(From the May 2017 Circle of Friends Newsletter)
April Book Sale: The first Book Sale of 2017 is now in the rearview mirror. The crowds were respectable as were the proceeds at around $2800. As could be expected, renewing and new memberships were low but it is about mid-term for the 2016-2017 membership period and we did have a great signup last year for that one-time fifteenmonth card. Remember you still have two more Book Sales to use those discounts on the back of your card. We apologize for the wrong sale dates on the Book Sale Finder website which led to several inquiries.
New Director-at-Large: Sarah Sammis resigned her position to relocate with her family. This left her Director-at-Large position open, and it was filled in an executive Board meeting in March by the appointment of Wayne Ainsworth, a BookStore and Book Sale volunteer, and longtime observer at the Board meetings. Wayne is a retired businessman with the type of organizational skills that will be a great asset to our organization. Welcome aboard, Wayne!
Volunteer Opportunities: As you might know, most of our volunteers are retirees. It always surprises me how many have had long careers in education ranging from elementary through graduate school. I guess respect for the written word was instilled early on and never left. That doesn’t mean we only accept educators as volunteers. We are a corporation, albeit non-profit, and your business or professional experience can contribute to our business and to the greater Castro Valley community at the same time.
Our BookStore atmosphere is low-pressure, the volunteers friendly and sociable, and training is provided. A full shift is one threehour period a week or you can start up as a backup volunteer. At this time, Thursday and weekend shifts need fuller staffing. We are open any day the library is open. Need I say, there is wide, wide array of genres that cover almost any interest.
You may become interested in going beyond the BookStore or Book Sales volunteer experience and wish for greater involvement. That course could be through attending the monthly Board meetings as an observer or even run for one of the Board positions opening up this fall.
Annual Members Meeting: Remember that you, as members of Friends of the Castro Valley Library, have the right to run for any of the Board of Directors positions that will be opening up this fall as terms expire. The openings will include President, Secretary, and a Director-at-Large. The annual members meeting is scheduled for November 14th, 2017.
Roger Caswell, President
Friends of the Castro Valley Library