Our Next Workshop will be held

at

Mesa County Library

9:15 to 11:15 a.m.

It will be in the Community Room on the main level.  The doors open at 9:00 a.m.  There is parking behind the library at 6th and Grand Ave as well the front parking lot

 Please check this document to find out who is coordinating the workshop, bringing snacks, and telling stories!

Thank you Laurie Kollasch for volunteering to coordinate the May Workshop! 

....and thanks again for all the tellers who stepped up to the plate and coordinated one or two Workshops this year! 


PLEASE NOTE on your calendars that the September Workshop will be held on Thursday, September 18th instead of the second Thursday.

Erin go bragh!

March is the month of St. Patrick's Day, the Oscars, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Purim and more.  There are some bizarre holidays as well.  You can find the list here.

Through the art of oral storytelling, Spellbinders®, an award-winning non-profit organization, enhances literacy, builds inter-generational community and develops character.

 

Bev is new to the world of Spellbinders and so.... we welcome you with open arms.  You are embarking on a joyful adventure with a community of other Spellbinders who are always willing to encourage and support your effort to grow your skills.  WELCOME...WELCOME!!

 

Bev grew up in Pueblo, Colorado and graduated from Centennial High School.  She continued her higher education at UNC where she graduated with a teaching certificate.  The following year she completed a dietetic internship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  The first few years after graduating Bev worked in Fort Lyon, Colorado at VAMC as a dietitian.  Bev met and married her husband John in 1966 and was subsequently transferred to Grand Junction as a department head.

 

Bev and John had three sons which they raised on their farm in Palisade.  Somehow during those busy years she was also able to complete a Master's Degree in Public Health after turning 50 years of age.  In 1994 through 2000 Bev worked as a dietitian in Anchorage, Alaska and another four years in Sitka, Alaska.  Bev traveled and worked in Sitka during the winter and then spent the summer on the farm in Palisade.  These ten years working in Alaska were among Bev's favorite life experiences.

 

In addition to work and family Bev has interests in American History, politics, Native American cultures and Bible studies.

 

Some words of wisdom from Bev:  "When living in a neighborhood with wildlife it is a good idea to learn the rules of the road.  When you see a moose, run for cover; your house, a car, just get away fast.  If you encounter a bear DO NOT run!  Stand Tall, stand your ground, until the bear starts to move on, then move slowly in the other direction."

 

Bev completed her Spellbinders training in September 2013 with Steve Skogland and Ruthmary Allison.  She began telling in October, 2013 at Rocky Mountain Elementary in the kindergarten classes.   Her favorite stories to tell are fairy tales and stories of hero journeys.  She truly appreciates the look of anticipation on the children's faces and of course their hugs.

 

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Our three storytellers at the February workshop told two unique personal stories and a lively Russian folktale.

Anne Saunders shared what she calls a "Larry Story" based on the adventures and experiences of her dear friend, a MaryKnoll Priest. Larry was in Tanzania doing missionary work and Anne had the opportunity to visit him there in 1986.

She saw many wonders including a gathering of 50 elephants in "convention" on the Serengheti. The culture shock, poverty hunger and harsh living conditions deeply affected her. On a day when she  admittedly had had enough and would just as soon have gone back home,  Anne met a lovely, poor woman who asked her what she liked best about her visit.Not really knowing what to say, Anne said that she liked the rice.

The gracious woman gave Anne two gifts that day: some of her family's precious rice and an unforgettable lesson in the sincere dignity of human generosity. Thank you for sharing your touching story, Anne!


 Diana Landes told a Russian folktale.

 It is the story of a poor man who had a wife and many children with holes in their shoes, a leaky roof and not enough food to keep their stomachs full.

The poor Papa decides that he must set out into the wider world to seek work and earn more money. He finds, after trying many jobs, that playing his fiddle for the public is the most prosperous. He wisely sews his earnings beneath patches on his coat.

After long years away, he returns home to his wife and grown family.When the wife gives the old patched coat away to a beggar, her husband cleverly retrieves it. Thank you Diana for so richly telling this folktale, for taking the time to make a patched coat, and for your singing and masterfully playing the "Air Fiddle"!
                                                                                  
                                                       
Special thanks to Nancy Hunter who graciously volunteered to fill in a story slot. Nancy told an impromptu personal story about her daughter's adventures as a relief worker in Haiti.

Diana is a dedicated young woman who is following her passion to make a difference in the world. She works for a Swiss aid agency called Medair and is involved in establishing hurricane resistant housing and cisterns so that the people will not have to spend such long hours finding and hauling water. 

Diana emails news of her unique experiences in Haiti from the heart wrenching to the hilarious.  Nancy told Diana's story of 3 Beach cows. This was a recreational outing  upon which she and a few friends embarked( it took one hour to drive 12 miles). On the road, they had to dodge the many stray village animals, chickens, dogs, etc. It was like  playing  a sort of real life video game!

Together at the beach, they relaxed and enjoyed the humorous sight of 3 bovines who strolled and grazed up and down  the strand as if on holiday.  The group also had a hair raising experience driving behind a decrepit old dump truck which was towing a 16 passenger van with just some old rope. The rope broke, but fortunately the van's brakes worked. There on the narrow winding  road with the errant vehicles ahead and a cliff to one side, they cautiously drove back toward their village, foregoing seat belt policy in case they had to quickly jump out!

Thank you, Nancy, for sharing this story so well!  We wish your daughter all the best in her continued efforts in Haiti!


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*Karen Hurst an Lorna McIlnay gave a presentation to Blue Knights and they in turn gave Spellbinders a donation of $100.

 

*May 2 Annual National Spellbinder's meeting in Denver (check newsletter for times and locations)

 

*Pam Hurd will be replacing Karen Hurst as newsletter editor. Barbara Scott will be the back up and prepare to take over when Pam retires. 

 

*Janice Koppang requested Liaison Folders be returned to her, then Mary Thompson will be taking over for Janice. Lorna McIlnay will also be trained on the system to take over when Mary is ready to hand this task off in future. 

 

*Feedback to Tellers at workshop; Laurie Kollasch has feedback sheets for those willing to serve on that committee. Lorna McIlnay is heading a sub-committee to formalize a process for tellers who wish to receive feedback after telling at Workshop.

 

Special Event for April is at Loma.  See Jean Yale for sign up.

 

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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 Coordinator
Judi Sammons, Newsletter
Marsha Kosteva, Rotary Liaison
Lorna McIlnay
Val Thompson



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Dan Reeves (Littleton Spellbinders) worked hard with the IT Department of Littleton Public schools to develop, an online Chapter data collection system which:

*Can be accessed and used by anyone using any operating system.

*Gives Chapter leadership better access to data to make Chapter management more efficient and effective.

*Makes year-end data collection less time consuming for everyone.

*Helps tellers track which stories they told.

As Janice Shepherd has announced her intent to pass this task on to the next person I will be reviewing this system and making recommendations to the Board.  Stay tuned!


*********

Spellbinders 2014 Annual Meeting

Building  Blocks for Even Greater Success with School Partners

Friday, May 2nd  8:30 am - 5 pm

Clayton Early Learning Center Campus

3801 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Denver

For Details Click Here

Also Consider registering to attend the Rocky Mountain Storytelling Festival on Saturday, May 3rd! 

For Details Click Here

These events are an exceptional opportunity to connect with Spellbinders from other Chapters AND hear from internationally renowned storyteller Elizabeth Ellis!

We hope, as always, that you find this newsletter useful and fun!  If you have any suggestions/feedback please send me an email!