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Mesa County Spellbinders Workshop Schedule
ATTENTION!
The location for our workshop on Thursday, February 12, 2015
is:
The Workforce Center
512 29 1/2 Road
Grand Junction Colorado 81504
Room A
9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
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Volume 7 Issue 2
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February 2015
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February is a busy month! What with Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Black History Month and President's Day, one can hardly keep up! Just remember that you, too, are adding a very important piece to this month! You! Those you are sharing stories with are so excited when you come and brighten their day. So whether you take them to fantastic worlds with stories of love or birthdays or special events, know that you are sharing a piece of yourself and, even though this is a short month, you and the stories you tell will live on through your listeners for a long, long time!
 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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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS
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Horizon Sunrise Rotary Club
As we wish to support our Sponsors when given the opportunity, I would like to let you know about a delicious way to support Horizon Sunrise Rotary.
Their annual dessert extravaganza fundraising event, "A La Mode", will be held on Thursday, March 12th at the Hilton Double Tree a 6:30 pm. Get more information by clicking on the link or you can purchase tickets by contacting Board Member Marsha Kosteva at marsha.kostev@gmail.com. Ala Mode Infor.pdf
Two of our newest tellers, Cindy Beckage and Annette Ferriole, delighted members of the Horizon Sunrise Rotary Club with presentations on December 18th. A resounding round of applause was given the tellers who just completed their training in August. Club President Rob Benjamin presented RuthMary with a check for $500.00. New tellers, Susan Fuller and Linda Bishop, along with Ruth Mary Allison and Laurie Kollasch, attended the Club's breakfast meeting. 
We have been anticipating and now are fortunate to have renowned Storyteller, Susan Marie Frontczak as our guest presenter for our February Workshop. If you have wondered what it would be like to spend some quality time with a professional storyteller, that time is now! To learn more about her, check out Susan's website at http://www.storysmith.org/. 
- Constance Holland announced that she is offering for those interested a chance to come together and share stories and maybe some music at her home. The fourth Friday of every month at 6:30 p.m. has been set aside for this wonderful time of sharing. Thank you Constance!
- An article written by Ann Wright was presented in the "Out and About", (December 27, 2014 issue), about storytelling and the role that Spellbinders play. What a good avenue to allow the public to be given some insight into Spellbinders and the benefits we offer to children.
- A new "Storyteller Coordinator" is being requested. Contact Janice Koppang if you are interested in participating a much needed and important position.
- Lorna McIlnay presented us with a copy of the evaluation sheets that were used in our previous meeting. On inspection of the page, it looks like a good reference for self-evaluation of your story presentation as well. If anyone would like to make use of the evaluation sheets while telling their stories at our meetings, just let us know and we will be glad to assist you.
- Mark your calendars to attend the Spellbinders Annual Meeting in Denver on May 1, 2015. More information to follow.
February Meeting Volunteers Due to the presentation by Susan Marie Frontczak , there will be no Member storytellers this month. Leader - Laurie Kollasch Refreshments - Mary Thompson Val Thompson Cindy Beckage |
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NEWS FROM MCS BOARD
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Welcome Mesa County Spellbinders to 2015!
I want to take this time to reach out to you on behalf of myself and Mesa County Spellbinders' board to let you know how much you are valued and appreciated in your role as a teller; to include, your investment of time and joy in serving our community's children. Your talent is rather impressive. The connection you have with our area's youth is a powerful thing. The time and talent you use to nurture and create your stories influence the health and well-being of our community's children. There's no doubt your visits help them to learn, become critical thinkers and develop their full imagination -- creativity. These qualities help shape children giving them the communication tools that will make a difference in their lives.
For you...being an active teller in our area schools is a wonderful and remarkable gift that is and will be treasured for generations to come. Frankly speaking, your talent is an awesome thing.
Lois Becker, President, Mesa County Spellbinders
Mesa County Spellbinders Board Lois Becker, President Lorna McIlnay, Vice President Jeannie Smith, Secretary & District 51 Liaison Penny Stewart, Treasurer Janice Koppang, Storyteller Coordinator Judi Sammons, Member Marsha Kosteva, Rotary Liaison/Newsletter Liaison Scott Fairbanks, Fundraising/Public Relations Val Thompson, Teller and Trainer Liaison Back to top |
NEWS FROM NATIONAL
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President's Message --- National Spellbinders ---Please Read
If you attended the January workshop you heard from Catherine Johnson, executive director of National Spellbinders. She presented the challenges that face our national organization. It goes without saying that our service as a stand-alone chapter to National is important, as well, our chapter's relationship with Catherine and National's council. Her keen observations and objective summary are worthy of recognition. No doubt it helps us all to better understand the dynamics of the entire storyteller organization, to include, our part as the local Mesa County Spellbinders' chapter.
Catherine reviewed that Mesa County Spellbinders was organized by founder Jim Widdows as a separate 501 c 3 organization. Your chapter does actively operate as a separate, official and qualified nonprofit organization with a working board. What does that mean? Your chapter is not dependent on National to operate, yet there are notable ties of desired resources and information with our National organization - and, a natural alignment to like-minded groups.
As National Spellbinders begins to flesh out how it wants to move forward to gain additional financial support, know that your local chapter - board members - is ever-diligent and sensitive to the needs of our organization.
Please know and trust that your local Mesa County Spellbinders' board members will actively evaluate, review and be considerate of any formal recommendation or requested dues commitment from National Spellbinders. Your local board will weigh those options and bring to you any future proposals. For certain, a difficult question is how our Mesa County chapter can best serve not only its own local needs, but needs for National Spellbinders as well. I want to assure you that your local board members are focused, committed first to our service priorities, those that directly benefit you our storytellers for School District 51.
If you would like to share any of your concerns or support regarding Catherine's proposed options, please feel free to contact me at labecker27@gmail.com. I will present, anonymously if requested, comments at the next local Mesa County Spellbinders' board meeting.
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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!
Sincerely,
Pam Hurd
Mesa County Spellbinders |
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