Friends of Tennessee Libraries

A Day Spent with Friends in Dover, TN: The Annual Meeting

Among Friends of Tennessee Libraries’ BFF (Best Friends Forever) the Friends of Stewart County Library stand tall.

Members of the Stewart County Friends took on the daunting task of planning and managing the FOTL annual meeting in Dover on Saturday, May 4, for a couple of reasons:

• They live in a beautiful part of Tennessee, and they wanted the rest of us to share it.
• They wanted to demonstrate what a small group of Friends can accomplish.

They succeeded admirably on both counts: an engaging program, great food, astonishing door prizes, and hospitality that will be talked about for a long time.

Volunteers Recognized for Contributions to Friends

Setting the bar high among volunteers, four individuals and one couple were recognized for their contributions to their local Friends at FOTL’s 2013 annual meeting.

Certificates of appreciation and an award of $100 went to Carol Clark Harris of the Friends of the McIver’s Grant Public Library in Dyersburg; Marie and Bob Harris of the Blount County Friends in Maryville; Wanda Jared of the Putnam County Library Friends in Cookeville; Dwight Shepherd of the Friends of the Kodak Library, part of the Sevier County Public Library System; and Bev Vogelzang of the Friends of the Vonore Public Library.

More Photos From the Annual Meeting

1. Friends of the Stewart County Library invited FOTL to the Visitor’s Center in Dover on May 4.
2. Stewart County Mayor Rickie D. Joiner and Friends Mary Ann Jordan and Mary Lou Easter welcomed the group.
3. Catherine Whitehead of International Book Rights explained how the company finds, negotiates with, and protects the rights of American writers around the globe.
4. Eileen Wirsig, CPA, advised Friends to simplify the operation of their 501(c)(3) organization.
5. Patsy Caldwell recounted how her love of cooking and entertaining led to her second career as cookbook author.
6. Cate Beauman revealed why and how she came to self-publish four novels which are available through Amazon.
7. A trip to the lovely Stewart County Library was a lunchtime treat.
8. Panelists Susan Hubbs (Benton County), Gerald Beavers (Montgomery County), Kathy Mauldin and Jackie Starcher (Stewart County), and Donna Winders and Connie McSwain talked about how they routinely take care of Friends’ business.
9. FOTL President Susie Ries joined Stewart County Friends Mary Lou Easter and Marie Wallace in admiring some of the many door prizes offered throughout the day by Stewart County Friends, gracious and well-organized hosts of the annual meeting.