Hamilton Library Happenings...Jean Keene
As was mentioned in February’s News and Views, this month the CCDC Reading Group, which will meet during the Second Hour on Sunday, March 20, has decided to read books all of which take place in the country of Zimbabwe. Instead of everyone reading the SAME book, members of the Reading Group, and we hope others of you, will read at least one of these books and then join us for our discussion about Zimbabwe.
The titles of the Zimbabwe Books, with short annotations, are listed on the Bright Yellow Book List that you can find in the Magazine Rack in the alcove in the Batchelder Lounge or in the Library on the labeled shelf, near the books about Zimbabwe. We hope you will plan to attend the discussion on the 20th.
Bicentennial Fund Awards
In 1976, our congregation established a fund to award grants for projects identified by the members of the congregation and distributed through the Board of Deacons for Outreach. Though the amounts of the grants are not huge, they have been valuable statements of our church’s commitment to a variety of projects that could easily fall off the charitable giving radar. In recent years, Bicentennial Fund awards have included providing window curtains for privacy at WISE, assistance in replacing a ceiling that had collapsed at the Orford Congregational Church, Outreach House for seed money for an endowment, Hannah House for assistance to young, unwed mothers, LISTEN for a Youth Mentoring Program, UCC Global Ministries for bicycles for clergy in Congo, Africa, a special mirror for the High Horses Therapeutic Riding Program. Last year’s award went to Vet Dogs, a program which provides service dogs to soldiers and veterans.
The Outreach Board is currently in the process of identifying community needs and/or agencies that would benefit from a small grant (between $300 and $500) to use for a specific purpose. We realize that many members of our congregation serve on Boards or are involved with projects that may have such needs. We would like to hear from you! If you know of a community need that could be addressed by a Bicentennial Fund grant, place contact Carla, or Outreach Board members Becky Torrey or Susan Weeks. Applications should be in the form of a brief letter, describing the organization and the project for which the funds will be used. The deadline for applying for a Bicentennial Fund grant is April 10, 2011. Thank you!
Senior Center Luncheon Update...Lee Arend and Jan Assmus
The Senior Citizen luncheon held on Tuesday, February 15 at the Black Center in Hanover was a great success due to the wonderful help from various members of our church and volunteers at the Black Center. It was a delicious lunch in a pleasant setting and a good chance for 45 of our Upper Valley Senior Citizens to catch up with one another. We would like to thank those who cooked for this occasion, which include Susan Weeks, Ann James, Susan Edwards, Barbara Payson, Judy Csatari, Phyllis Tremaine, Carletta Nevers, Joan Weider, Lee Udy, Carol Zalinger, Amy Smith, Barbara Blough, Jean Allen, Susan Shadford, Sylvia Field, Tita Reiche, M.J. Hotaling, Eileen Rawnsley, Sybil Buell, Debra Grabill, and Dianne Campbell. Our efficient serving team was made up of June Russell, Amy Stringer, Ann Bradley, and Sylvia Field. It seemed that all of us, including the guests, had a good time!