October 2024 Meeting Minutes

Swansboro Friends of the Library

General Meeting Minutes

October 18, 2024

The Friends of the Swansboro Library general meeting was called to order at 10: 02 am, Paula Patselas presiding.  Attending were: Paula Patselas (president),Deborah Ruzicka (secretary), Christina Ramsey, Susan Pagnucci, Franco Pagnucci, Suzanne Ayers, Pam Morton (historian), Margie Graser, Stephanie Edwards(Swansboro library manager) and Jennifer Whaley (OCPL Director).

The minutes of the September 20, 2024 general meeting were moved to approve by Susan Pagnucci, and seconded by Franco Pagnucci.  The minutes were approved and will be archived*.

Stephanie Edwards, Library Manager:  Stephanie reports that the library continues to be very busy.  The statistics report was presented and will be archived with the minutes of this meeting.*   The Fall Festival was very well attended.  September was National Library Card Sign-up Month.  There were 869 new library cards issued by the four branches of the Onslow County Library. The library will be closed for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving weekend in the month of November.  Swansboro Parks and Recreation is having a Trunk or Treat event at the Memorial Park on the 25th of October.  The Swansboro Library will be participating, and Stephanie requested donation of wrapped candy from the Friends for the event. Paula suggested we give $100 for the purchase of the candy.  Susan Pagnucci moved that we spend this amount and Christina Ramsey seconded. The motion was approved.  Paula will see that Stephanie gets the money this week.

Jennifer Whaley, OCPL Director:  National Friends of Libraries Week isOctober20-26 and Jennifer extends a thank you for all the Friends do for the library.  The OCPL collection of donations for western North Carolina Hurricane relief went very well.  Four pick-up trucks were filled and taken to the distributors connected with United Way for transport.  The Jacksonville main branch held a Renaissance Fair and over two thousand attended!  At a recent county meeting the libraries scored very high in recognition for all they do for the community and very low on their physical facilities as it relates to limited space for operations.  Expansion of the library at Swansboro is in the works for 1100 square feet of additional space.  This expansion will enlarge the children’s room and create another meeting room with storage space and a bathroom.  Hopefully groundbreaking will be in the spring of 2025.  The county is looking for a new location to build a new main branch of the library in Jacksonville.  The county is creating anew logo for consistent use throughout all Onslow County agencies.  We were advised to hold off on printing new materials that have the library logo until the new logo is announced and presented.

Christina Ramsey, Business Alliance Committee: The new Business Sponsor sign attracted a lot of attention at the Mullet Festival last weekend.  The committee did not meet this month but have plans to meet in early November. Business sponsorships continue to come in.  Chairperson Christina Ramsey’s contact is:  cr93847@aol.com

Jay Whelan, Treasurer/Membership:  Jay was not in attendance today.  Deborah Ruzicka presented the monthly treasurer’s report and it will be archived with the minutes. *  Jay has done the proposal for the new budget for 2025. Deborah passed out copies and went over the changes and additions.  2024 was our first year to have an official budget and vote on it. It was a trial, and we knew that it would lead us to a more accurate budget for 2025.  Everyone seemed agreeable to what was presented.  There were no questions.  The 2025 budget will be voted on at the November meeting, with another opportunity at that time for any questions or discussion before the vote. The budget proposal is archived with these minutes.*

Deborah Ruzicka, Secretary/Book Sale Coordinator:  There was no book sale in October.  The next book sale is November 9th.  We decided at the September meeting that there will be no Christmas Bazaar this year.

Paula Patselas, Social Media & Public Affairs:  Paula still seeks a volunteer to help with the technology aspects of Facebook and MailChimp, as well as assisting with regular postings to social media.  Our FOSL website is: friends-of-swansboro-library.mailchimpsites.com 

The email that went out to members with the Meeting Agenda included; a copy of an article to be published next week in the Tideland News, written by Brenda Johnson about the Friends of the Swansboro Library to highlight National Friends of Libraries week. A flyer for the author event on Thursday October 24th featuring Dave Brown and Barry Fetzer was circulated during the meeting and a copy of the September minutes was made available in hard copy to all in attendance.  FYI-the Chamber of Commerce is co-hosting a Business After Hours at Gaffer’s Restaurant on Emerald Isle on Wednesday, 23rd 6pm – 8pm.

Pamela Morton, Historian: Pam asks that any items given to her for compiling with the historical archives include the dates and names of persons on the back, please.  Pam can be contacted at: ptmorton@ec.rr.com

Friends Fall Social, Paula Patselas:  The Social held in September this year was, again, a huge success.  Everyone enjoyed the display of our Historical Archived photos and information, as well as the refreshments and conversation.  The day was beautiful, as was the collaboration with the Swansboro Historical Association. Attendees included Friends members from throughout Onslow County as well as Western Carteret, Bogue Banks and Craven FOL. We look forward to hosting it again next year.

The 70th Annual Swansboro Mullet Festival, Paula Patselas:  A huge thank you to Judy Fitzpatrick for her excellent organizing and delegating skill as chair of our Mullet Festival participation.  The weekend was very successful with beautiful weather and lots of folks at the festival.  Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help.  Thanks to Jay Whelan, Shaun Griffin and Lou Ruzicka for their muscles and trucks to set up and take down for the event.  We took in$475 in donations at the festival (2023 total was $319).

Little Free Libraries: Christina Ramsey reports that no progress has been made yet on finding  someone to paint and repair the LFL at the Recreation Center, although Jay Whelan is consulting with Shaun Griffin to find out if he has the time to make an assessment and the needed repairs. Paula will check on that with Jay. Judy Fitzpatrick registered our LFLs on the nationwide database.  She has received the plaques to be attached to the LFLs. They need to be installed.

Barry Fetzer & Dave Brown will host “A Fall Presentation & Social – “Writing Your Book:  Personal Recollections of Concept Development to Publishing a Manuscript on Thursday, October 24, 2024, from5 to 7 pm at Preston’s Corner Restaurant.  The event is free and light refreshments will be available.  Otherwise, cash bar and dinner on your own following is an option. Registration is required, byemailingswansborofriends@gmail.com.

Looking Ahead 2025

Grant Writing Workshop: There will be a Grant Writing Workshop on Friday, January 19th for nonprofits, with a focus on Friends of Libraries, presented by Senatra Spearman of Jacksonville Main Library/OCPL.  More details will be forthcoming. 

Book Sale / Author Signing: Our first book sale of 2025 is January 11th.  We will have authors/illustrators Tim Corey& Carrie MacDonald attending to meet and greet and sign and sell their books.

Officers Meeting: The officers of the FOSL will meet sometime in January to re-group for the new year.  We will discuss goals and recommendations for2025 and undertake a review of the current Friends by-laws, updating &shoring up wording, where necessary, to present to the general membership hopefully in February.

Next Friends Meeting: Friday, November 15th, 10 am

Next Book Sale: Saturday November 9th Please contact Deborah Ruzicka

 (Deborahruzicka@gmail.com) if you are able to volunteer with the book sale – Set up on Friday afternoon November 8, Saturday during the book sale, 9am – 1pm and/or closing out and packing up the book sale beginning at 1pm on Saturday.

A reminder to everyone: Starting in January, general meetings will be every other month, the even numbered months.  Book sales will remain every other month, the odd numbered months. The library conference room will remain reserved for the third Friday of each month, 10am – 12 noon for the purpose of having committee meetings, special events, educational session or other Friends related time. We will re-evaluate this arrangement at the end of June2025.

Franco Pagnucci moved to adjourn, seconded by Pam Morton.  Meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, October 20, 2024

Deborah H. Ruzicka, Secretary                                              Paula Patselas, President

deborahruzicka@gmail.com                                                 pcpatselas@gmail.com

* Indicates reports