Monthly Highlights-December 2024

Please visit: swlfriends.org

FRIENDS OF THE SOUTH WHATCOM LIBRARY BOARD MEETING

Please join us to learn about library events and services.

Date:      Monday, December 16, 2024

Time:      6:30-8:00 pm

Where:   South Whatcom Library, Gate 2

Note: This meeting and future FoSWL meetings will be held in the adult meeting room of the library. Because the library is closed on Mondays, you will not use the main entrance. Please join the meeting through the side entrance by the library parking lot.

Our mission is to enhance library services through support and advocacy,

raising awareness of the library’s value in our community.

Please see attached meeting agenda for details about our upcoming meeting.

NOTE TO OUR FRIENDS:

Holiday greetings to all of you! Your Friends of South Whatcom Library board would like to wish all of you the best of the season.

Additionally we want to share that our board has had some changes for the coming year. After our Annual Meeting in November we had two of our Executive Board members step away from their positions and we welcomed two new Executive Board members in their places! Please join us in thanking our dear friends Deb Wibe and Nancy Wyen for their years of tireless service to our library and board! We are so fortunate that they will be staying on to work on some of our committees and lend their expertise to the board. In their place, please help us welcome Kristin DeSalvio and Ray Meador, joining as President and Vice President. We have one additional board member joining as well, Sarah McMenamin. We are looking forward to a wonderful year to come and want to thank all of you for being part of what makes our library so special.

SOUTH WHATCOM LIBRARY

STOCKING STUFFER BOOK SALE!

Saturday, Dec 14 from 10am-4pm.

Happy Holidays!

The Friends of South Whatcom Library are currently accepting

Membership sign-ups and renewals for the upcoming calendar year; Jan-Dec 2025

The Friends of South Whatcom Library would like to express our deepest gratitude for your

continued membership and support. Over the past year, your involvement in South Whatcom Library events, your Friends annual member dues, and your generous donations have enabled us to:

• Raise awareness about our South Whatcom Library here in Sudden Valley

• Provide monthly CreativiKits to children throughout the school year

• Develop programs that benefit both children and adults within Geneva, Glenhaven & Sudden Valley

• Provide South Whatcom Library funding not available through the Whatcom County Library System.

 We ask you to renew today, or sign up for the first time, for the Jan-Dec 2025 calendar year and continue being part of Friends of South Whatcom Library, retaining access to benefits such as discounts during FoSWL Member Shopping Day at Village Books and Paper Dreams and participation in the annual Whatcom Grooves concerts and special events, and more.

To renew your membership for the Jan-Dec 2025 calendar year, you can submit your application and payment online at:  https://swlfriends.org/   Or ask your South Whatcom Librarian to assist you with our membership application form and dues payment.

If you have any questions about Friends of South Whatcom Library, the renewal process, or would like to provide feedback regarding your experience with Friends of South Whatcom Library, please contact our Board of Directors Membership Chair, Ray Meador, at frndsofswlibrary@gmail.com

Thank you once again for your commitment to Friends of South Whatcom Library and South Whatcom Library. We look forward to serving you for another year!

UPCOMING SOUTH WHATCOM LIBRARY EVENTS

RESCHEDULED!

Author Showcase Featuring Dena Weigel: The Byzantine Cross In-Person, Wednesday, December 11 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. (In-Person, Registration Required)

Join us at the South Whatcom Library for a series of events featuring local authors discussing topics connected to their work as writers — identity, connection to language and books, the writing process, and excerpts from their writing. Each event will be unique and offer the opportunity to join the conversation. The series continues with local author Dena Weigel and her book THE BYZANTINE CROSS.

About the book:

It’s 1950s, New York City, and former spy Sarah Kraft thought she’d left her dangerous past behind her. But when her former boss from the Office of Strategic Services tracks her down to convince her to accept a new mission — steal the ancient Byzantine Cross from the Kremlin — she’s dragged back into the world of espionage.

Once in Moscow, Sarah is joined by, Nicolai Rodzyanko, a Russian double agent arranged to assist her on her mission. The duo soon realizes they are not the only ones after the mysterious cross. As they dig deeper into the history behind the oldest known biblical relic, they discover it’s far more than a simple artifact. Sarah starts questioning the motives of her boss and the agency she once trusted and when supernatural forces come into play, she must make a decision that could change the course of history.

About the author:

Dena Weigel was born and raised in Western Kansas, where her active curiosity stoked her growing imagination. Known for her excellent daydreaming abilities, Dena loves finding the rhythm and emotional punch of a great sentence. She has studied art and culture in over thirty countries and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She now resides in the Pacific Northwest, building a career writing for businesses and non-profits. Dena enjoys hiking with her husband and daughter, painting, and relaxing on her deck with a cup of coffee and a great book. She is currently working on the next Sarah Kraft novel, The Argentinian Affair.

Registration is required as space is limited. Please register at: WCLS.org.

https://wcls.libcal.com/event/12851407

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South Whatcom New Year’s at Noon (Young Children, In-Person)

Tuesday, Dec 31 from 11:30am – 12:30pm

Celebrate the New Year with stories and activities at South Whatcom Library. Watch balloons drop at noon and dance the hour away. It’s sure to be a blast! For young children and their families. 

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Patron Appreciation Day (All Ages, In-Person)

Friday, Jan 10 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Join us at the South Whatcom Library for our annual Patron Appreciation Day sweet potluck! Bring a baked treat to contribute or just enjoy the hot cider and goodies outside of the library; we would love to see you.  This Patron Appreciation Day is hosted by the Friends of the South Whatcom Library in recognition of our wonderful community of engaged readers.  If you would like to donate a sweet treat finger food, please let the South Whatcom Librarians know.

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Kids’ Self-Care Day (Kids, In-Person)

Saturday, Jan 11 from 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Join us for a program grounded in self-awareness, self-expression, and self-care. Celebrate who you are during this mini spa day. You can get creative with a mindful craft activity, visit our temporary tattoo station and library nail salon. You can be anything and everything by just being yourself. Who do you want to be?

RECURRING MONTHLY EVENTS:

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Valley Book Club (Adults, In-Person)

The first Friday of the month from 2:00-3:00pm 

Next meeting: Friday, Jan 3, 2025


Join us at the South Whatcom Library on the first Friday of each month to share your current read and hear about great new titles from others. This is a “choose your own” style book club where members will introduce others to their next favorite! Registration is required as space is limited. First-time attendees, please register for January 3 at: https://wcls.libcal.com/event/12472069

Looking for inspiration? Each month you can participate in our optional reading challenge; find and read a title related to the theme.  January’s reading challenge is “Hibernation”.

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Crafting Community (Adults, In-Person)

The first Wednesday of the month from 5:00pm – 7:00pm 

Next meeting: Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025

Drop in to the South Whatcom Library with your favorite arts and crafts and spend some time creating alongside other crafters. Stitch, hook, paint, draw, all while connecting with others.

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WCLS “What We’re Reading” Book Club (Online, Registration Required):

The first Wednesday of the month from 7:00-8:00pm  

Next meeting: Wednesday, January 8

If you love to talk about what you’re reading, here’s a club just for you! What We’re Reading Book Club is for folks who love to share books they’ve enjoyed and hear about great new titles from others. We meet online via Zoom on the first Wednesday of the month to share our titles and listen to others’ recommendations. Lead by South Whatcom Library branch manager Liz Andre.

Registration is required to receive the link to the Zoom meeting. Participants will receive the list of titles shared via email. Please register for Jan 8 at: https://wcls.libcal.com/event/13168048

This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email. NOTE: We will meet on the second Wednesday in January due to New Year’s Day falling on the first.

FRIENDS OF THE SOUTH WHATCOM LIBRARY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Date: MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2024

Time: 6:30PM – 7:30PM

SOUTH WHATCOM LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM

DECEMBER AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Quorum Call

BOD: Kristin de Salvio, Sara McMenamin, Diane Devlin, Gena Evola, Alma Deckert

Alexander, Catherine Martin Dunlop, Ray Meador, Sandi Mitchell, Nancy Wyen

ABSENT:

GUESTS:

3. Approve Agenda

4. Approval of Minutes – November 18, 2024

5. Treasurer’s Report – November 2024

6. Committee Reports

a. Resource & Development – Kristin

i. Scheduled Meeting 12/13 2:45-4:30

a. Concert Committee –

b. Membership Committee – Ray Meador

i. Giving Day membership signup

a. Marketing Committee – Jes Stugelmayer

7. South Whatcom Library – Liz Andre, Manager

8. Old Business

9. New Business

a. Membership drive/Planning Patron Appreciation Day Sweet Potluck

b. WCLS PAC donation

c. FoSWL brochure updates, printing

j. Public Comment

k. Adjourn

Future Board of Directors Meetings at South Whatcom Library!

Dates: 2025 January 20, February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19

Time: 6:30 PM

Note: The December 16 meeting and future FoSWL meetings will be held in the adult meeting room of the library. Because the library is closed on Mondays, you will not use the main entrance. Please join the meeting through the side entrance by the library parking lot.

Friends of South Whatcom Library is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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