February 2025 Meeting Minutes
January / February 2025
The Friends of the Swansboro Library general meeting on February21st was called to order at 10: 05 am, vice president Judy Fitzpatrick presiding. Attending were: Judy Fitzpatrick (vice president), Deborah Ruzicka (secretary), Susan Pagnucci, Stephanie Edwards (Swansboro library manager), Dave Brown, Pam Morton, Christina Ramsey, Geri Schreiber, and Brenda Johnson.
The minutes of the December 20, 2024 general meeting were moved to approve by Christina Ramsey and seconded by Pam Morton. The minutes were approved and will be archived*.
Stephanie Edwards, Library Manager: The statistics sheet for the month of January is attached and will be archived*. On the subject of the expansion of the Swansboro Branch, the architects have the drawings and the project is still scheduled to begin in April or May. Dave Brown asked what we can do towards the expansion, thinking this would be a good thing to pitch to businesses donating to the Friends. Stephanie said there is really no way of knowing yet, until the expansion is well towards completion. There definitely will be opportunities to help, though.
The spring newsletter is expected to come out any day. The staff person who takes care of this at the main branch has been out sick and for this reason a delay was inevitable. Coming up at the library this spring: Co-op extension workshops on gardening, Lunch Bunch Book Group for homeschooled kids through a grant from Humanities of NC, programs from the Beaufort Maritime Museum and the Swansboro Historical Society, craft programs, art class with Lana, Children’s Home Society of NC program on foster care, a new program on Technical Assistance at Swansboro every Wednesday in the morning with Julie Brinson from the main library, and reaching out with programs at schools.
Comic Book Fest is coming to the Jacksonville main branch in May. All Friends of the branches are being asked to help out with the cost of something. We are being asked to fund a face painter for the event in the amount of $200. Dave Brown moved to spend the funds and Geri Schreiber seconded. The motion was passed. A check will need to be given to Stephanie made out to Tiffany Brown who is the face painter.
Summer Reading program this year is Level Up Reading. The $1750we contribute will be used for Lanyards with library card holders for the children who sign up (ordered through the Jacksonville Branch), kick-off events for the program, prizes and more.
Jay Whelan, Treasurer/Membership: Jay was not present, but sent his reports which will be archived with the minutes*. These included a yearly report for 2024 and a monthly report for January 2025.
Deborah Ruzicka, Secretary/Book Sale Coordinator: Our book sale in January was a great success. We took in $1101.72. Everyone enjoyed meeting and buying books from author Henry Corey and illustrator Carrie MacDonald. Great start to the new year. Deborah told the meeting today of a woman who attended the book sale and took 4 carts full of books! She was obviously taking them for resale. She only donated $100 for all those books. It was very disturbing at the sale to all the members who were helping out. Christina Ramsey moved, and Dave Brown seconded to have Deborah make a sign to post at the sales limiting the number of books available to any one person. The motion passed. The limit number will be up to Deborah, but all agreed that it needs to be posted.
Paula Patselas, Social Media & Public Affairs: No report today as Paula was not in attendance.
Pamela Morton, Historian: Pam had nothing to report today. Any items given to Pam for compiling with the historical archives should include the dates and names of persons on the back, please. Pam can be contacted at: ptmorton@ec.rr.com
Christina Ramsey, Business Alliance Committee: The last meeting of the Business Alliance Committee was canceled due to weather. There is no report today. The committee is meeting after the general meeting today is adjourned. Chairperson Christina Ramsey’s contact is: cr93847@aol.com
Judy Fitzpatrick, Little Free Libraries: We have new LFL caretakers! Suzanne Ayers and Beck Clark have each agreed to care for one of the LFLs. They will communicate any issues to Judy Fitzpatrick.
Volunteer Awards for 2024: Two awards were given today for volunteerism in 2024 to Susan Pagnucci and Franco Pagnucci. That you so much for all you do.
Mullet Festival: First Citizens Bank has again offered to donate a booth for our use at the Mullet Festive this coming fall.
Swansboro Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase: The showcase is tomorrow, February 22ndfrom 10 am until 3 pm. Deborah, Judy, and Dave will get the items needed together and go over to set up after the meeting. There is a free vendor reception tonight if anyone would like to attend. Good for meet and greet and food!
January 17, 2025 Grant Writing Workshop: The workshop was a great success and very well attended. Our Grant Team has submitted an application for a grant from United for Libraries & Penguin Random House. It is a rural and small libraries grant for $1000. Notifications of grant winners will be made on March 10th.
By-Laws revisions: Deborah passed out drafts of the proposed by-laws amendments for review. Dave and Christina suggested getting the draft out electronically so members could compare the new version to the old. It was suggested that it would be a good idea to highlight what has been changed.
Chamber of Commerce Spelling Bee: Brenda Johnson is taking the lead to get together a team to compete in the upcoming spelling bee.
April is Poetry Month: Deborah Ruzicka is chair for this event. Brenda has ordered the Poetry Month free posters already. They are being sent to the Friends at the library address. Susan Pagnucci would like to do a “Poetry Book” event in conjunction with the monthly theme. Deborah asked Stephanie to send some dates available to do the workshop, which she will share with Susan.
Library Programs Ambassadors: With the new spring schedule coming out, members were reminded to say a bit about the Friends when they attend events. Dave suggested that we have a one page “script” or sign that lets people know what the Friends do for the library. Deborah said she would be glad to make a sign if someone gets the info together. Dave also suggested copies of the page for a sort of script for ambassadors to use.
New Meeting Dates Reminder: 2025 general meetings will be held every other month, in the even # months, on the 3rd Friday of the month, beginning in February on Friday February 21st.
Book Sales will continue to be every other month, in the odd #months, on the 2nd Saturday from 9 to 1.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 am.
Respectfully submitted, February 21, 2025
Deborah H. Ruzicka, Secretary Paula Patselas, President
deborahruzicka@gmail.com pcpatselas@gmail.com
* Indicates reports which will be archived with the minutes and are available for review upon request.
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