Newsletter I FEBRUARY 2025

President's Message

Dear Friends,

Love is in the air this February, and we couldn’t be more excited to share the joy with all of you as we head into an inspiring month! As we embrace the spirit of the season, we’re also gearing up for some truly special moments together.

Looking ahead, our Spring Fundraiser is just around the corner, and we can’t wait to see you there on Tuesday, March 11th! Be sure to grab a ticket for yourself and your friends—this is going to be a fantastic opportunity to support a great cause while having a fabulous time. And don’t forget: derby hats and bow ties are optional but, let’s face it, the bigger the hat, the bigger the FUN!

As always, thank you for your continued support. Together, we’re making a difference, and I’m looking forward to seeing all of you soon!

Warmly (as in STAY WARM!)

Kathleen

February reminder from one of my VERY favorite authors…

“You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.”

― Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper

A member directory will be published based on membership as of December 31st for the 2025 calendar year and distributed at the March fundraiser and luncheon.

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

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!

February Meeting with Paul Box - Success!

Over eighty reservations were secured for our valentine decorated luncheon with Paul Box presenting his adventure of running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days. It was a riveting accounting of endurance on many levels and the energy was absolutely evident on an otherwise dreary winter day. We encourage you to read his book and note that proceeds from the book sales go to his family's charity, Walk in Love. Ana outdid herself with the lunch menu. It was delicious! Thank you to Joy and Cindy and the hospitality committee!

Spring 2025

Derby attire encouraged.

Melissa Tate of Tate Farms catering lunch!

Raffles from area vendors.

Presentation by Walton's Garden Center.

Click here to buy a ticket to the Spring Fundraiser.

April 8 FOL Meeting with Lunch

Program TBD

Lunch provided by Ana's Catering

Click here to buy April luncheon ticket

May 13 FOL Annual Meeting with Lunch

& presentation by

Rebecca Blackwood, Dallas Book Reviewers

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.

*Lunch by Ana's Catering will include:

Boxed lunches – Sandwiches (chicken salad, pimiento cheese)

Pasta Salad, Cucumber Salad

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

Click here to buy May Luncheon Ticket

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

The Hartman Award was first given in 1980. Recipients of the Award have been members who gave of themselves willingly for the good of Friends and the Library. The Award was named for Alfred and Grace Hartman. Alfred Hartman was the Librarian from 1966-1976. Grace Hartman was instrumental in the formation of a public library in Rockwall. The Award is presented at the May meeting and the recipient is recognized on The Giving Tree with a Bronze leaf.

A separate email has been sent to current 2025 FOL members with details on how to nominate a candidate for the 2025 Hartman Award.

Click to view list of Hartman Award Recipients

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

FEBRUARY Children's Program Calendar

FEBRUARY Adult Program Calendar

On February 1st, 2025, the Rockwall County Literacy Center, along with family and friends, proudly celebrated 19 new U.S. citizens! Over the past year, these dedicated students successfully passed the rigorous U.S. Citizenship test, which includes a 10-question history and government exam, English speaking and writing assessments, and a personal interview. Congratulations to all of them for their amazing hard work!

Special guests at the ceremony included Judge Frank New of the Rockwall County Commissioner Court, Rockwall County Commissioner Lorne Liechty (Precinct 3), Marcine McCulley, Rockwall County Library Director, Gloria Bishop, Literacy Center founder and first coordinator, along with several former and current Literacy Center tutors. The ceremony also featured Lady Liberty (Jan Self, D.A.R. Member).

Entertainment was provided by members of the First United Methodist Church, and families and friends had the honor of participating in the Oath of Allegiance, led by Judge New.

The event was made possible through the generous support of Ana’s Catering, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Ruby Baking Co., Costco, Lakeside Florist, the American Revolution NSDAR, and The Friends of the Rockwall Library.

Your support through membership and donations help make programs lk this possible. Friends provides study materials for students in the Literacy Center.

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.