2024 Annual Meeting of Friends of the Falls of Schuylkill Library
Tuesday November 12, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
Community Meeting Room – Midvale Entrance
Falls of Schuylkill Library, 3501 Midvale Ave.
Agenda
Welcome remarks – Jennifer Estepp, Falls Branch Librarian
Welcome and a 2024 review of the FFSL – Martha Fuller, President of the Friends
Review of and voting on the minutes of our 2023 Annual Meeting
Reports from the FFSL Committees
- Membership
- Treasurer
- Community Outreach and Engagement
- Nominating Committee Report by Connie Gillespie – click here to read it
Voting on the offices of President and Treasurer
Voting on Amendment to Bylaws
Introduction to our guest speaker.
Melissa Jenson, “A Million Years of (Children’s) Literature” – click here to read about her.
Guest Speaker, Melissa Jenson
Melissa Jensen is a Professor in the English Department at University of Pennsylvania, and an award-winning writer of historical and contemporary fiction. At Penn, she has regularly taught classes such as Writing for T(w)eens and Modern Children’s Literature with one fun course title for Fall 2024 of “Radiant, Humble, Monstrous: Modern Children’s Literature.” Most recently, her Young Adult novels have been official selections on such lists as New York Public Library’s Teen Reading and FYA. She is currently working on the fourth and final book in her Philadelphia novel series, and a play centered around bog bodies and Irish rap music, as well as participating in an ongoing multi-media project exploring the connection between anthropology, archaeology, and literature. “Broken Siren”, a contemporary work for string ensemble and soprano based on Homer’s Odyssey, for which she wrote the libretto, debuted in 2020. She has contributed to numerous print media, including Philadelphia Style Magazine and the Philadelphia Inquirer. In recent years, she has divided much of her time between Philadelphia and Dublin, all the better to be immersed in the worlds of really really good fiction and poetry, and fascinating stuff unearthed from underground.
Report of the Nominating Committee
October 7, 2024
REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE OF THE FRIENDS OF THE FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL LIBRARY
Friends’ bylaws state that the President and Treasurer of the organization will be elected in the even numbered years and Secretary and Vice President in the odd numbered years. This year, an even numbered year, the Friends will be electing a new president and treasurer. Our current tireless and dedicated president, Martha Fuller, has served two 2-year terms and cannot succeed herself. Our excellent treasurer Terry Cunningham has served a full 2-year term and, with other commitments at this time, does not wish to be nominated again. So the nominating committee is pleased to present the following nominees for these offices.
PRESIDENT: Jenna Musket
Jenna has served the Friends for the last two years as the inaugural chair of the Friends’ Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) committee. In this role Jenna designed a survey for members and the community seeking valuable feedback, formed a diverse and strong working group, developed programs and events based on the feedback and revived the Catfish Chronicles, the Friends newsletter. Prior to working with the COE committee, Jenna served as treasurer of the Friends for two terms of 2 years each. In addition to her volunteer activities with the Friends, Jenna is an anthropologist who holds graduate degrees in creative writing/poetry as well as anthropology. Her background encompasses more than twenty years as a community development specialist working as a Project Director at Temple University’s Center for Social Policy and Community Development and, later. as Executive Director of the West Philadelphia Partnership, a consortia of universities, institutions, and community-based organizations dedicated to the mission of improving the quality of life for residents of West/ Southwest Philadelphia neighborhoods. Jenna is currently an adjunct professor at Jefferson University where she teaches research methods that are applicable to addressing contemporary issues in sustainability. The nominating committee is delighted that Jenna has accepted this nomination!
TREASURER: Ann Wiley
We are equally delighted that Ann Wiley has accepted the nomination to serve as the Friends next treasurer. A resident of East Falls since March of 2002, Ann has been an active volunteer with the Friends for many years working on our semi-annual Book Sales, major fund raisers for the Friends. This year, along with Friends member Beth Hymal, Ann will become co-chair of the Book Sale succeeding Wendy Moody who is stepping down after many years. Last year Ann co-chaired the Falls Library’s 110th birthday celebration event. Professionally Ann worked for 21 years as a financial analyst for the FMC Corporation headquartered in Philadelphia. She retired in 2020. Ann is eminently qualified to assume the position of treasurer of the Friends.
Elections for these offices will take place at the Friends Annual Meeting to be held November 12 at 5:30 PM in the community room at the Falls Library. Additional nominations may be made in writing by any Friends member with the consent of the nominee. Any additional nominations must be received by the Friends secretary at least five days before the Annual Meeting.
Respectfully Submitted,
Connie Gillespie, Chair of the Nominating Committee
Faith McDowell, Member
Kathi DiMenna, Member