Meeting Minutes: March 22, 2001

Minutes of March 22, 2001 meeting, Hillel Community Day School, North Miami Beach

Present: Ruth Abelow, Helen Beloff, Margot Berman, Kathleen Clotfelter, Heidi Estrin, Inez Feingold, Jackie Fine, Sylvia Friedman, Etta Gold, Annette Goldsmith, Phyllis Gutmann, Sylvia Henkes, Andrea Kalish, Sue Kirshner, Charles Meyers, Beatrice Muskat, Barbara Samuels, Edith Scharf, Schlomit Schwarzer, Harriet Tuch, Alice Warren, Lee Wixman.

I. Greetings!

President Heidi Estrin thanked Andrea Kalish and Barbara Samuels and their institution for hosting the meeting and providing such a delicious lunch.

II. Speaker: Bennett Bramson, "Fund Raising"

Heidi introduced Bennett Bramson, the President and CEO of DevelopMentors, Inc. He gave a lively and informative presentation complete with an action figure of wrestler Steve Austin, whom he physically resembles. To contact Mr. Bramson: e-mail BBramson@aol.com or call (305)891-3272.

Some of his points:

libraries need money to compete with well-funded large bookstores

think of it as "resource development and community-building" rather than fundraising

maintain a positive attitude towards your organization and community (don't apologize when you ask for money); towards your prospects (don't just contact them once a year when you want something); and towards yourself (build relationships)

don't just make money, make friends for your organization

he has several handouts, including a 37-page handout on Internet fundraising [please contact Heidi if you'd like a copy; there weren't enough to go around]

he also does a children's program called Mathemagic

III. Goodbye to Schlomit!

We wished Schlomit Schwarzer good luck in her new job with New York Public Library. We will miss her! Hopefully the cake and basket of little mementos of her time with AJL makes the departure a little less sad.

Schlomit has been serving as Treasurer of our chapter; Heidi Estrin will take over these duties until a new Treasurer is appointed.

IV. Convention Update

Heidi reminded everyone that all the convention information, including registration forms and the preliminary program, are posted on the AJL website (www.jewishlibraries.org). This information is also in the latest national AJL newsletter. If you register before the end of March, it's $335 plus the cost of the hotel (the San Diego Marriott).

Lee said that he got a price of $278 airfare from Palm Beach to L.A., via Southwest, with several stops. Try AARP and AAA as well as travel websites such as travelocity.com and expedia.com to get a good fare.

Projected convention highlights:

poster sessions (similar to the Shuk we did in Boca)

speakers Hazel Rochman (Booklist); Sydney Taylor winners Eric Kimmel and John Muth; Nina Jaffe (Etta reminds us to look at her fabulous Scholastic website, Exploring Everyday Folklore (http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/folkloreexp_index.htm)

V. News and Announcements

Lee Wixman announced we have two new members, Jean Rapaport of Temple Beit Hayam in Stuart; and Rabbi Jonathan Kendall.

Lee also mentioned the new Schlomo Carlebach Haggadah.

Page 4 of the latest newsletter has a moving tribute to Irene Wixman.

We discussed the possibility of getting a bus for an October trip to visit the Sarasota chapter. The bus would hold 49 people. We would have to stay over one night. Those present seemed keen on the idea. If you are interested in going and weren't at the meeting, please let Heidi know.

Barbara Samuels asked what we generally do with picture books not meant for younger children. There were two suggestions: change to Fiction; create category of Picture Books for Older Readers.

Elliot Gertel sent greetings to our chapter.

Kathleen Clotfelter thanked us for our support at this difficult time for her and her family.

Annette Goldsmith reminded us of the upcoming topics at the Children's Literature Roundtable for Adults at Books and Books in Coral Gables:

April 15: Stories with Boy Appeal

May 20: Mysteries

Annette also let us know that she would be profiled in the Miami Herald on April 3, 2001.

V. Award-Winners Roundtable Discussion

Annette moderated the discussion. The following titles were mentioned:

St. George, Judith; David Small, illus. So You Want To Be President. (Caldecott)

Bellow, Saul. The Bellarosa Connection. (National Book Award and Pulitzer Price for other books)

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. (Newbery)

De Paola, Tomie. Strega Nona. (Caldecott Honor)

Gilman, Phoebe. Something from Nothing. (Sydney Taylor)

Taback, Simms. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. (Caldecott; Sydney Taylor)

Cole, Brock. Buttons. (Boston-Globe Horn Book Award)

Hamill, Pete. Snow in August. (New York Times bestseller list)

Please note: The next meeting will be on Thursday, May 17, 2001 at 11:45 at the St. Vincent de Paul Seminary Library in Boynton Beach. Please RSVP to Art Quinn by May 7. Contact Art by email (aquinn@svdp.edu), phone (561-732-4424 ext. 174) or fax (561-737-2205).

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