Newsletter I April 2025

President's Message

Dear Friends,

How can it possibly be time to plan the last meeting of the year? Didn’t we just gather together to hear about Dandy Don Meredith from Dave Leiber?

You will NOT want to miss our final program of the year by Rebecca Blackwood, titled “Why Don’t You Want My Stuff?” I mean, how do our children NOT want their preschool artwork, the wrinkled Homecoming mums we've packed away so carefully for them, the "good" mixing bowls, great Aunt Mary’s bedside table, and our fine china?

Get your tickets TODAY if you haven’t already... it may just be another sellout!

Another highlight of our May meeting will be the presentation of the Hartman Award, where we’ll also celebrate the funds raised this year to support our beautiful library—funds that help fund Summer programs, address Teen Room needs, Adult Literacy, Citizenship programs, and so much more!

As my time as President winds down, I am filled with gratitude for the incredible opportunity to serve this prestigious organization. The history of the Friends of the Library is humbling, to say the least.

BUT don’t worry—I'm not going anywhere! Like the amazing past presidents before me who continue to serve in many capacities, I’m excited to step into the role of Vice President of Programs! I may never fill Joy’s shoes, but I’ll certainly try my darndest!

So, mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 9th—it’s going to be a great year ahead!

Thank you for all the support, kind words of encouragement, and smiling faces this year. It has truly been an honor of a lifetime.

Love,

Kathleen

Your (almost!) Past President

"All endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time."

—Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Spring 2025 Meetings & Programs

May 13 FOL Annual Meeting with Lunch

& Presentation by

Rebecca Blackwood, Dallas Book Reviewers

Lunch provided by Ana's Catering

Boxed lunches – Sandwiches (chicken salad, pimiento cheese)

Pasta Salad, Cucumber Salad

Assorted - Mini Muffins Blueberry, Gingerbread, Cranberry Orange, or Banana

$20 Reservation required, link below. Tickets available until one week prior to event or when sold out.

Rebecca Blackwood

Rebecca Blackwood of Dallas Book Reviewers will review Josh Levine's book "Why Don't You Want My Stuff?!" A Boomer's guide to downsizing, their Millennial kid's psyche, and a guide through the secondary market of online retailing, auctions, and estate sales.

Rebecca is an Arkansas girl who loved to read and be read to as a child. Her enjoyment of books led to her participation in high school theater productions and the fine arts. Eventually, she majored in secondary English and earned a Master of Science in Education.

She has taught high school for many years in several states. She says, "I feel like I've been performing all my life...acting out Shakespeare plays, explaining plot twists and character flaws, quoting meaningful poetry, and explaining timely sonnets...always trying to ignite that spark of the love of reading." She even keeps good novels in the trunk of her car that she gives away to interested students anywhere she sees them.

She and her husband live in Fort Worth, Texas. They have two children and eight grandchildren. Rebecca enjoys substituting at her FWISD high school. "I call substituting my ministry since I love going, and the pay is terrible! My friends think I'm crazy!!" In addition to reviewing books, Rebecca is involved with her church and volunteers in several organizations when time permits.

Click here to buy May Luncheon Ticket

The April luncheon and meeting was a sell-out crowd. We heard a riveting story from Tara Storch and their family's experience with organ donation as a result of a tragic skiing accident on Spring Break. Tara shared her story, facts about organ donation, and their motto, "Outlive Yourself." You can learn more at TaylorsGift.org.

School Librarian Reception

Every April, FOL honors the school librarians and their respective principals at a reception hosted at the Rockwall County Library. Dr. Joan Terry and her committee delivered again this year. The Rockwall ISD and Royse City ISD librarians were recognized and gifted with a book selected from the Book Alcove and a beautiful flower arrangement donated by The Flower Box. Tom Thumb North, Neighborhood Walmart, and Heart of Texas Tea donated refreshments.

Both superintendents and Rockwall County Judge Frank New were also in attendance. This event is loved by all. Thank you to the librarians for all that you do!

A member directory has been published for FRIENDS based on membership as of December 31st for the 2025 calendar year. Inserts will be available at the April and May meeting. We have small notebooks available on a first come first serve basis.

Any members who join between January and August of this year will be accounted for in the 2025 membership year. September will begin the 2026 Membership Drive.

The membership year runs January through December.

Memberships may be paid online by clicking below or at any of the Friends meetings.

If you have questions, please email friendsrockwallcountylibrary@gmail.com

or contact Jen Lewis at 214-326-8124.

Click here to join NOW for the 2025 year!

Thank you to our renewed and new Business Members for 2025!

FOL Business Member plaques for display are available.

Contact Darlene Reed for more information.

Name Tags for Members!

Magnetic Name Tags are available for members for $7.00. Click button below to order.

Paper stick on nametags will always be available at Friends meetings.

Click Here and scroll to end of events page to order a Name Tag

Library Hours:

Monday 10:00AM - 6:00PM

Tuesday 10:00AM - 8:00PM

Wednesday 10:00AM - 6:00PM

Thursday 10:00AM - 8:00PM

Friday 10:00AM - 5:00PM

Saturday 10:00AM - 4:00PM

Sunday - Closed

Rockwall County Library website

Friends Book Club meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at 9:30 at the library. Contact Joan Wells or Gloria Daniels for more information at FriendsRockwallCountyLibrary@gmail.com.

2025

January – The Women by Kristen Hannah

February – The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts

March – 13 Days to Glory: The Siege of the Alamo by Lon Tinkle

April – Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

May – What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline

June – First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Literacy Center

The Adult Literacy Program Library office is in the foyer of the Rockwall County Library. The Program provides classes for GED preparation, English as a Second Language, Citizenship, and basic literacy. Classes take place six days a week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with the strong support of our community partner, First United Methodist Church of Rockwall.

If you are interested in being a tutor or other volunteer support staff member, contact Nancy Goodsell at 972-204-7705 or email ngoodsell@rockwallcountytexas.com. It is not necessary to be fluent in a foreign language.

Book Alcove

The Book Alcove is accepting book donations every day the Library is open.

Suggested donations are collected and used for library programs. The selection is ever changing, come take a look and bring some books to donate too.

FICTION TITLES ARE NEEDED!

Friends of the Library is proud to partner with Meals on Wheels Senior Services of Rockwall County to offer homebound clients books through the Book Alcove. Lynn Fate manages this program and carefully selects books per genre or title requests and they are delivered each month with meal delivery. Donations matter. Keep this in mind as you clean out your collections.

*Fiction titles and large print books are in demand for this program. If you have any to donate, please take to the Library and mark them as "Meals on Wheels." They can be left with the Circulation Desk.

April's book selections by Lynn Fate and her team are packed and ready to go to Meals on Wheels where they will be distributed with next weeks meal delivery.

The 2025-2026 slate was presented and voted on at the April meeting. It was approved by a member vote and the officers will be installed at the May meeting.

President - Lesli Johnson

President Elect - Kelli Delozier

1st VP Programs - Kathleen Evans

2nd VP's Fundraising and Special Events - Leigh Wilcoxson and Shannon Wilson

3rd VP's Membership - Jen Lewis and Susan Sisto

4th VP's Business Membership - Darlene Reed & Laura Robison-Houser

5th VP Communication - Carrie Pickell

Secretary - Lea Carlson

Treasurer - Nancy Barnett