Staying Connected Through Challenging Times
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Ladies for Literacy Guild Newsletter - Summer 2020 Staying Connected Through Challenging Times Dear Ladies Guild Members and Friends, I have been thinking a lot about the word “connection” as it relates to these unusual times and, like many of you, missing the connection of familiar routines. My late father was a Special Forces Green Beret who served three tours of duty in Vietnam. A POW, he came back from his last service a very different man than the one that left Fort Bragg on his first tour. Many years later when I was a teenager, my dad was able to share his experiences with me and what he clung to during those dark, dark days. It was, in short, connections to us that, despite the span of continents, kept us close. Along with sending Polaroids and long letters, my mother recorded me reading my favorite childhood books to share with my dad. Decades later, he told me that hearing the voices of his three girls gave him the strength and hope he needed more than any other time in his life. As we hope and pray for a brighter tomorrow, I am reminded that we have had tough days – yet we have survived them all. With resilience, grit, determination and creative focus, we have and will continue to look for a tomorrow where we can all feel safe to gather again, volunteer in our beloved schools and work in the community to advance the cause of literacy. Until that time, I remain inspired by the optimism and creativity by our Guild members. With safety at the core of all our efforts, our visionary Power of Literacy Luncheon Co-Chairs Betty Hrncir and Sidney Faust are announcing that our signature event will be a virtual experience. Details on this exciting new format are forthcoming, but know that it will be an experience you won’t want to miss! And speaking of exciting, I am deeply grateful to Maddy Endecott, daughter of Guild member Ginny Endecott, and Grant Mixon, two incredible teen voices in the literacy movement who are spearheading our first Curiosity Cruiser Teen Ambassador Program this summer. In a few days, we will celebrate July 4th. In my childhood home it was such a special day, especially for my father, “Colonel Dave”, as he was affectionately called. Undoubtedly, this year’s celebration will look different than in years past, but it certainly doesn’t have to feel that way. I hope you and yours, no matter the distance, connect creatively, safely and with purpose on this American holiday that is a reminder of the bravery of heroes, those who celebrate and uphold freedom for all and people just like you who are committed to lives of service each and every day. With gratitude, Trish Trish Morille Guild President "Super-Power" of Literacy Event Thursday, October 22 Co-Chairs Sidney Faust and Betty Hrncir are transforming the annual Power of Literacy Luncheon into a virtual "literary fete" of our beloved Barbara Bush. The new "Super-Power" of Literacy event will include friends, family and those who knew Mrs. Bush best, with some added surprises! This is the signature event for the Ladies for Literacy Guild. It supports our literacy mission and enables us to carry forth Mrs. Bush’s legacy. In this challenging time, it is more important than ever that we support this event to ensure people can continue to be empowered through literacy. Here is the letter from the Co-Chairs. 2020 Ladies for Literacy Community Book Drive Collects 4000+ Books! What a champ! Our friend Clutch from the The 4000+ books collected during the 2020 Houston Rockets put on his face mask and Community Book Drive have been distributed to helped us unload boxes and boxes of books our charity partners New Hope Housing, Santa donated to the 2020 Community Book Drive. Maria Hostel and Mission of Yahweh for their children's libraries. It was a Drive By & Drop Off event over two days at Community Self Storage on Voss, and Kudos to Book Drive Chair Leah Stasney, who those who came by received Barbara Bush's was joined by BBHLF President Julie Baker Oatmeal Lace Cookie recipe, along with our Finck, Guild President Trish Morille, Executive heartfelt thanks! Committee members Carol Sawyer, Betty Hrncir, Book Drive Committee member Maya A special delivery of 850 books came from the Pomroy and Foundation staff. Houstonian Club, which once again this year collected books from members, earning our first We so appreciate all our donors and sponsors, "Corporate Point of Light" recognition. (See the Houston Rockets and Reliant Energy, for below.) giving children the gift of having their OWN books to read and love! The Houstonian Club - Our Corporate Point of Light Bravo to the Houstonian Club for organizing the collection of 850 books from Club members for the Guild’s 2020 Community Book Drive! Our heartfelt thanks to Rachel Naff, Houstonian Club Social Events Coordinator, for overseeing the promotion, collection, and logistics of the Community Drive Book Drive at the Club. We are also grateful to General Manager Cher Harris for the continuing support of the Houstonian Club since our very first Community Book Drive. They have been amazing Corporate Partners in every way! And of course the Houstonian Club Book Drive would not have been possible without the generous support and community spirit of the members, who support our literacy efforts year after year. Pictured: Carol & Tom Sawyer and Betty & John Hrncir with Rachel Naff as they transported the books from the Houstonian Club to the drop-off. The Excitement of a Home Library Nearly 300 students at the Yellowstone Academy are building their very own libraries! The students each selected 6 books as part of the "My Home Library" program for Pre-K through 5th grade. A total of over 1700 books were distributed to very happy girls and boys. The Grants Committee of the Ladies for Literacy Guild is supporting "My Home Library", which enables students to go online and build a wish list of books. Students made their selections prior to schools closing due to the COVID-19 outbreak and they were delighted when they finally received their books. Yellowstone Academy has expressed deep appreciation to the Guild for our support, and we were more than happy to help! #We Read - Even at the Beach! It was just a day at the beach, but it had quite an impact on a small boy. Lisa Jakel brought one of her favorite children's books - Hermit Crab's New House by Eric Carle - on a beach getaway, recorded herself reading and then gifted the book to a boy she met. Little Fulton was thrilled and immediately curled up with his Dad to listen to the Hermit Crab's journey. Reading aloud can have a huge impact on children's reading comprehension. That's the goal behind "We Read", the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's Read Aloud program. So far more than 125 readers have submitted #WeRead videos which you can find here. Here is how YOU can read aloud to a child: Watch Community Projects Co-Chair Cindy Puryear provide Read Aloud tips in this awesome video: Pick your favorite children’s book. We recommend choosing a book between 5-7 minutes long. In Landscape Mode on your smart phone, record yourself reading. Remember to hold the book so that your viewers can see the pages. (This is something fun for your family to do together!) From your mobile device, visit www.wetransfer.com to upload your video. It is not necessary to create a WeTransfer account. Click ‘send a file’ to upload straight from your phone. Upload the file and send to Alexa Bode at [email protected]. For questions, please email Alexa. Click here for tips on recording your virtual read aloud! Click here for a list of virtual read aloud titles. Join "We Read" participants Carol Sawyer, Megan Hotze, Ginger Blanton, Rosie Damgaard, Ginny Endecott Guild President Trish Morille and many others in giving children a gift of reading that keeps on giving! WATCH "READ ALOUDS" Making a Difference "Book Store Besties" a Big Success for River Oaks Bookstore! Our very first "Book Store Besties" event, held at the River Oaks Bookstore at 3270 Westheimer, was a magnet for book lovers and loyal supporters of the Ladies for Literacy Guild. Guild President-Elect Lisa Jakel says the two-day #ShopLocal event was designed to show our love and support of independent, family-owned bookstores, and more "Bookstore Besties" events are planned. River Oaks Bookstore founder Jeanne Jard reports that more than 250 books ($3600 worth!) were sold during the "Drop by & Pick Up" event. Guild volunteers Leah Stasney, Ginger Blanton, Diana Delaup, Trish Morille and Julie Baker Finck tied bows on our new Ladies for Literacy coffee mugs, wore their Guild aprons proudly and brought packages of book purchases to cars. Lisa Jakel is thrilled with the result: "Thanks to many of you, our Bookstore Besties event brought ROB not only economic joy and relief, but also the kind and gentle support that only our Ladies for Literacy and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation can bring!" Jeanne Jard agrees, " The Guild is spreading the word, not just for local bookstores, but for literacy programs which put books in the hands of young people!" [Pictured L-R: Executive Committee members Lisa Jakel, Ginger Blanton and Guild President Trish Morille.] Betty Hrncir - Our Literacy Point of Light Betty Hrncir has been a driving force behind the Ladies for Literacy Guild since she co-founded it five years ago.