Education, humor and music mark Rockwall library meetings

Looking back at Friends of the Library programs for 2013-14

Program co-chairs Becky Achenbach (L) and Darlene Bealmear (R), look on as Dave Lieber, Dallas News columnist, displays posters for his website and book.

ROCKWALL COUNTY, TX (April 21, 2014) A year of informative and entertaining programs will culminate May 13 when Friends of the Rockwall County Library holds the last meeting of the year at 11 a.m. in the Community Room of the Rockwall County Library.

Music lovers will have a chance to preview of the Rockwall Summer Musicals with a vignette of Broadway tunes from this year’s productions.  Rogers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” will open June 26 with performances through June 29th followed by the Cole Porter favorite, “Anything Goes” from August 14-19.

According to RSM organizers, their mission is to “produce plays and conduct intergenerational theatrical workshops from May to August each year.  We pair students with working artisans in our community and believe this unique mentoring instructional approach provides an educational experience that cannot be duplicated during the school year.”  For more information, see rockwallsummermusicals.org.

Consumer education was featured at the recent April Lunch Basket fundraising luncheon.  Guests heard an informative and often humorous program by Dave Lieber, an investigative columnist focusing on wrong-doing and right-doing in businesses and governments.  Lieber writes the popular twice-a-week  “Watchdog” column in the Dallas Morning News.  His website is WatchdogNation.com.

At the September 2013 meeting, a program “Defenders of Freedom” honored World War II.  Several local area veterans of WW II were guests at the luncheon, including long-time Friends member Jim Baird.  Linda Robinson, a USO Honor Flight Coordinator, told the attendees about the Honor Flight program that takes veterans on an all expense paid trip to Washington DC for a two-visit to the WW II memorial and other sights.

October brought Dallas Morning News columnist Jackquielynn Floyd and her unique perspective on current events.

In December 2013, the 11th Annual Christmas Luncheon featured holiday table settings with musical entertainment by the Rockwall-Heath High School Jazz Band.

Plans for an interesting lineup for next year are already under way.  A recently retired “big-name” Channel 8 personality is scheduled for the September 2014 meeting.

Friends meets six times a year and all meetings, with the exception of the Christmas Luncheon, are held in the Rockwall County Library.  The group works to promote the interest and welfare of the Library and profits from their various fundraising events supplement the County library budget, paying for special children’s programming, adult literacy programs, subscriptions and other items.

Members and guests are encouraged to make reservations now to attend the May 13th meeting, which starts at 11 a.m.  Visitors are welcome; however reservations are required for all and must be received by Tuesday, May 6th.  That is also the last day to cancel prior reservations. A catered lunch is available for $15.  For reservations e-mail or call 972-771-8976.

Submitted by Nell Welborn, Friends of the Library.

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