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Mesa County Spellbinders Workshop Schedule
| Our Workshops are held on the second Thursday of each month: 9:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Mesa County Library Community Meeting Room
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A CHANGE FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER ONLY!
We will meet on
Thursday, September 19th
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Links of Interest for August/September
| First Day of School Personal Stories
It's Back to School We Go!
Stories about the first day of school from 11 different countries
Fall Stories
Five printable stories for Fall
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Want to become a Spellbinder?
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The next training class will be:
September 24, 26, October 1 and October 3
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
In the Mesa County Library Community Room
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Volume 5 Issue 6
| August/September 2013
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 Greetings!
Welcome to a new school year! I cannot believe the summer is over! Are you ready to share the gift of Story again?
I bet you are! The number of children's lives we affect through sharing Story always just blows me away!
Thank you for sharing your time and your love of Story with so many. You all rock!
Through the art of oral storytelling, Spellbinders®, an award-winning non-profit organization, enhances literacy, builds inter-generational community and develops character.
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Story Sparks for August/September
| |  Transforming memories into stories!
Here are some story sparks to help you with your own story:
* Do you remember any one special "first day of school" in particular? What grade were you in? Why is it special?
* Who was your favorite Elementary School Teacher? What about them impacted you the most?
*Do you remember eating in the cafeteria? What do you remember about it? What were some of the best foods and some of the worst foods?
The picture above is of spiced apple rings. The thing about these I remember is that ABSOLUTELY NO CHILD ever actually ate them! I used to think that they all went in the trash can and the lunch lady got them out again and served them the next day. They seemed so....unnatural and indestructible!
Bill Harley has a story about the school lunch room that is absolutely hysterical! It's called "Mrs. Lunchroom Lady." It brought back lots of memories for me.
This story is on his CD, "Weezie and the Moon Pies." For all us story geeks here is a document that discusses the story and the components of a story that make it a good one.
Feel those memories stirring? Write them down and share them with your children and grandchildren! Ready? Go!
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PROFILES IN STORYTELLING - Ruthmary Allison
| |  Submitted by Karen Hurst
We thought we would share some words of thanks to Ruthmary Allison, who has contributed a great deal of talent, energy and love into making our Workshops ROCK! Ruthmary is joyful and heartful, as well one who freely shares her laughter. All together, our reality is that she is the creme de le creme of Workshop trainers.
"Does she ever have a bad day?" one would ask. Ruthmary's tenure as the Mesa County Spellbinders workshop leader has been a real boost to what makes our current tellers the best of the best.
Thank you Ruthmary for giving us your time, your talent and most of all your continued role as a premiere Spellbinder trainer. Here's a congratulatory kudos -- Thank you for your superb service to our community, my lady!
Lois  Thank you Ruthmary for all the time, efforts and skills you shared with all of us. You will be missed. IngridIn the role of monthly Workshop Facilitator, Ruthmary has demonstrated her ability to plan and organize monthly workshop meetings, to provide continuing education to an adult audience, and to facilitate communication in a group setting. She is particularly effective at gently commanding the group's attention and keeping the agenda moving in a timely fashion. It is obvious to me that Ruthmary has been able to establish a wonderful rapport with our chapter members and has been able to generate a great interest and enthusiasm for the art of storytelling. She will be missed as our Facilitator but the foundation she laid for future success is invaluable!
Mary Ann Janson (taken partially from a recommendation letter written when she became a trainer.) RUTHMARY.....What a positive force of energy, filled with fun and joy. We have had the benefit of Ruthmary's gifts at each of our monthly workshops and we are filled with gratitude.  She lifts our spirits up and entertains us with her magical songs and fun antics. You never know what she will come up with next but it is always fun!! Ruthmary is a unique Renaissance woman who has an endless supply of creativity and enthusiasm....what a GIFT. Her contributions have laid the foundation for the future. She will be missed in this capacity but we are fortunate to still have her energy in our Chapter. Judi Sammons
Those are just some of the many, many words of gratitude our members wished to share. I am very grateful for Ruthmary's leadership and talents. She was one of the trainers who trained me and I have learned even more through what she brought to our Workshops. Our future Workshops may not be the "same," however, Ruthmary has left her imprint of love of Story on us all. Her contributions will last forever as she has left each one of us with a bit of herself. Ruthmary, YOU ROCK! Karen Hurst Back to top |
| MCS WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS | | Submitted by Barbara Scott & Karen Hurst
 Thanks to Scott Fairbanks for telling "Give The Frog a Loan" Scott heard this funny tale at Boy Scout camp.
Thanks to Ruthmary Allison for telling "Stephanie's Ponytail" by Robert Munsch. (Note from Karen: I remember that this is the first story I ever heard Ruthmary tell, so I'm sorry I missed it :-(
 
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Tips For A Successful Year of Telling!
| | Submitted by Barbara Scott & Karen Hurst
We had a great tip shared at our August workshop. It was suggested that tellers get a vocabulary list from their teachers and either work some of the words into the story or highlight them before or after the story. Since there are some new folks I would also like to share again two documents you may find useful.  The first provides information gleaned from Story Proof by Kendall Haven. If you attended the Annual Meeting in May you know there is a boatload of science behind the benefits of oral storytelling. Click here to download the sheet and share it with your teachers.
 The second sheet contains some tips for success submitted by Mary Ann Janson. The suggestions she shares have been used by many of our tellers and have lead to successful and rewarding engagement in our schools. Click here to download this sheet and find out what just might make your year even better!
Have a great year!!! Back to top |
ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS
| |  Submitted by Barbara Scott
- Changing schools or classrooms? Let Janice Koppang know by sending her an email.
- KAFM radio Life Long Learning series would like some Spellbinders to come tell what we do and to tell a story. Sept. 19, 7-9 P.M. Contact Scott Fairbanks 261-3641
- Next monthly meeting is September 19th!!! (not 12th)
- Bring ideas for what workshops you'd like.
- Ruthmary is stepping down as our meeting leader. Thanks for her great leadership! Spellbinders were asked to sign up with a partner to lead future workshops. We will share the schedule of who is telling, bringing refreshments and leading workshop in our next issue.
- Our Spellbinder sharing library is being sorted, cataloged, and reviewed. When you return a book please attach a sticky note giving a "very short" review. Thanks.
- Janice Shepherd reported that for the previous school year:
- Number of active (currently telling) Spellbinders in your Chapter: 46
- Where do your Spellbinders tell stories?
Schools: 30, Classrooms: 301, Libraries: 1, Senior facilities: 1
- Other (museums, etc: name type and number):
16 Family/friends Events, 5 community service groups, 3 church (non-biblical stories),1 fund-raiser, 1 high school,1 playgroup, 1
class reunion,1 town event/festival, 2 summer camp:
- Number of active (currently telling) Spellbinders in your Chapter: 46
Number *of Individuals* who heard a Spellbinders storytelling program or event since July 1, 2012: 7354 (6925 children/429 adults)
Total Audience that attended Spellbinders programs and events since July 1, 2012: 39558 Back to top |
NEWS FROM MCS BOARD
| |  MCS Board of Directors: Lois Becker, President & Library Liaison Scott Fairbanks, Vice President & PR Jeannie Smith, Secretary & District 51 Liaison Ingrid de Leland, Treasurer Penny Stewart Janice Koppang, Storyteller Coordinator Karen Hurst, Newsletter Ruthmary Allison, Storyteller Training & Workshop Marsha Kosteva, Rotary Liaison The Annual Spellbinder Board Meeting will be held Monday, September 9th at 4:00 p.m. in the Mesa County Library Administration Area Conference Room. All members are welcome to attend.
Please consider serving on the Board so that we can continue to nurture and grow our chapter. Come to the Annual Meeting regardless! You just might find something you would like to do :-) Back to top |
NEWS FROM NATIONAL
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Due to some health issues, I will no longer be serving on the National Council of Trustees. I have agreed to continue to work on the Social Media aspect of the National organization.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with this dynamic group of people and will miss seeing them on a regular basis.
If this is something you think you might be interested in doing please let me know and I will direct you to the appropriate person.
Karen Hurst
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We hope, as always, that you find this newsletter useful and fun! If you have any suggestions/feedback please send me an email! Our Newsletter Team now consists of: Barbara Scott, Mary Lou Palmer and Judi Sammons! As editor I truly value their contributions and willingness to pitch in!
Sincerely,
Karen Hurst
Mesa County Spellbinders  |
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