the
letter
A newsletter for Friends of West Florida Public Library
FALL 2013
Michael Morris
Bette Hooton
Purpose
The Friends of West
Florida Public Library is
a nonprofit organization
dedicated to enhancing
the services of the
West Florida Public
Library through fund
raising and special
events.
West Florida
Public Library
239 N. Spring St.
Pensacola, FL 32502
850.436.5060
Reference Desk
850.436.5063
The Library Letter
Published by Friends of
West Florida Public
Library
Library
Administrator
Darlene Howell
Friends
of West Florida
Public Library
President
John L. Young
The library is
online:
http://mywfpl.com
Contact us:
Friends of West Florida
Public Library
P.O. Box 13394
Pensacola, FL
32591-3394
The Friends will welcome author Michael Morris to its annual meeting and
dinner Oct. 18 as the guest speaker. He is the author of A Place Called
Wiregrass, Slow Way Home, Man in the Blue Moon and—folks are saying it’s his
best!—Live Like You Were Dying. A fifth-generation native of Perry, Fla., a rural
area near Tallahassee, Michael Morris knows Southern culture and characters.
They are the foundation and inspiration for the stories and award-winning novels
he writes. A graduate of Auburn, he also holds an MFA in creative writing. He
lives in Alabama with his wife, Melanie.
His debut novel, A Place Called Wiregrass, won the Christy Award for Best
First Novel. His second book, Slow Way Home, is nationally ranked as one of
the top three recommended books by American Booksellers Association and
one of the best of 2012 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch. He has been recognized nationally by Books-a-Million as an upand-coming author of 2012. His latest, a novella, Live Like You Were Dying,
became a finalist for the Southern Book Critics Circle Award.
We are fortunate to have Michael Morris for our Friends’ 40th anniversary.
“Michael Morris has been one of my favorite
Southern writers since the publication of his first
novel. His new novel is reason for great
celebration. Man in the Blue Moon is a
beautifully wrought portrayal of small town
Southern life where poverty, tragedy and human
love engage in a ritualistic dance. His portrait of
Dead Lakes, Fla., is one of the best portraits of
a small southern town I’ve ever encountered.
His main character, Ella Wallace, is fascinating
and Mr. Morris is one of those rare writers
whose females are as fully formed individuals
as his males. Buy it. Read it.”
--Pat Conroy
Friend us!
Newsletter Editor
Jan Hall
Michael Morris
Inside:
President’s Message:
Facebook Committee:
Book Sale:
UWF PR Campaigns Class:
Friends’ Board Nominees:
Proposed By-Laws Changes:
Brick Project:
Downtown Bookstore:
You’ve Got (E)mail:
Inserts:
QRC Flier
Annual Dinner
 Invitation
 R.S.V.P. Envelope
 Evening Events
 Menu
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thelibraryletter
The President’s Message
John L. Young
Hello everyone,
What a great year this has been for
“Friends.”
Our name has been officially
changed to “Friends of West Florida Public
Library, Inc.” and we are celebrating our 40th
anniversary, having been founded in 1973.
Several other changes in store for the Friends
include: 1) board meeting time change from
noon to later in the day, allowing more
participation for our working members, 2)
revision of our by-laws and 3) sponsorship of
additional programs.
The University of West Florida Wellspring
students performed an assessment on our
Friends’ organization.
Every term UWF
professor Eileen Perrigo selects students for
her Public Relations class, which then
chooses a nonprofit organization to assess:
Friends was fortunate to be selected.
Students provided many recommendations;
we will be implementing some suggested
changes in the new fiscal year, while other
suggestions will be implemented in the near
future. The Wellspring students received an
award for the Friends’ campaign from the
Florida Public Relations Association during
the annual state conference competition,
which was open to all Florida colleges and
universities. We are very proud of the
Wellspring students and Professor Perrigo.
Our annual meeting and dinner in October
will be at the main library. Michael Morris,
author of Man in the Blue Moon and a fifth
generation native of Perry, Fla., will be our
guest speaker.
Hope all of you have had an opportunity to
attend a Discover Earth program sponsored
by the Friends, brought to Pensacola as a
result of grants Friends applied for and
received. The program is seen throughout the
United States at selected locations; we are
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very fortunate Pensacola was selected. The event
will be here until Sept. 27.
Our bricks have arrived. Weather permitting,
installation should be completed in September. If
you, your friends or family purchased a brick, drop
by the main library to view it.
Friends recently partnered with the Jazz Society
of Pensacola to sponsor a library of past and
present jazz recordings. The Jazz Room is located
on the second floor of the main library and a grand
opening of the Jazz Room was held Sept. 11. If
you are a jazz fan, this is the place to visit.
The Friends’ book sale will be held Sept.27-29
at the main library.
On a personal note, this is my last term as
president of the Friends. It has been my honor and
privilege to serve as president of such a great
organization. Thank you to all my fellow members
for your support during my tenure.
Friends is on Facebook
Linda Williams
We created our Facebook page to generate
interest in the events that Friends of West Florida
Public Library promote throughout the year.
Currently we are featuring information on
Discover Earth exhibit activities. It is an honor to
be one of only 10 libraries in the United States to
be chosen to participate in this project.
If you “like” us on Facebook, you will get
timely updates on special programs, information
on future book sales and access to our photo
albums. The news of last spring’s book sale
spread quickly on our page. We were able to
reach out to our friends and friends of friends to
help make the book sale a success. If you aren’t
already on Facebook, please consider joining so
you can stay in the know of what’s happening
with our Friends’ group. You can find us by
logging on to Facebook and searching for
Friends of West Florida Public Library.
thelibraryletter
Friends’ Fall Book Sale
V.P. Meredith McCarthy
It is time again to stock up for your winter
reading, look for that perfect gift or find ideas
for Christmas gift making. We are thrilled to be
back at the downtown library in the wonderful
facility. We have been sorting and boxing books
all summer at the former A.V. Clubbs School. I
give many thanks to the Escambia School
District. It has been wonderful to have a secure,
dry place to work and store our inventory.
The sale will be the last weekend in
September in the library community room and
hallways.
As we have done in the past, Friday is free
for Friends of West Florida Public Library and
$5 for all others. Saturday has reduced prices
and Sunday is the $5 bag sale day.
We will be setting up Friday morning starting
at 10 a.m., and we will finish in early afternoon.
Once again, our special friends from the
Pensacola Fire Department will help us move
boxes to the library that morning.
Volunteers are needed to set the books on
the tables on Friday morning, the more the
merrier. I need people to cashier for two-hour
shifts during the sale and people to man the
membership table. And last, but not least, I
need people to help box up and clear out at the
end. Please call or email Meredith at 341-1434
or meredithmccarthy@cox.net to sign up.
Thanks for all your help and let’s have
another great sale.
WHEN: Fri., Sept. 27: 4-8 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 28: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 29: 12-3 p.m.**$5 bag sale!**
WHERE:
Downtown library
UWF PR Campaigns Class Helps Friends,
Wins Award
Professor Eileen Perrigo and her WellSpring
Public Relations Campaigns class presented its
report to the Friends’ board in April. Perrigo noted
students spent 502 hours outside class: With a
$100-hour charge, that came out to $25,000 for
its pro bono work! The class prepared two fullcolor binders, as well as a sample brochure. The
board has since met to discuss each goal under
the proposal.
A big thanks to class members Wladimir
Alves, Britni Armstrong, Meg Clark, Jennifer
Eitzmann, Jillian Glenn, Briteny McKeithen,
Cora Merritt, Adrian Rich, Lauren Stimmell
and Brandi Welk.
WellSpring won an Award of Distinction from
the Florida Public Relations Association for the
project. Great job!
Photo: Robin Rudicell
Book sale file photo
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Nominees for Friends of West Florida Library Board of Directors, 2013
Betty Vickers
thelibraryletter
Claudine Kriss, President: Claudine is a retired Pensacola News Journal columnist and a Pensacola
Heritage Foundation and Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival volunteer.
Linda Williams, Vice President: Linda is a personal trainer and owner of Pensacola Personal Trainer, a
fitness business. She has volunteered with Covenant Hospice and Artel Gallery.
Dondie Roper, Secretary: Dondie’s work experience includes community relations for the West Florida
Library System, marketing manager at Cox Communication and producer at WEAR-TV. She is currently a
loaned executive at United Way and has volunteered at Hope Center for Teens and other local nonprofit
organizations.
David Bryant,Treasurer: David is CPA and the Director of Internal Auditing, Escambia County School District.
A Pensacola native, he serves on the board of the NWF Association Chapter of Fraud Examiners and recently
participated in one of the Friends’ focus groups.
Tonie Allsopp: Tonie teaches First Grade at Sherwood Elementary School and is a strong advocate of the
Accelerated Reader Program.
Mia Freymiller: Mia has taught history at the middle school, high school and college level. She is currently a
doctoral candidate in Education at Pensacola Christian College.
James Henderson: James is a retired U.S. Air Force officer. His military leadership duties included overseeing
innovations in guidance testing, higher education and counseling programs.
Joan Henderson: Joan is a retired social worker, who has volunteered at Family Services at Bolling AFB in
Washington, D.C.; the city library, Salinas, Kans., and at nursing homes in Salinas and Yorktown, Va.
Brenda Hirschorn: Brenda has previously served on the Friends’ board and taught Spanish in local schools
for several years. She is a volunteer at Sacred Heart Hospital and serves as secretary on the Mother Seton
Guild at Sacred Heart.
Jerry Hunter, Jr.: Jerry is a pastor at Good Works Baptist Church and Friends’ volunteer at Westside Branch
Library.
Peggy Martin: Peggy is a Pensacola native with a deep connection to the Pensacola library. She used to
walk from Blount Jr. High School to the library in Old Christ Church in Seville Square. She has volunteered
in the Learn to Read Literacy Program, where she worked with persons preparing for citizenship and has
volunteered at Friends’ biannual book sales.
Briteny McKeithen: Brittney was a member of WellSpring, the UWF Communication Arts class that created
a public relations plan for Friends during the 2013 spring semester. She is a UWF graduate and has worked
as a public relations intern with the Pensacola Ice Flyers.
Donna Gail Spencer: Donna Gail is a financial advisor. She serves on United Way’s Funds Distribution
Panel, volunteers with the Music Study Club and will be initiated into the Leadership Pensacola Class 2014.
She was a nominee for the P.A.C.E. Award in the Emerging Leadership Category.
Joe Vinson: Joe is director of new media, Appleyard Agency. He is a board member of Gulf Coast Kid’s
House, the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation and the Japanese-American Society of NW Florida.
Continuing Board Members:
Pam Beverly
Kenneth Hodges
Lindsey Leverett
John Young
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Jack Beverly
Dale Creed Jones
Michael Stebbins
Members Rotating off the Board:
Jan Hall
Robin Rudicell
Ora Wills
Meredith McCarthy
Elizabeth Vickers
thelibraryletter
Summary of Proposed By-Laws Changes
Betty Vickers
Name of Organization. Friends of the Pensacola
Public Library, Inc. will change to Friends of West
Florida Public Library, Inc. to reflect the new
name of the Pensacola Public Library.
Section III. Membership
Changes in Membership Categories are
under review and will be ready for the
Annual Membership Meeting in October.
Section IV Dues
The Friends calendar year (January 1December 31) will change to coincide with
the Friends fiscal year (October 1September 30).
Section V Officers
1. Officers shall take office at the
November meeting following the October
membership meeting.
2. The Vice President shall serve as
President-elect.
3. The Secretary shall email copies of the
Minutes to the Board within a week
following a Board meeting.
Section VI Board of Directors
The Board shall consist of
an
indeterminate number of members and
shall serve a term of two years and may
serve no more than six consecutive years
as a Board member.
Section IX Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the
Friends, the remaining funds would be
transferred to the Library’s “Donations
Fund” which has been established by the
County Commission under the new library
system organization. These funds would
be available for special needs of the
Library with the approval of the Board of
Governance.
The Brick Project Fundraiser
Linda Williams
The engraved bricks have finally arrived and
are awaiting installation. They turned out great.
We are hoping they will be installed before the
annual meeting. The installation will be around
the flagpole at the Spring Street entrance to the
main library. The Brick Project is ongoing: We
have 91 more bricks to sell.
If you want to purchase one or know
someone who would like one, please contact
Linda at 494-1326. I will send you the brick
form or you can pick one up from the Friends’
bookstores at the main library or Tryon.
From the Friends’ Downtown Bookstore
Bette Hooton, Manager
Hours are 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday; 11a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday.
Volunteers are always welcome. Call Bette at
969-0001. We have two bookart sellers: Dee
Brewer from Pace and “Pensacola Gal" Judi
Patrick. Dee uses book pages to make
flower-related items. Judi makes envelopes—
all different—from maps, charts and artwork
for $2. Included are labels, seals and
message paper. Donations of books will be
accepted at the library’s circulation desk, but
NOT in the bookstore. However, books are
always accepted in the back of the former
A.V. Clubbs School on 11th and Cervantes
from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Thursday. Friends’
memberships are sold in the bookstore.
Thanks to all volunteers, especially Jack
Cathcart for being our treasurer.
You’ve Got (E)mail
Dondie Roper
In an effort to go green—saving both our planet and
money—Friends is now offering email sign up. You can
choose to have our newsletter or updates on special
events (or both) sent directly to your inbox.
It's simple and easy: Just send an email to
friendsofwfpl@gmail.com and we'll get you signed up.
As always, we appreciate your friendship and support
of West Florida Public Library!
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Nonprofit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit # 286
Pensacola, FL
Friends of West Florida
Public Library
239 N. Spring Street
P.O. Box 13394
Pensacola, FL 32591-3394
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Come celebrate Friends’ 40th anniversary Oct. 18!
Acclaimed author Michael Morris.
Photo: www.MichaelMorrisbooks.com
The Rapid Readers Trio (L-R): Norman Vickers,
Art Carnrick and Joe Occhipinti will perform.
Photo: Jan Hall (file photo)
Mark your calendar: Book Sale:
Sept. 27-29
Annual Dinner: Oct. 18