March 14, 2024 PI DAY!!!
Alpha Zeta met on this warm, spring evening, at the Washington County Public Library. This THURSDAY meeting was attended by 20 members.
Our hostesses, Heidi M and Theresa H, greeted everyone, collected money for dinner, and had our little room all decorated for St. Patrick's Day! Great job, you two!
Arriving and getting settled...
It looks so festive! And we love those happy faces!
Madame President, Cynthia B, called the meeting to order and took care of the first orders of business.
Thoughts for the day...
Peggy L told a story often retold by Les Brown, one of the nation's most recognized motivational speakers. His message for our students: "You have greatness within you," was inspired by his own struggles to learn. He had that ONE teacher who really recognized the potential in him and helped him overcome the low expectations of others.
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Cynthia B told us some of the history of PI DAY, March 14. Many of us didn't know that it was Einstein's birthday. Further, who knew that 𝝅 was already familiar to the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians in 2000BC?
And....Cynthia brought us some PIE to enjoy after the program. Yay! |
Our Program: What the Washington County Public Library has to offer... You thought all you could do was check out books???
Sally Jones, Public Services Librarian for the WCPL, presented a thorough and interesting program. We really enjoyed learning about all that the WCPL offers to those who have a library card. Here are several examples:
So get to your local library and start using all of these wonderful, (mostly) FREE services!
- You can obtain books from any member of the Holston Associated Libraries, Inc., through the WCPL.
- Services include copying, a notary public (free), faxing, scanning, geneology (in person only--not online), advising readers
- Using the LEARN tab on the main library's webpage, you can access Consumer Reports, take challenging and continuing-education-certified classes of all kinds using Universal Class, and many other items.
- The Library of Things offers all sorts of items you can borrow, from garlic presses to microscopes.
- Interlibrary Loan allows you to borrow a book from virtually anywhere in the country for only $3.
- The electronic library has three apps that you'll enjoy: Libby (for borrowing the latest books and audiobooks), Hoopla (for books, audiobooks, movies, and music), and Kanopy (for documentaries and films--some obscure).
- Sally really recommended Hoopla highly. It's very user-friendly and lower-cost to the library than e-books borrowed through Libby.
- Children's programming is ongoing all year long.
- There's genrefication (a new word for me), which has all of the books on a certain topic grouped together so children can find them easily.
- The Imagination Library (parents can sign up at the library if they missed it at the hospital) provides a book every month for a child under around 5 years old.
- Outreach programs take the library services to Memory Care facilities, nursing homes, and daycare centers.
- Book groups can borrow a set of 10 books with discussion questions.
- There's yoga, crafting, movies for grown-ups...the list goes on and on.
So get to your local library and start using all of these wonderful, (mostly) FREE services!
Maureen M (left) is celebrating SEVEN years being cancer-free!! Carol P (right) is celebrating her birthday (which she shares with Albert Einstein)! We celebrate along with you two and send our affection and congratulations!
Old and New Business...
Don't forget to sign up for the Leadership Development Seminar at UVA-Wise in April! Log onto the VSO website at https://www.va-state.org/ and look for the Members tab. Click Dates to Remember and look for April. There's a link to the registration form there.
Other items:
1. Dues are now $110. Please make your check out to Alpha Zeta and get it to Judi L, your treasurer, before the end of May. Judi will be at UVA-Wise in April and at the May meeting in Gate City. You can also mail it to Judi L at her address (in your yearbook).
2. The E & H Maker Space is very popular! If you are interested in donating items, please bring them to any meeting. New suggestions are for soft floor mats, jigsaw puzzles, a room heater, and comfy chairs. Instructional items (construction paper, expo markers, crayons, etc.) are always appreciated.
3. Be sure to nominate a future educator for our annual scholarship. She must be a resident of Washington County, Scott County, or the city of Bristol to qualify. She should be a rising junior or senior in college or pursuing a masters or doctorate degree and planning to be an educator. The Marion Stafford Scholarship form can be found on this website under "Helpful Links."
1. Dues are now $110. Please make your check out to Alpha Zeta and get it to Judi L, your treasurer, before the end of May. Judi will be at UVA-Wise in April and at the May meeting in Gate City. You can also mail it to Judi L at her address (in your yearbook).
2. The E & H Maker Space is very popular! If you are interested in donating items, please bring them to any meeting. New suggestions are for soft floor mats, jigsaw puzzles, a room heater, and comfy chairs. Instructional items (construction paper, expo markers, crayons, etc.) are always appreciated.
3. Be sure to nominate a future educator for our annual scholarship. She must be a resident of Washington County, Scott County, or the city of Bristol to qualify. She should be a rising junior or senior in college or pursuing a masters or doctorate degree and planning to be an educator. The Marion Stafford Scholarship form can be found on this website under "Helpful Links."