Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Remembering 2014

Who would have thought that a newly reconstituted organization, inactive for many years, within just two short years achieve so much. 2014 was an outstanding period of growth and accomplishments for the St. Tammany Library Foundation. Thanks to your support we were able to undertake the following :

~ A “Sipping through the Stacks” gathering held for our members in the Walker Percy Room in Madisonville prior to a talk by Julie Rivette, granddaughter of Dashiell Hammett.

~ An exquisite and fun celebration under the spreading limbs of the Seven Sisters Oak, one of the oldest live oak tree in America – with music by the Bob Ellis trio, delicious food, congenial company, an auction filled with books by St. Tammany writers, art, decorative objects, tea from the English Tea Room of Covington served in exquisite bone china cups, wine from Acquisapace and other merchants, and all featured on pastel tablecloths adorned with bouquets of spring blooms. All proceeds were dedicated to the funding of a statue of our St. Tammany muse, Walker Percy. Three of our members – Nancy Anderson, Jamie Eason, and Patricia Bonneau created the magnificent flower arrangements. Thanks go to the Chairs of the Event: Ruthann Hilker, Mary Beth McGinnis, and Suzanne Myers.

~ A partnership began with the Lakeview Regional Medical Center culminating in the first ever Northshore Men’s Wellness Seminar. Seven physicians were on hand to give talks and to meet privately with any attendees.

~ Our activities of 2014 culminated with the completion of our first campaign for the engraved stones of the Serenity Circle on the side of the new St. Tammany Parish Library in Madisonville. Within six weeks they should be installed. We are planning a celebration after their installation. All donors will be honored at a special reception the Friday night before a Saturday celebration for our entire community. At that time we will also begin our second order campaign.

~ New members were welcomed to our Board of Director: Suzanne Myers, Sue Zaunbrecher, Mayor Peter Gitz, and Nancy Thompson.

~ And last, but not least, our President was honored to have been chosen by the American Library Association as the most outstanding leader of library foundations in the United States. This would not have been possible without the help of the entire membership, Board, and support of community leaders.

Our plans for 2015 include grant writing, expansion of our library space in Slidell, support of special library programs, completion of our campaign to fund the Percy Walker statue, the funding of a mural to set off the children’s center in our new library, and the continuation of our educational mission featuring workshops, seminars, lectures, and creative classes.

JOIN US! St. Tammany Parish needs you.