JacketFlap connects you to the work of more than 200,000 authors, illustrators, publishers and other creators of books for Children and Young Adults. The site is updated daily with information about every book, author, illustrator, and publisher in the children's / young adult book industry. Members include published authors and illustrators, librarians, agents, editors, publicists, booksellers, publishers and fans. Join now (it's free).
Login or Register for free to create your own customized page of blog posts from your favorite blogs. You can also add blogs by clicking the "Add to MyJacketFlap" links next to the blog name in each post.
Blog Posts by Tag
In the past 7 days
Blog Posts by Date
Click days in this calendar to see posts by day or month
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: volunteering, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 24 of 24
How to use this Page
You are viewing the most recent posts tagged with the words: volunteering in the JacketFlap blog reader. What is a tag? Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find posts on JacketFlap.com as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify posts for later recall. Try adding a tag yourself by clicking "Add a tag" below a post's header. Scroll down through the list of Recent Posts in the left column and click on a post title that sounds interesting. You can view all posts from a specific blog by clicking the Blog name in the right column, or you can click a 'More Posts from this Blog' link in any individual post.
Millions of people across the world work for voluntary organisations and invest their abundant energies into helping their communities. Historically, establishments of voluntary organisations date back to at least the nineteenth century, when some of the world’s largest voluntary organisations, such as the Red Cross, were established to help people in need for free. To date, volunteer work remains a popular activity among the public worldwide.
Tonight is a somewhat rare evening off. Tomorrow begins day one in a new volunteer position as an assistant librarian at Harvard–yep, you read that correctly, Harvard . . . Harvard Elementary, in Northwest Ohio. Wait, before I forget, this month, the entire month, is Picture Book Month. Celebrate Picture Books! I dropped off a …
*Please note that the PPYA and Amazing Audiobooks Committees are virtual. YALSA members with book selection and evaluation experience and who are comfortable working in an online environment with tools like ALA Connect, Google Docs, Skype, etc. should put their names forward for consideration.
Past-President Chris Shoemaker noted in his blog post last month that the YALSA Board adopted a new policy about serving on award committees. Beginning Feb. 1, 2016, any individual who has served on any YALSA award committee will need to wait two years before he or she is eligible to serve on another YALSA award committee. For more information, see this board document from Annual.
If you have been on selection and award committees before, please consider volunteering for the new Selection and Award Committees Oversight Committee (more info can be found in this board document). This new committee needs experienced YALSA members to serve as liaisons and to standardize policies and procedures for selection and award committees.
The Fine Print
Eligibility: To be considered for an appointment, you must be a current personal member of YALSA and submit a Committee Volunteer form by Oct. 1, 2015. If you are appointed, service will begin on Feb. 1, 2016.
If you are currently serving on a selection or award committee and you are eligible to and interested in serving for another term, you must fill out a volunteer form for this round (so I know you're still interested and want to do serve another term)
Qualifications: Serving on a committee or taskforce is a significant commitment. Please review the resources on this web page before you submit a form to make sure that committee work is a good fit for you at this point in time.
We know that volunteering is important for health and well-being among older people. While higher education is known to facilitate volunteerism, much less is known about the role of social networks.
I’ve met very few writers who got excited over the idea of marketing and promotion–and those who did, were typically folks who did that for a living. Maybe it’s an aspect of a creative soul, but it’s not usually something that comes naturally to us. And the thought of pushing our work on others? -shudder-
I’ve always advocated that the best marketing strategies are the things we enjoy doing. Good marketing is all about making connections, and a great way to do that is by helping others. Volunteering is a fun, rewarding, and beneficial way to “promote” without promoting. For example, conferences need volunteers:
To pick up presenters from the airport and assist them during the conference
To help register attendees
To moderate panels and introduce speakers
To work book sale and refreshment tables
To help promote the conference through blog interviews or guest posts with presenters
All of these provide opportunities to meet and network with other local writers as well as industry professionals.
I’d belonged to various writers’ organization prior to selling my first novel, but it wasn’t until I joined my local chapter of SCBWI that I realized how valuable such groups could actually be. Up until then, I’d always been “on the outside,” paying my dues (literally) and attending the occasional conference, but never taking advantage of what the organizations had to offer. In fact, I was so clueless then I didn’t even know there were local chapters of the national groups.
Then I met a fellow author at one of my first book signings, and she encouraged me to check out Southern Breeze, which happened to be having their fall conference a few weeks later. I figured, why not? It was only a two-hour drive away, reasonably priced, and had a fun workshop schedule.
As I was registering, I noticed there was a box marked “want to volunteer?” Again I thought, why not? and checked it. Shortly thereafter someone contacted me, and I was signed up at the registration desk to help folks as they checked in. I spent the morning meeting and greeting other writers in my area and had a fantastic time. I was at that conference alone, but after that one hour I knew the names and faces of half the attendees (those in the M-Z section). What could have been a lonely conference was suddenly more welcoming, and guess what–a lot of those people went over and bought my brand-new book when they found out I was brand-new author.
That experience led me to volunteer to moderate the peer group critiques, then I helped out at the conference bookstore, then I became the bookstore liaison, and eventually the publicity coordinator for the region. Along the way, I’ve met some amazing people–from writers to editors to agents and other industry professionals I wouldn’t have been able to meet had I not be a volunteer. I’ve also had some wonderful opportunities offered to me. Best part of all of this–I had fun. Tons of it.
There lies the beauty of volunteering.
Obviously, volunteering for the sole purpose of promoting and shoving your work down everyone’s throat isn’t going to work (we can all spot a poser, right?); you honestly have to enjoy it. But ultimately, networking is what a professional conference or organization is for–to help the members of that organization advance their careers. You get out what you put into it.
Reasons to Volunteer: The Good Deed Side
Volunteering feels good, it’s helpful, and much appreciated. Many local events run on volunteers, and the more people who help out, the better the event is for everyone.
You’re supporting other writers
You’re sharing the task burden so those who run these events don’t burn out and get overwhelmed
You’re helping your organization raise money to educate writers
It’s a way to pay back any good fortune you’ve received
It’s a way to be part of the community you want to belong in
Reasons to Volunteer: The Business Side
Publishing is a business and these conferences are networking opportunities. The more connected you are, the better your chances of encountering something that can help your career.
Opportunities to meet and interact with authors, agents, editors, and publishers
Opportunities to speak or present workshops
A chance to be considered first (because they know you) when career opportunities present themselves–speaking engagements, awards, writing jobs, etc.
Opportunities to meet other authors who can team up with you to market and promote
Opportunities to promote your own work
Conferences take a lot of work by a lot of people, and they’re wonderful opportunities to connect with fellow writers and industry professionals. Volunteering can be an enormous benefit on both a professional, and a personal level.
Do you volunteer? Share your experiences!
And speaking of conferences…
Calling all kidlit writers and illustrators: Springmingle ’15 Writers’ and Illustrators’ Conference will take place on March 13-15, 2015 in Decatur, GA. Meet editors and agents from industry-leading agencies and publishing houses—and the friendliest, most supportive colleagues one could ever hope to find. Attendees will find nearly a dozen workshop sessions, including: 101+ Reasons for Rejection, Writing La Vida Loca, and Traditional Picture Books in a Digital Age. Visit their website for a complete listing of workshops: https://southern-breeze.scbwi.org/events/springmingle-15/. Presented by SCBWI/Southern Breeze Region.
Janice Hardy is the author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars, where she tapped into her own dark side to create a world where healing was dangerous, and those with the best intentions often made the worst choices. Her novels include The Shifter, Blue Fire, and Darkfall from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. The first book in her Foundations of Fiction series, Planning Your Novel: Ideas and Structure is out now. She lives in Georgia with her husband, one yard zombie, three cats, and a very nervous freshwater eel. Find out more about writing at her site, Fiction University, or find her on Twitter @Janice_Hardy.
Monday kicked off Random Acts of Kindness Week, a time when people are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and do something nice for others. Our picture book, Lend a Hand: Poems About Givingis a collection of poems about different ways to help others. From planting trees to tutoring students, Lend a Hand shows that there are lots of small things you can do to make a big difference in someone’s life.
Lend a Hand: Poems About Giving by John Frank, illus. by London Ladd
Here’s what reviewers are saying about Lend a Hand:
“At once familiar and slightly out of the box, these giving scenes gently suggest that even the smallest acts can inspire and achieve great ends.” –Kirkus Reviews
“In conjunction with home or classroom discussions about social responsibilities, waging peace, or bullying, these instances of individual and collective giving may serve as inspiring models.“–Booklist
“It would be easy for a book with this title to hit readers over the head with its message. Instead, this is a gentle book that will add value to any classroom or library collection.” –School Library Journal
In honor of Random Acts of Kindness Week, we’re offering a 25% off coupon which you can use through February 15. When you’re checking out, use the code KINDNESS. Purchase the book here.
Struggling to think of some ways to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week? Here are ten ways to lend a hand:
We’d love to hear what you’ve been doing for Random Acts of Kindness Week – let us know in the comments below!
1 Comments on “Lending a hand” for Random Acts of Kindness Week, last added: 2/13/2015
This from one of our readers: For An Act of Kindness I’d like to suggest write a letter to a child in a refugee camp or a thank you letter to your favorite teacher rather than a letter to a soldier. Corporate media and the military already do more than enough to idolize soldiers.
Thanks!
Desiree Fairooz
Youth Services Librarian
Columbia Pike Branch
Arlington Public Library
Everyone is emotionally touched by an animal at some point in their lives. For me, having a dog in the house since the day I was born forever cemented canines in my heart. Some people have had terrible experiences with animals, while others can’t live without one. If you’re thinking about getting a dog or cat to add to your family, then I urge you to adopt a pet from your local animal shelter. You’ll not only help an animal in need, you’ll receive something we ALL need—unconditional love.
And now, without further ado, part two of Jan Flores’s heartwarming tail, er tale…
Things have changed at the shelter where I volunteer as a dog walker. It now has a Behavior and Training Department, whose members evaluate the dogs that come in to determine if they have any medical and/or behavior problems before advancing them to the adoption floor. But when I first started, it was just me, the dogs, and a slip lead (For those who don’t know what a slip lead is, it’s a long piece of material about half an inch wide with a metal “D” ring at one end. To use it, you thread the end through the ring, forming a circle that substitutes as a collar. The “slip” of the lead means that it can be adjusted to any size dog). In those early days, I quickly learned that it wasn’t so simple as: put on a leash and go.
I chose to work with the clinic/hospital dogs instead of those already up for adoption because they seemed to be most in need of help and attention. They didn’t know where they were, or why their family had left them behind in a strange place. I wasn’t a familiar face, but I could be a helping hand, letting them know—for the brief time I was there on my volunteer day—that they weren’t alone.
It was an experiment for both of us. In those early days, I had no way of knowing when I entered a kennel what I was about to face. Some dogs “shut down” in depression and turned away; others became aggressive because they were uncertain and scared. But most were so glad to see me that they almost vibrated with excitement. A leash, a leash, we’re going for a walk! I could see it in their faces, and it makes me smile every time. Their joy at such a simple act almost makes me forget why they are here. Almost.
It was a shock to learn that only a minority of the shelter dogs are strays (at least in our shelter); the majority have been brought in by owners with various excuses (see Part I) about why they can’t keep the dog any longer. But one justification I’ll never understand, is “We just don’t want him anymore.”
How can you not want a dog who has been a faithful family member for years? How can you throw him away for someone else to take care of just because he has silver around the muzzle, or cataracts in his eyes, or limbs crippled with arthritis? To see such a dog watching his former family walking away without looking back is simply gut-wrenching.
I always pay special attention to these old dogs. The look in their eyes just breaks my heart.
On a brighter note, here are some of the special dogs I’ve met at the shelter:
HOLLY: (so named because she was found in a parking lot at Christmas). We never knew what happened to this white, bright-eyed little Maltese cross—whether it was abuse, or being hit by a car—that caused paralysis in both hind legs. I admit to mixed emotions when they fitted her with a canine version of a wheelchair. It seemed so unnaturalto me. But when I saw Holly’s joy at being able to race around—sometimes on one wheel—I had to admit that, for her, it was the right prescription.
LEO: a small boxer cross that came from Mexicowith what appeared at first to be a tumor the size of a small grapefruit under his chin. I won’t go into the medical details this dog suffered; suffice to say he became one of the most loved because of his resilience, determination, and sheer refusal to lose to a deadly disease.
STEVIE: a black, blind terrier cross with eyes that looked like silver coins. He was found wandering on a busy thoroughfare. It was a miracle he wasn’t killed. The shelter vet reluctantly determined that it was too late to restore his vision, but he didn’t let his blindness stop him. Whenever he heard the jingle of a harness and a leash, he whirled in circles, eager to go outside for a walk.
CHANCE: a beautiful 25-pound American Eskimo, with the blackest eyes and a blindingly white coat (once he’d had a bath to wash away the street grime). He had many physical problems, but he didn’t let that stop him. Sometimes he just wanted to sit with my arm around him while we watched the world go by.
FLOWER: an abused pit bull with so much potential. Black with a little white on her chest; eyes gleaming with intelligence. We worked hard getting her aggression under control so she could be adopted, only to have her returned in a semi-crazed state with no explanation about what had happened. Despite our best efforts, she quickly developed “shelter stress”, and even though it was the best thing for her, it was a sad day for us all when she was put down. Such a loss for a dog who had tried so hard.
ABBIE: an extremely shy Aussie, with a beautiful “Autumn” coat. She would retreat to the opposite of her kennel and shake when anyone tried to get near her, but with a lot of patience we brought her out of her shell and into a new life.
BRIE: another Aussie. She had to have her front leg amputated because her owner left a home-made, too-tight bandage on and left it on too long, destroying the circulation in that leg. She was a brave and uncomplaining girl who just wanted to be loved. That’s what we gave her—until her new family came along, fell in love, and adopted her.
There are so many more that I could go on and on. They pass through my mind like a fancy shuffle, with the cards falling in a waterfall, moving so fast I can’t see the faces. But I know they were there, and I believe I did my own small part in helping them. What they did for me—and continue to do—is more than I can say.
Janis Flores was born in Montana, and raised in Colorado and California. After graduating from college, she received her license in Medical Technology, married Ray Flores, and they moved to northern California—she to supervise a laboratory, he to establish his horseshoeing business. She found time to take a class on the short story, but instead wrote her first book—a Gothic suspense titled HAWKSHEAD, which was subsequently published in hardcover by (then) Doubleday and company. Thirty-four novels—from historical to contemporary mainstream—followed.
SWEETER THAN WINE, published by Musapublishing.com, is her first ebook.
The award-winning TOUCHED BY FIRE has now been reissued in ebook form.
Animals are near and dear to my heart. In 2007, I had the privilege of working at our local animal shelter. From this experience I got an idea to write a book for my Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls series—a young adult teen psychic series—now in the hands of a few reputable traditional publishers via my agents at Walden House (Books & Stuff). It was through my love of animals that I met fellow author and kindred spirit, Jan Flores, who I found loves our furry friends just as much as me. Jan has had some wonderful experiences, especially with shelter dogs, and I asked her if she’d be so kind as to share them with you. Take it away, Jan…
Five years ago, I walked into our local animal shelter and changed my life forever. It wasn’t easy. In fact, volunteering to walk shelter dogs was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I know that will probably sound silly to a lot of people: after all, what’s the big deal about walking dogs? Put a leash on and go.
For me, it wasn’t that simple. Blessed (or cursed) with a writer’s super-active imagination, I didn’t know what would be waiting behind the reception desk, locked away out of sight of the public. I pictured rows of dogs in wire kennels, unloved, unwanted, dropped off by owners who abdicated responsibility because the dog was sick, or old, or injured, or ill-mannered, or just something to be thrown away becauseit was, after all,only a dog.
I’ll admit it: I was anxious—scared that I’d make a fool of myself by bursting into tears as soon as I saw the dogs; sure that I wouldn’t be able to turn away from all those sad faces, begging for rescue. I was positiveI’d have nightmares about frightened and confused dogs, who didn’t understand what had happened to them, or why.
Then I saw a poster that made me feel like a coward, writing checks to assuage my conscience, donating money instead of time so I wouldn’t have to see what I didn’t want to know. The poster showed a dirty, skinny little dog with a huge chain hanging from a studded collar around a neck that looked too frail to hold it up. I couldn’t look away from the depth of pain and hopelessness I saw in that dog’s eyes. The caption under the picture read:
You might not be able to help all the lost dogs in the world, but you can help the one in front of you.
That day I walked into the shelter and volunteered to walk the dogs.
Janis Flores was born in Montana, and raised in Colorado and California. After graduating from college, she received her license in Medical Technology, married Ray Flores, and they moved to northern California—she to supervise a laboratory, he to establish his horseshoeing business. She found time to take a class on the short story, but instead wrote her first book—a Gothic suspense titled HAWKSHEAD, which was subsequently published in hardcover by (then) Doubleday and company. Thirty-four novels—from historical to contemporary mainstream—followed.
SWEETER THAN WINE, published by Musapublishing.com, is her first ebook.
The award-winning TOUCHED BY FIRE has now been reissued in ebook form.
Everyone at school needs to sign up to do volunteer work for the war effort of some kind and Molly McIntire really wants to join the Junior Red Cross with her friends Susan and Linda. But Emily Bennett, an evacuee from the London Blitz who has been staying with the McIntire's since she arrived in the U.S., wants to volunteer to be a magazine delivery girl at the Oak Knoll Convalescent Hospital. That way, she can visit her Aunt Prim, recovering from pneumonia. Emily was supposed to live with Aunt Prim for the duration of the war, but is living with the McIntire's instead until she recovers.
But before any magazines can be delivered, Emily needs to learn how to ride a bike, since that is their only means of transportation to Oak Knoll. One evening, Molly, Susan and Linda take Emily to a deserted road by the old (haunted?) Greystone Manor. While there, they notice a light in the cellar is on.
Shortly after this, Molly's mother discovers seven 10 pound bags of sugar are missing from the Red Cross office, where they are kept. The supplies are used to bake cookies for the soldiers on the troop trains passing through. Sugar is rationed and can't be replaced. Oddly, Molly overhears a conversation at Oak Knoll that supplies there are missing as well. Could someone be stealing these valuable supplies to sell on the black market?
Surprised, Molly finds she enjoys being a magazine delivery girl and meeting the different patients at Oak Knoll, especially Mrs. Currier, who lives in Greystone Manor. When Mrs. Currier asks Molly to go get her reading glasses from the house, Molly agrees despite being more than a little creeped out. While there with Emily the next day, a black truck pulls up to the house and two men start carrying in packages and putting them in the basement. Trouble is, they forget to put the spare key to the Manor back where it belongs and must return again.
Bringing Linda and Susan with them, Molly and Emily return to the Manor with the key. While there, they decide to look in the basement window and, sure enough, there are the missing bags of sugar from the Red Cross and Oak Knoll.
But who could be doing something like this? Mr. Laurence, who delivers Oak Knoll's laundry, tells Molly to be careful are Marta, a Polish refuge with a young daughter, hinting that the missing items are because of her, but Molly refuses to believe that, especially not after what Auntie Prim says about her.
What to do? Can Molly and her friends actually set a trap to catch the thief before all those supplies disappear on the black market?
The Light in the Cellar is a middle grade novel that is full of adventure and excitement, but of a kinder, gentler nature than many of the WWII books I've reviewed for young readers. For today's readers, though, the amount of freedom 9 year old Molly enjoys to ride her bike and just hang out with her friends may surprise them. I know it did my Kiddo when she read them.
However, there are a few plot holes. How long has Mrs. Currier been at Oak Knoll if Molly and her friends have always thought of Greystone Manor as haunted and falling into disrepair and why didn't Mrs. Currier have her reading glasses already if it has been so long?
Still, the historical facts in the novel are well-researched story by an author who is very familiar with American Girl values and has written a number of books about the historical figures that were the original purpose of the Pleasant Company before it was sold to Mattel.
And my Kiddo learned a lot because American Girl books involving historical figures like Molly McIntire are always written so that they give young readers a good idea of what life might have been like for girls their age, and the mysteries are not different. The Light in the Cellar introduces kids to rationing and ration books, and the black market, to the work of Red Cross volunteers, to plane spotting by kids like Molly's older brother Ricky, and, of course, to scrap collecting - all so much a part of life during WWII.
However, I did like that Molly and Emily got a little testy with each other, showing that sometimes friendships can be strained no matter what the circumstances and letting readers know that Molly, like themselves, isn't perfect. Then again, sometimes the McIntires forgot that Emily wasn't one of them and treated her like another sister, which proved to please her very much.
All of the American Girl historical figures have a series of mystery stories like Molly's, so if your young reader is showing an interest in mysteries and/or history, these are great starter book (and a nice prelude to novels like Nancy Drew and Harriet the Spy among others).
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was purchased for my Kiddo's personal library
0 Comments on The LIght in the Cellar (A Molly Mystery) by Sarah Masters Buckey as of 8/6/2014 9:52:00 PM
The article below was written by Donna Taylor and was printed in 2011 Winter Issue of Sprouts Magazine. I thought everyone would like to read what she wrote.
It’s February. I receive my first email announcing registration for the annual NJ SCBWI Conference held in June. I get that familiar twinge of anticipation. Over the next months, then weeks, then days, conference emails arrive with goodies: updates on conference and faculty, forms for workshop/critique choices, and requests for raffle donations. The email addressing volunteer tasks gives only an “end flap” glimpse of the work behind organizing a conference of this magnitude.
For years I opted against volunteering due to obstacles: distant proximity to the event, health issues, financial restrictions and, like most people, an overflowing to-do list. As an attendee, each year I’d watch smiling volunteers hustling about, wistful to be one of them—to help and be involved.
This year circumstances enabled me to finally say “Yes!” Having done so, I am now a NJ SCBWI volunteer for life! Obstacles? What obstacles? I am hooked and I am not alone! Having surveyed a group of volunteers, from newbies to vets, the common threads make evident what a positive experience it can be.
An overall sense of pride in our New Jersey Chapter trumpets loudly, along with the desire to be helpful to attendees, but especially our fearless leaders, Kathy Temean and Laurie Wallmark, who work hard to benefit our members year-round.
Unlike experiences I’ve had volunteering in other venues, in which ego and power trips reign, this kindred kingdom is one of cooperation and a common sense of purpose. The result is a well-organized, successful and pleasant experience for all.
Being involved in any Chapter event throughout the year expands opportunity to know other members and industry professionals on a more personal level; more relationship “seeds” are likely to be planted. In reference to the nervousness that can accompany meeting editors and agents, Sheri Oshins pointed out becoming more comfortable speaking with them, having realized “they are people too, even though to us, they feel like rock stars!” Volunteering can sometimes get you a “backstage pass.”
As a volunteer, you leave gratified and fulfilled having participated. Kelly Calabrese stated that it “makes you a part of the conference fabric, woven into both the learning and social functions.” In agreement, Janet Hammond “felt like more a part of the conference rather than just a spectator.” Along with others, Beth Ann Bogert acknowledged that “life is much richer when you become involved, richer friendships and community.”
There’s a euphoric essence that permeates a conference which focuses on writing and illustrating for children. Perhaps because, at its heart, the very nature of the industry is to teach, guide and entertain youth. Attending the NJ SCBWI Annual Conference is like visiting Oz; lending a hand lets you behind the curtain. I came away richer, with a treasure chest of new friends, purpose and possibilities. And I second Diana Patton in professing I wouldn’t have wanted to miss the email-of-thanks from “The Appreciation Fairy” (a.k.a. Ame Dyckman)!
Volunteering for our New Jersey Chapter has become a priority on my to-do list.
If you attending the June conference, please look for an e-mail from Donna this week giving you the list of tasks where we need help. Right now I am adding jobs to the list. Even if you told me earlier in the year that you wanted to help this year, please make sure you respond. This has been a crazy year for me and you could have slipped through the cracks very easily.
If you aren’t attending the conference and probably never
1 Comments on Conference Volunteering, last added: 4/17/2012
Thursday, October 6th will be the first-ever National Student Day, created in order to celebrate the volunteer efforts of college students around the country. Here's the scoop from the National Student Day website:
"The goal of this day is to celebrate and promote social responsibility by students across North America! Do you volunteer as a Big Brother or Sister? Help out at a homeless shelter? Are you looking to find ways to give back to society and others? Then this day is for YOU! Your college store wants to recognize the good deeds you do - and encourage your peers who might be looking for a gentle push towards helping others.
"Look no farther. NationalStudentDay.com is your online hub for information about volunteerism, links to social media, and a way to win BIG. College stores will act as the physical location for the main event.
"But that's not all. Students have the opportunity to win huge prizes for the most popular example of volunteerism.
As we get closer to Annual (just 38 days left!), maybe some of you have started to look through the schedule to choose the sessions you want to attend. Did YALSA’s Speed Networking for Librarians catch your eye?
Are you the only teen services librarian at your library? Tired of being lonely and want a simple way to connect with your peers? Attend this informal event to meet colleagues from around the country and exchange practical ideas and information to help you bolster your teen services program.
This program is inspired by the speed dating model of getting to know someone: participants will be divided into smallish groups and seated two groups at a table. Every few minutes, groups will swap tables, giving you a chance to get to know a lot of fellow YALSA members in a more personal way in a short period of time. The event will be on Saturday, June 25th from 1:30 to 3:30pm.
Here’s where you come in: we need volunteers to help facilitate conversations at each table. You’ll be provided with a list of questions and discussion topics ahead of time, so your basic responsibility will just be to keep the conversation going. This is a great chance to dip your toe into volunteering at Annual if you haven’t done that yet and to expand your professional network. It’s also an opportunity for more seasoned YALSA members to help out at an event where new members and students will be present, which will help them feel welcome within our organization.
If you’re interested in being a facilitator, please email me. And if being a facilitator doesn’t sound like you, at least consider participating in the speed networking event!
I have applied for a scholarship to win a volunteer vacation to Salvador, Brazil. And you can help. Please watch my video and vote for me. It's easy to forward to friends, and - yes, it's true - you can vote daily. The more votes I get, the better my chances of winning. Here's the link. http://www.volunteerjournals.com/volunteer-travel-grants/entries/send-andi-brazil
What interested you in doing artwork for TheyDrawAndCook? Do you cook as well as you draw?
Well when I first discovered theydrawandcook I thought the idea of an illustrated cookbook was very cute and unique. It was a great way to get my work looked at and see other illustrators that really inspired me. (The recipes were also very cute and I did try some!)
Im not the greatest cook but I am a very good baker. My last two years of Pratt I used baking as a stress relief from art. I didn’t realize how much I really enjoyed it until recently. I suppose art and baking have always been a large part of my life. When I was growing up my mom taught me how to bake and every night she would read a Golden book to my sister and I. What I would really like is to figure out a way to combine them. I am currently looking into Johnson & Wales cooking school to take a baking class for next January. (Earlier if I can!) I would love to build sets out of baked goods for my children’s books. I’m still working out the kinks but eventually I will find a way to make things work.
What do you use to work with? What tools/materials can you not live without?
Now this is a question I have been trying to figure out for a while now. In the past year I have tried watercolor, collage, acrylic, gouache, ink, etc. Watercolor is my favorite but recently I have been very successful with collage. Two years ago my professor (Rudy Gutierrez) assigned a project that frustrated me to no end. Somehow I ended up with a beautiful mixed media collage of a wolf. I have never been a fan of collage so I stopped only to recently make a few new ones. Katelan Foisey and David Hollenbach have been great inspirations for me in the last few weeks. They do amazing collages that are unlike anything I have ever seen. I don’t feel like I have found what makes me, me yet but I am on my way.
No matter what paper or medium I work with I always feel the need to incorporate watercolor somehow. (It’s not a Heather painting unless there’s transparency!)
What’s your ideal studio environment?
At first I thought it would be at my desk with a pair of headphones and an ipod but now I would say I prefer to be near other people. There is nothing better then working at a table with a group of your friends. Listening to everyone’s stories and corny jokes somehow makes me much more productive.
What kind of volunteer work do you do? How does it inspire you creatively?
January 18, 2010 is the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. This is a day when people around the country are invited to volunteer in their community in order to “do for others.”
Why not get teens and adults in your community involved by working on library projects on January 18? Community members might:
Paint the teen center
Create displays for the teen, children’s, adult, etc. areas of the library
Weed the collection
Weed the library garden
Create video ads for library programs and services
And….
If your library is closed on January 18, don’t let that stop you from participating. Perhaps this is the perfect time for teens and other community members to go inside the library and get some of the work done that can’t happen when customers are there.
If you have questions about using volunteers effectively, check out Carla Land’s recent post on that very topic.
To get involved in United We Serve and the Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service visit Serve.gov.
Pitching in is not hard. A few good friends of mine are abroad teaching and volunteering in foreign countries because they felt they had to “do something”, but you don’t have to go to China or Uzbekistan (bless you, Melanie, Jon, and Bryan) to make a real difference.
VolunteerMatch will help you find local opportunities for you to volunteer by entering your zip code and a keyword like “literacy” or “environment”.
When I can, I volunteer at 826CHI, the Chicago chapter of a national literacy and tutoring organization. It’s almost shameful how rewarded I feel from this supposedly altruistic act. I feel fantastic after just a few hours of 2nd grade spelling. Can watching a couple episodes of “More to Love” make your whole week seem purposeful and joyous? If not, I suggest that those couple hours can be better spent enhancing YOUR life, not to mention your community.
Pitch in! You’ll thank me later.
Recently, MJM Books has become aware of the good work that Maple Star Colorado is doing to “assist young people to achieve social integration and prepare them to live in a democratic society by serving as an alternative to institutional care and providing opportunities to live in family settings.”
In plain English, they place foster kids who may not exactly feel loved, valued, or accepted into families dedicated to helping those children feel exactly that.
That is why we agreed to provide every young foster child with a personalized children’s book that will (1) show them they are special, and (2) give the child and their new caretakers an opportunity to bond and celebrate that specialness during story time.
These families are making up for lost time, and since we firmly believe that strong communities are built upon strong families, we hope to help in our small way.
I don’t want to sound overly patriotic, but I still get all misty when I hear JFK’s famous quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” There are many other inspirational quotes regarding pitching in, but two of the best are “Be the change you want to see in the world” and “Just do it.”
Pitching in is not hard. A few good friends of mine are abroad teaching and volunteering in foreign countries because they felt they had to “do something”, but you don’t have to go to China or Uzbekistan (bless you, Melanie, Jon, and Bryan) to make a real difference.
VolunteerMatch will help you find local opportunities for you to volunteer by entering your zip code and a keyword like “literacy” or “environment”.
When I can, I volunteer at 826CHI, the Chicago chapter of a national literacy and tutoring organization. It’s almost shameful how rewarded I feel from this supposedly altruistic act. I feel fantastic after just a few hours of 2nd grade spelling. Can watching a couple episodes of “More to Love” make your whole week seem purposeful and joyous? If not, I suggest that those couple hours can be better spent enhancing YOUR life, not to mention your community.
Pitch in! You’ll thank me later.
Recently, MJM Books has become aware of the good work that Maple Star Colorado is doing to “assist young people to achieve social integration and prepare them to live in a democratic society by serving as an alternative to institutional care and providing opportunities to live in family settings.”
In plain English, they place foster kids who may not exactly feel loved, valued, or accepted into families dedicated to helping those children feel exactly that.
That is why we agreed to provide every young foster child with a personalized children’s book that will (1) show them they are special, and (2) give the child and their new caretakers an opportunity to bond and celebrate that specialness during story time.
These families are making up for lost time, and since we firmly believe that strong communities are built upon strong families, we hope to help in our small way.
I don’t want to sound overly patriotic, but I still get all misty when I hear JFK’s famous quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” There are many other inspirational quotes regarding pitching in, but two of the best are “Be the change you want to see in the world” and “Just do it.”
Looking for a way to participate in YALSA? Why not join the Partnership Advocating for Teens (PAT) Interest Group? The mission statement of the proposed group is:
To explore, recommend, highlight, and support partnerships between libraries, schools, and other organizations that serve young adults.
Currently PAT is a YALSA committee, but over the next year, we will be transitioning into an Interest Group. As a committee, PAT has regularly sponsored programs at conferences and has published articles. As an Interest Group we will be able to continue to do the same types of activities. Currently Pat is sponsoring the program “It Takes Two: School and Public Libraries, Partnerships that Work” at Annual on Sunday, July 12 from 3:30 – 5:30. We will also have an upcoming article in the Fall issue of YALS.
If you would like to get in on the ground floor of this Interest Group, now is the time to sign up. Just send the following information: name, ALA member number, institution, email, address, and phone number to [email protected]. All we need are 15 current YALSA members to sign our petition in order for us to take our proposal to the YALSA Board.
This is an exciting time for our committee and we hope you will join us on our journey. If you have any questions at all about the Partnerships Advocating to Teens (PAT) Interest Group, please feel free to contact [email protected].
On June 22 the White House is set to launch an initiative tentatively called the Summer of Service. This initiative will be run through the Corporation for National & Community Service and the goal is to encourage Americans to take some time this summer to volunteer in their local communities. One area of focus will be summer reading. Americans will be encouraged to volunteer at their local libraries to help with summer reading and library card registration programs in an effort to prevent the ‘summer slide‘ that many students experience.
While there isn’t much time to prepare, it’s important that librarians, including teen librarians, are ready for an influx of volunteers. If you have experience working with teen or adult volunteers in libraries, please share your successes and tips on YALSA’s wiki. If you’re new to working with volunteers, visit YALSA’s wiki for ideas and also the California State Library’s web site. ALA is also gathering together resources for libraries to support this effort which will be featured in the June 10th issue of AL Direct.
To supplement these efforts, YALSA invites you to tell a story from your own life about a positive library volunteering experience. YALSA is also looking for teens to tell their stories about their experiences volunteering. Visit the YALSA wiki to post your story and invite the teens in your community to visit too to tell about their own volunteerism.
And, if you have some free time this summer, please keep in mind this initiative is a good way for you to get out into the community as a volunteer in programs sponsored by other agencies and organizations.
In the 1960's Senator John F. Kennedy challenged young people to make a difference in the world. The Peace Corpsgrew out of his challenge and since then "more than 195,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 139 host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation."
To give young people a taste for what it is like to be a Peace Corps volunteer the Peace Corps has set up a Peace Corps Challenge website where children can get a feel for what it is like to volunteer in a village in a foreign country. This online game is both entertaining and highly educational. Players will have to deal with water, health, infrastructure, and education problems. Teachers might like to use this invaluable tool in their classrooms to show their students that it is vital that we all do what we can to help people who are less fortunate than we are. Online classroom materials are available to teachers who want to participate.
1. Roar! is off my desk and with my agent. I'm eager to hear his feedback and hope, hope, hope he likes it. Cross your fingers for me.
2. Because Roar! is off my desk I brought my sewing machine to the first grade to help sew memory pillows. They draw on a square of white muslin, pick a calico backing and bring it to parent volunteers to sew it up.
3. Then came home to paint the still incomplete master bathroom. It is green. I love green. But not this green. I think I hate this green. It reminds me of the cinder block walls in my elementary schools or hospital scrubs. But it goes with the green glass mosaic tile that hubby chose and I said yes to. So now I have to live with it. But not for long because...
4. One month until I move.
5. Last night, the parents played against the kids on my son's baseball team. Picture me in deep left field. The crack of the bat. The ball comes soaring in my direction. A high fly ball. I run to it, glove outstretched, closer, closer, "I GOT IT" I shout. Then thunk. It slides right into my glove. I wish I had a clip hear for you to see. Alas there is none. But there are witnesses.
Well...here it is January 11th already. They say "time flies when you're having fun", but I beg to differ. Time is passing me by swiftly and I can assure you I am not having any fun. The last six months have been the hardest and most depressing time in my life, yet, when I look back over the course of that time, it seems like just yesterday that everything fell apart. I have, and am continuing, to stop by my blog as often as time allows. I miss my blog world. It's full of caring and fun people, beautiful artwork and delicious recipes and photos. I have made friends through this electronic journaling system. Friends that email me their best wishes and even send me Christmas presents and Christmas cards. All of which were truly appreciated and helped me make it through this terrible holiday season.
Originally, I started this blog for two reasons...1) I love to write and journal and 2) To promote my artwork. By accident alone, it's turned into so much more than that. There's a community here. Groups of folks who promote each other's artwork and blogs. People who support each other during dark times. It's rather curious, to say the least, that you can get to know someone without physically touching them, hearing their voice or even smelling them. It's a modern day oddity, but it's a lovely reality all at once.
I recently had a look back at some of my old blog posts. They were full of flowers and lightness and color. How I miss those Spring mornings snapping photos of dew drops on my garden, with the intentions of showing those photos on my blog. It was my way of sharing the sights and sounds and smells of my garden with my blog friends. How I miss stopping by my friends' blogs and enjoying their lives.
I had no intentions of blogging about my troubles this morning when I woke up. But, I feel so lonely and detatched from everyone and everything that my heart drew me here. So....I will share just a little of the last 6 months with you. Not so you will feel sorry for me, not so you will take pity on me. I don't want to be "poor poor Kim". But I will share a little with you because you're my friends and I need someone to talk to.
Alright, here it is. About six months ago, my mom took a fall. We already knew she had an end stage disease and was weak. This particular disease can cause Gastrointestinal bleeding, which is why my mom was weak. She was bleeding internally but didn't realize it. When she was released from the hospital, she was put on hospice care. My husband and I became responsible for the costs that she couldn't cover. She's a senior on a very limited budget and we have always helped her cover her extra. But the hospital copay and ambulance copay were more than we expected. It had to be paid before she could go onto hospice care. So...we paid it. The only money we had to pull from was our mortgage money. And that's when the landslide started. We went into default on the house and are still desperately trying to keep our home. We are on countless payment plans with our utilities and are constantly trying to keep our electricity on. Our home phone and cell phones have been turned off and we are using "Tracfones". They're little cell phones that you buy and pay seperately for your minutes. I've been forced to sell some of my dearest treasures and my husband is rabidly trying to find a better paying job. At the moment, we are struggling to keep our car insurance paid for so my husband can safely drive to work and back. Our house is quiet these days. Too quiet. Quiet with worry. My husband and I have had some personal struggles through our 20 years together, but never anything like this. There's so much resentment and panic and guilt. I feel guilty because I chose to stay home with my kids and homeschool them from the beginning. Had I taken a job many years ago, maybe we wouldn't be in this situation. My husband is guilt-ridden due to the fact that he feels like he can't support his own family.
It just seems like once you get into a position like this, you can't pull yourselves out. The later your bills are, the higher the penalties. We just missed having our water turned off this last Tuesday. I sold just enough art work on ebay to run to the water company and pay the bill in person. That money was suppose to be for food. It's a big hideous Merry Go Round from Hell.
So, we're struggling along within this all-consuming night-mare....and my mom calls me last Monday: she's fallen again. I knew that she had been weak over the last week or so and a little confused. I informed her hospice nurse, and we were keeping a close eye on her. She managed to fall in her bathroom and make her way back to her bed. I made my way over there to find her confused and pale. I called her hospice nurse and he came right over. She was dehydrated. We decided to call 911 and get her to the hospital to replenish her fluids. Another Emergency room co-pay, another hospital stay and another ambulance co-pay. She ended up by being severly dehydrated, has pnemonia and a urinary tract infection. Off to the pharmacy to buy her antibiotics. She's here now. Coming along fairly well, but weak. I'm having a really hard time taking care of her right now because I'm so overwhelmed and depressed I can hardly pull myself out of bed in the morning.
Now, I know that families and folks have their ups and downs, and believe me, we've had our share of downs through the years, but nothing like this.
The hardest part for me is the fact that my faith has been shaken to the bone. I have never felt so betrayed by God before. I've had my heart broken many times through my life but never by God. I feel abandoned and alone and I don't think he is paying me any mind at all. I never realized how hard it would be to get up in the morning without God in your life. I reckon that's because I never thought he would leave me. People tell me he's still with me, but I don't feel it. I can't find him in anything I do anymore. There's a complete emptiness and silence. Even through past struggles, I could always feel him sort of hanging around, keeping me strong and hopeful. I do believe he's left me now and I want him to come back, but he doesn't seem to hear me. Is it in his glorious plan for my family, my children, to be homeless? Is it in his glorious plan for this family to fall apart? I can't make any sense out of any of this.
We are in the position that we're in because we helped my mom. Because we did what we thought we should. She has no one else to help her. I'm her daughter and I did the best I could. Now, my family is running the risk of losing everything. What kind of sense does that make?
Please, let me take this opportunity to apologize if I offended anyone with my ramblings about God. I surely didn't mean to. I am just a sad and desperate girl looking for answers and hope...
Thank you so much for continuing to stop by my blog. And thank you for understanding why I haven't been able to peek into your blog worlds as much as I would like to.
Maybe tomorrow I'll feel a little better. I have some pictures of my newest work to post, but I'm too tired for that right now.
Things always seem the bleakest when you are dealing with $$ problems.
I am sure that your children and your mother are ever grateful for the sacrifices that you are making for them.
Does your church do any benevolence?
debbie said, on 1/11/2008 6:04:00 PM
wow kim. your blog made me incredibly sad. i'm am glad that you have your blog friends to vent to. i wish i could help more. i really wish that you would consider coming back to bible study. the ladies in our group really, really care about you. it is supposed to be a safe place to discuss your feelings and any questions (or anger) about god with people who understand. i can't help but think about the old footprints in the sand story--when there are only one set of footprints in the sand it is when god is carrying you (even though you may not know it). that's what us friends are for- keeping you lifted up when you can't lift yourself up right now. talk to you soon?! or i will just keep sending messages to you through gary! :)
debbie
BlueJude said, on 1/12/2008 9:20:00 AM
My prayers go out to you and your family Kim. Maybe try reading some scripture to feel the presence of God once again. God Bless You and your Mom. Be strong and keep the faith!
Cris Melo/Meloearth said, on 1/12/2008 2:21:00 PM
What a bummer. I'm wishing you will be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon. Breathe, focus on the present. Know that you are equipped with what you need to deal with whatever comes your way, but you must have a clear mind.
Ayala Art said, on 1/12/2008 10:23:00 PM
Kim, when life gets crazy, your faith is one the thing to hold on to. Have you read the footprints poem? I think it applies here. :o)
I emailed you from the doll group, but maybe you did not get my note?
My best wishes, positive energy and prayers from me to you.
Marie said, on 1/12/2008 11:03:00 PM
Kim I am so sorry that you are going through this now. I love you and am praying for you and for your family. God loves you too, even if you can't always feel His presence. Just know He is there and trust in that. This too shall pass, and you will emerge the other end stronger for having endured this trial. I wish I could so much more to help you out. Just know that you are being carried about in prayer. Marie http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/
MaryAnn said, on 1/13/2008 5:47:00 AM
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. It is a hard place to be where you are.
.jpg?picon=590)
.jpeg?picon=3225)
This from one of our readers: For An Act of Kindness I’d like to suggest write a letter to a child in a refugee camp or a thank you letter to your favorite teacher rather than a letter to a soldier. Corporate media and the military already do more than enough to idolize soldiers.
Thanks!
Desiree Fairooz
Youth Services Librarian
Columbia Pike Branch
Arlington Public Library