write for You News & Notes Vol. 1, #2, June 2005), but sometimes it's hard to do.  This has been a busy year -- teaching, multiple volunteer organizations, clients (remember them?), and let's not forget all of that family stuff.  I definitely needed some downtime.  Did you notice this is the June/July issue of the newsletter?  It was supposed to go out in June.  But I refuse to feel guilty and I won't beat myself up -- and you shouldn't either.  Instead, sing along with me (in your best Janis Joplin voice): "Summertime, And the livin' is easy;  Fish are jumpin' And the cotton is high" (George Gershwin's "Summertime" from Porgy & Bess) and go out and enjoy your summer!!   [The photo of the water lily was taken from my kayak with my new waterproof camera.]

The RBWN Awards & Scholarship Dinner on June 14 was wonderful!!  It is so much fun to be fussed over!  Everyone had a great time and we raised money to support some very worthwhile causes.  Scholarships were presented to three young women graduating from Rockland County high schools.  And $1,000 was presented to People-to-People, a wonderful Rockland County organization helping everyday people survive.  The money will be used to send children to summer day camp, giving them somewhere to go while their moms are working.

But that's not all that happened in June.  A week later, on June 21, was the NJAWBO Bergen Awards & Installation Dinner.  As the chapter's Nomination Chair, I was in charge of presenting awards, arranging the installation, etc., etc.  The events leading up to the dinner is another whole story -- to be shared another time.  Suffice it to say, I was "uninstalled", ending four busy but satisfying years on the NJAWBO Bergen Board.  They, however, did not allow me to leave quietly -- I was presented with a Teal Heart award, given to NJAWBO's members who have given service to their organization above and beyond the expected.  So -- thank you, thank you, NJAWBO Bergen!!