Notes from Sunday, November 21, 2010

(Please note that I have bold-faced upcoming events for those you of whose schedules have gone from mildly crazy to certifiably insane.)

It's time to kick-off our holiday sweet shop!

Karen will make items for next Sunday, November 28. We'll need more items for the following Sundays:

December 5
December 12
December 19.

Please look at these dates and see what you can provide and when you can provide it.

At some point, schedules permitting, Ryan's mother will come over and give a peanut brittle-making workshop in the new kitchen. Ryan will take care of the details and will you keep you all posted as plans solidify.

We have also set a date for angel-tree distribution. We will join the Pairs-and-Spares class (who are doing the Christmas food baskets this year) on December 15 @ 5:00 p.m. for a joint distribution. Jeremy will be visiting homes as Santa, but only those who have young children residing in them. Please plan to attend this event!

We are also looking at plans for spring 2011 . . .

Blake and Nicole have suggested that we hosted a teen dance in February at the Community Building, perhaps on Feb. 12, with a $5.00 admission charge for area students in grades 7-12. Blake would provide the music, and the class would provide refreshments, decorations, and security. The suggested admission fee would be $5.00 per person for the 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. event.We'll need to check this date against the school calendar and check for the availability of the Community Building to even see if any of this is possible.

Ryan continues to do long-range planning on a second literacy fair to be held at the church this spring; no dates have been explored, but it was discussed that the event would not necessarily have to be on a weekend. In addition to a grand book giveaway to all children in attendance, we'd like to set up craft tables (as opposed to game tables) for the children to enjoy in advance of the performance of a storyteller, who could very well be Cheri Williams who could entertain the little ones while their parents listened to a presentation by a literacy expert. The literacy expert would likely be someone from Russell Child Development where Stephanie Frank is our contact.

MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS and OTHER ITEMS THAT DON'T FIT ELSEWHERE INCLUDE

• the need to organize the MAM room again. The weight of donations is starting to take a toll on our organization;
  
• the need for a thank you note to be written to Sharon Kisker for her very, very generous donation to our group;
  
• and the possibility that we might want to purchase the cotton candy machine from the hardware's rental department.