Blair Rotary Newsletter
"Make Dreams Real"
December 15, 2008

 

 

A special thank you to all club members who rang bells for the Salvation Army on Saturday, December 13th.

 

Reminder: attendance should be at least 60%, if you can't make a meeting you can do a make-up on the web at the following address: http://www.rotaryeclub7890.org/makeup.htm

Blair Rotary Student of the Month

Morgan Svoboda was recently honored as the Blair Rotary Student of the Month for December.  Morgan has been involved in the following activities: National Honor Society; Volleyball; Track; Junior Class VP; B-Club; Spanish Club; Freshman Mentor; Cubs Club Mentor and Homecoming Court.  Academically Morgan has been on the Honor Roll for 6 consecutive semesters, Volleyball Academic All-Conference /Academic All-State and Track Academic All-Conference/All-State.  Morgan is the daughter of Norman and Karol Svoboda (Karol was a Blair Rotary Student of the Month in December of 1982).  As a Blair Rotary Student of the Month, Morgan will receive a $300 scholarship to be used for educational expenses next fall.

Notes from December 9th Meeting - Program Chair Peggy Lamprecht

The program guest for the day was Marty Rump who talked about the past, present and future of the Blair Public Library.  The Blair Public Library traces its roots back to 1877 when a group of Blair women formed the “Ladies Library Association”. Members donated books that included classics, history, travel, and fiction. The first books were kept in private homes. Later the collection was moved to a room in the Pierce Building and Mrs. Carrie Wiseman was hired as the first librarian. She managed a collection of some 300 volumes. The library was open on Saturdays and books were loaned through the purchase of a $1.00 yearly membership or five cents per week. The librarian was paid 50 cents per week and given an annual membership ticket.

The Blair Public library Association was formed on January 19, 1880. In 1886 the collection grew to over 600 volumes and the library was moved to a room above the Castetter Bank and then later to the Washington County Courthouse. In 1913, the library was moved to the City Hall and placed under the management of the Monday Afternoon Club.

In 1915, Miss Edith Schmahling was hired as librarian. The Monday Afternoon Club paid her salary. Her salary was 50 cents per session, which was held three times per week. During the year, discussions were held about establishing a free public library and it was decided to turn the matter over to the city. A city ordinance was passed which made it a free city library and initiated a two-mill levy for its support. The January 1916 monthly report showed a book circulation report of 416, salary paid of $6.15 to the librarian, and expenses of 10 cents.

In 1916 the citizens of Blair voted 227 to 148 to accept a donation of $10,000.00 from Andrew Carnegie. Lots were purchased and the new library building was erected. On October 6, 1916 a special ceremony was held at the library. The ceremony included a flag raising ceremony by the Women’s Relief corps, music by the Blair Band, speeches, and punch served by the domestic science girls. Miss Mae MacQuarrie was hired as librarian in 1916 and served 43 years as librarian until June 1959.

On Monday, July 23, 1973 the library building caught on fire. An electrical fire apparently started between the ceiling of the basement level and the main floor of the building. It was decided that the damage was extensive and the insurance money would be used to build a new library. The present library was dedicated on November 28, 1976. The 6,400-library building was built with a projected growth of 10 years. The programs and activities of the library have outgrown the existing space.  In February 2006, the Blair Public Library Foundation and the Friends of the Library used donated funds to pay for a library building needs analysis study. The study concluded the current library facility is undersized to meet the needs of Blair citizens today. A new, 24,000 square-foot library facility, nearly four-times larger than the current library, was recommended to meet the needs of the city for the next 20 years.

A 24,000 square-foot library would cost up to $6.3 million. The city of Blair has pledged to match up to half of the estimated $6.2 million for a new library and the Blair Public Library Foundation will need to raise the other half. The ability to raise up to $3 million is a tremendous challenge for the Foundation, particularly given the current economic condition.  If you would like additional information on the library please go to the following website:  http://www.blairpubliclibrary.com/

Rotary Question of the Week

How does a person become a Paul Harris Fellow?

 

Rotary Fact of the Week (from the RI or District Website)

 

Donors of $1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, or the Humanitarian Grants Program, or people who have that amount contributed in their name, can be recognized as Paul Harris Fellows. Each new Paul Harris Fellow receives a commemorative certificate, a pin, and a medallion.

Thought of the Week

"Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom." Thomas Jefferson 

 

December Birthdays
Chris Barr - 22nd
Dave Bohling - 26th
Karen Zelinski - 28th
Abranda Andersen - 28th 

 

SERVICE Above Self!