| Coming Soon... |
| Friday, Apr 19 |
| All Day | Tickets on Sale Now for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!" |
| Saturday, Apr 20 |
| All Day | Tickets on Sale Now for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!" |
| All Day | The 7th Annual Crafty Chicks Spring Market |
| All Day | Big Plans at Big Trees State Park for Earth Day! |
| All Day | The Big Used XC Ski Sale Starts April 20th at Bear Valley Adventure Company! |
| All Day | Huge Savings at Millworkz Inventory Reduction Sale Every Saturday! |
| 09:00 AM | Spring Cleaning Time at Shred Fest 2024 on April 20th |
| 01:00 PM | Celebration of Life for Robyn Victoria Williams |
| 05:00 PM | Fundraiser Dinner at VFW San Andreas |
| Sunday, Apr 21 |
| All Day | Tickets on Sale Now for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!" |
| All Day | Big Plans at Big Trees State Park for Earth Day! |
| All Day | The Big Used XC Ski Sale Starts April 20th at Bear Valley Adventure Company! |
| All Day | Our Sunday Edition with Local Features, Local Specials & More Every Sunday All Day Long! |
| 09:00 AM | Get Ready to Run in the 2024 Mr. Frog's Wild Run on April 21st. |
| 11:30 AM | The 11th Annual Mountain Ranch Chili Cook Off! |
| Monday, Apr 22 |
| All Day | The Big Used XC Ski Sale Starts April 20th at Bear Valley Adventure Company! |
| Tuesday, Apr 23 |
| All Day | The Big Used XC Ski Sale Starts April 20th at Bear Valley Adventure Company! |
| Wednesday, Apr 24 |
| All Day | The Big Used XC Ski Sale Starts April 20th at Bear Valley Adventure Company! |
| Thursday, Apr 25 |
| All Day | The Big Used XC Ski Sale Starts April 20th at Bear Valley Adventure Company! |
| Friday, Apr 26 |
| All Day | The Big Used XC Ski Sale Starts April 20th at Bear Valley Adventure Company! |
| All Day | HCO Sledfest 2024 is April 26-28 at Bear Valley |
| Saturday, Apr 27 |
| All Day | Come Celebrate Calaveras’ Spring Wine Weekend |
| All Day | The Big Used XC Ski Sale Starts April 20th at Bear Valley Adventure Company! |
| All Day | HCO Sledfest 2024 is April 26-28 at Bear Valley |
| All Day | Huge Savings at Millworkz Inventory Reduction Sale Every Saturday! |
| Sunday, Apr 28 |
| All Day | Come Celebrate Calaveras’ Spring Wine Weekend |
| All Day | The Big Used XC Ski Sale Starts April 20th at Bear Valley Adventure Company! |
| All Day | HCO Sledfest 2024 is April 26-28 at Bear Valley |
| All Day | Our Sunday Edition with Local Features, Local Specials & More Every Sunday All Day Long! |
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Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 04/26/2007 10:24 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 04/26/2007 10:45 PM
Expires: 01/01/2012 12:00 AM
:
Murphys Volunteer Library Annual Meeting April 26, 2007...The Board President’s Report~By Mary Scott
Murphys, CA...If the story of Murphys Volunteer Library’s 2006-07 year were fiction, what kind would it be? Would it be a swashbuckling adventure story, a tale of mythical deeds, or a science fiction story? Perhaps it was a bit of all of those...
In some ways it could be described as a Dickens novel, with lots of characters and some very lengthy plot lines. At the center of this plot was a cadre of earnest board members, bound and determined to increase the library’s reputation as a haven of learning and reading pleasure for all citizens, especially the young. In the Dickensian tradition, the hardy little band of library volunteers also reached out to the children of the community, offering story times, and voting to fund the purchase of Young Reader Books. Not every heroic effort was rewarded with success. A therapy dog failed to materialize for a hoped-for series of story times, but still our heroes persisted, and the numbers of children at story time steadily increased. And, on one fine October day, three second-grade classes from Michelson Elementary--62 children in all—visited the library to learn of its treasures.
Of course, as Charles Dickens might say, it was not the best of years, but it was not the worst of years. Woven throughout was the struggle of not quite epic proportions over the fate of the library’s flag pole. The little board couldn’t light the flag pole because to do so would cause a revolution among their stargazing neighbors. And meanwhile, the patriots of the community were clamoring for some dignity for the poor shredded flag that hung upon it in limbo, because it could be neither lowered nor raised. Our heroes literally couldn’t give the flag pole away. The veterans group who had said they would gladly move the flag pole to Murphys Park became entangled in a huge ball of red tape. And then, one hot August day, upon peering out their window, what should the board members see, but a new flag waving from the pole. How did it get there? Who braved the heights of the pole to put it there? The mystery was solved in September when our heroes learned of a valiant volunteer, Phil Hoxie, who replaced the flag as a personal project. The board never asked how Phil ascended the pole. They simply didn’t want to know. They were pleased to see, by the end of the year, a drawing that laid out plans for a veterans’ memorial in the park, the centerpiece of which would be the library’s very own flag pole. So as the final chapter of the novel closed, this particular plot element was left in some suspense, but not without a great deal of promise.
The 2006-07 year for Murphys library could also be a Ray Bradbury story, taking its heroes on a quest for free community wireless access, only to discover that their hoped-for friendly galaxy was rife with spy monsters and spam monsters. They discovered that it would require the mighty army of Central Library to tame these terrible beasts by installing a galaxy-wide system to establish Internet peace and tranquility. Ever looking toward the future, however, our heroes did opt to buy a second high-speed computer and printer, to enable more patrons to experience the vastness of the Internet within the walls of the Murphys Library. They bought a magic code reader wand to better serve their patrons at check-out, and they even bought a shredder robot to guard the confidentiality of their patrons.
The search for a new branch assistant and the eternal search for volunteers could be the eternal quest for the perfect hero, as seen by the great Joseph Campbell in so many mythic stories. Would the board be able to find a branch assistant of heroic talents sufficient to match the Herculean accomplishments of Branch Assistant Mary Millar, who retired in August? After a lengthy search, such a talent was found in January– Chris Sellman, a worthy successor.
There are nine thrones in the mythical monarchy of the library board. From time immemorial, it seems, there have never been nine kings or queens all serving actively at the same moment. One candidate was chosen as worthy, but like Icarus, she experienced meltdown during the Duck Races, and fell disastrously out of the sky. Meanwhile, two hero board members chose to become stars in the constellation of past library board members – Ron Klass and Jane Hampel. Their legends will live long after their presence on the board, and they may yet come out of the sky on occasion to assist the heroes. But would the little band of brave monarchs be able to defy the monsters of community volunteer overload and apathy to find some worthy heroes to place monarchs upon all the thrones? Throughout the summer and fall, the board continued its search, happily finding in January two initiates into the mysteries of library service: new board members Brigid O’Donoghue, and Liz Armstrong. And in early April, like the promise of spring itself, the heroic Mary Millar chose to return to the library, filling the eighth of nine thrones designated for board members. The band of board members continues its search to this day for the ninth monarch to take his or her place among the others.
The monarchs set many a volunteer knight on special quests during the year, organizing sale books, dusting shelves, and creating a better atmosphere for the patrons. Sir Jack Reed won a second knighthood for constructing a beautiful case for the library’s new Life Member plaques. He magically fashioned both from a black walnut tree salvaged from the construction of Feeney Park. And the board granted a knighthood to Dame Claire Tabler, a volunteer at the desk of stellar talent, who chose to take on the mission of a paying job. Dame Peg Reed, a former monarch, returned to the throne of current treasurer Molly Evans during Molly’s great journey to the land of Maine. And twenty-two volunteers conducted the great race of the Ducks, creating the largest amount of treasure ever accumulated by the monarchs of Murphys Library. This great feat was accomplished with magical gifts donated by businesses in Murphys and greater Calaveras County. The family of one Knight of the Library, Terry Gonser, donated a princely sum to the library in Dame Terry’s memory, so that the library could purchase new books for the library system. The monarchs of the Murphys Library also found great allies in the Murphys Community Club and the Murphys Business Association. Michal Houston of the Community Club has been a great ambassador from her kingdom to the Murphys Kingdom. Additionally, the library monarchs strengthened their alliance with the great dominion of the Central Library, paying the greatest respect to Central Library Monarch Maurie Hoekstra. The Murphys monarchs even sponsored a team of three knights, The Literati, who entered Queen Maurie’s great tournament of trivia and won the highest honor there.
The 2006-07 year for Murphys Library could also be seen as a great story of pioneers, those willing to try new ideas. Board member Dave Self struck gold by setting up a special shelf featuring local writers. Board member Ninfa Wood and Branch Assistant Chris Selman began an exploration for a new or remodeled circulation desk. They have the wise guidance of Murphys Business Association President and Architect Michelle Plotnik. Board member Kim Plowman continues on her quest to convert the plain walls of the upstairs room into a magical display of art. Board member Brigid O’Donoghue is taking on the challenge of reaching out to recruit volunteers as did Jan Hampel.
The saga continues . . . the heroes persevere. The Murphys Volunteer Library is ready to write the sequel to its 2006-07 year with an even more successful year to come. Without our members and volunteers--our heroes--the story could never be told.
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