Tennessee Federation News 10 page 12

How would you like to own and oversee the operation of a public library? A small club with big ideas in a town of 2,500 citizens does just that and spearheaded a campaign to double the size of their library. A new children's room, kitchen area, handicapped accessible restroom and entry were added to a 60-year-old building as well as improved wiring, energy conserving measures and a new roof. For twelve members, that's right, this was a dream that they made come true for their community. A new drive-up book return has become one of the most popular features. Several other clubs raised money for library books, computers, and even new shelving for entire rooms. Many of the volunteers were husbands of the club members.

Submitted by Martha Lester, CIP Chairman

GFWC Tiptonville Woman's Club members with President Martin and Director of Junior Clubs Della Gowan

L to R: Catherine LeDuke, Lyn Fields, Virginia Hayes, Peggy Norris, Donna Allison, Edna Mills, Lillie McCain, Cam Patterson, Helen Lovell, Beth Haynes, Bettie Sumara. Not pictured - Barbara Markham.

GFWC Andrew Jackson Centennial Woman’s Club

When Lana Robinson, President Elect of GFWC of Tennessee, heard Julia Mae Burney speak at GFWC International Convention in St. Paul last June, she decided Ms.Burney’s program “Cops and Kids”, a project to place books in police squad cars, was a great one to be duplicated in Nashville. At the next meeting of her club, GFWC Andrew Jackson Centennial Woman’s Club, she presented the idea to her fellow club members who concurred and the project was conceived for Metropolitan Nashville.

With her club’s approval, Mrs. Robinson contacted Nashville Mayor, Bill Purcell, and presented the idea to him. The mayor, whose primary focus has been education, loved the idea and agreed to implement the program. He met with police chief, Emmett Turner, who in turn assigned the task to the assistant chief in charge of uniformed units in Nashville. She then assigned the awesome task to Sgt. Michele Donegan who took the ball and ran with it.

The initial meeting with Mayor Purcell came in early August, with a goal of having books in the squad cars by January 1st. However, before plans could be completed, September 11th changed the world and the decision was made to allow time for that to settle somewhat before announcing the new program.

Because Mrs. Robinson wanted the program to be associated with GFWC clubs, she decided to name the Nashville project, “Cops and Readers” (CARS) after speaking with Ms. Burney to reassure her there was no intent to take away from her program nor diminish the credit she deserved for the original idea. Mrs. Robinson, then found a young graphic artist who donated his talents to create a logo for the program. Sgt. Donegan was able to have used US Postal Service mailboxes donated for collection receptacles. Through another friend, Mrs. Robinson was able to have the boxes painted white and they are now located inside three of Metro Nashville’s precincts, with plans to have them in the other three by the end of May- with a total of three hundred cars. So far, club members have collected more than ten thousand books. Before they are placed in the squad cars, club members screen the books and place a label or stamp inside stating “This book presented by GFWC Andrew Jackson Centennial Woman’s Club and Metropolitan Police Department.

On March 5, 2002, Mayor Purcell and Chief Turner called a joint press conference to announce the official beginning of the program. All news media and press media were present for the announcement. Mrs. Robinson described the program but additionally, she took time to tell the public about GFWC and the type of work our organization does. Since that time Mrs. Robinson and Sgt. Donegan have appeared on “The Plus Side of Nashville” to talk about the program. This program has aired six times. Here again, as well as talking about the specifics of “Cops and Readers” Mrs. Robinson was able to talk about Federation work in general. She and Sgt. Donegan have already booked several dates to speak to civic groups and other organization about the program.

When Mrs. Robinson becomes president of GFWC of Tennessee, she plans to have “Cops and Readers” as a project clubs across the state can implement, with the template already in place.