Hello, fellow Pine Oaks readers!
Julia Schaun here again to discuss the latest goings-on and happenings-to the Pine Oaks Book Club. And what happenings-to they�ve been! We had such an interesting discussion about last month�s book, �A History of Flax.� I want to thank the discussion leader, Ben Solomon, for bringing in his charts, handouts, notecards, PowerPoint presentation and mnemonic mobiles. They certainly provided a lot of historical context for the book, and the mobiles in particular were interesting to look at. I do apologize, however, that I did not have a computer available on which to view the aforementioned PowerPoint presentation, though the 45 minutes we spent waiting for Ben to get his laptop was certainly filled with lively conversation. I do ask, however, that in the future, if anyone will be giving a similar presentation, that both myself an the host be notified, so that any special arrangements can be made. If I am the host, as I was last month, I only need to be notified once, and not separately in my capacities as host and Book Club chair. Also, in the future, PowerPoint presentations are discouraged.
Now that that�s over with, we can turn our attention to this month�s book, the memoir �Keep Off the Grass.� Apparently the author�s upbringing was sub-optimal. I don�t want to spoil the ending (he writes a book!), but I�ve read the first few chapters already, and it�s rare you see such a raw, honest story in literature.
I also want to get �a head in a game,� and remind everyone that our August meeting will be a chance to sign up for hosting and discussion slots for the next year. This year I�ll also be purging the Book Club rolls of what I call �inactive� members, those who may attend the meetings, but who have not hosted a meeting or led a discussion in six months or more. Being taken off the Book Club roster means you won�t receive my weekly e-mail reminders or discounts at the James R. Nock Regional Library semi-annual book sale, so make sure you keep your membership commitments!
Oh, and one more thing � we�ve moved the Book Club meeting this month to the second Wednesday. I thought the 4th might be a perfect day for it, since everyone would likely be in town, but then Barbara reminded me that some people might want to watch the fireworks that night instead. So we�ll have our own fireworks the next week � of book discussion!
Julia Schaun
Chairwoman, Pine Oaks Book Club
By Tony Daniels
Safety Salutation, Pine Oaks �
As always, I am Tony Daniels, your friendly neighborhood Neighborhood Watch president. Unless you�re a criminal, in which case I�m not so friendly, at least not behind your back.
After last month�s safety emergency mishap, I have some exciting news for you (and for me!) My television show, �Safety Watch with Tony Daniels� has been doing very well indeed! TV-74 Station Manager Mr. Dooley has been so pleased, in fact, he�s moved my show from airing after Harris P. Mackenthorpe�s Fiscal News and Discussion Program and into the coveted 7:10 p.m. slots between local science fiction (or �sci-fict�) epic �Starrider 2800� and talk show �What is Reggie Up To?� I�m very proud of this announcement, and I couldn�t have done it without you, the viewing public. Actually, I also couldn�t have done it without Mr. Dooley. And technically it was Mr. Dooley�s doing. But still, he couldn�t have done it without me, and I couldn�t have done what I do without you all. And Mike, my camera technician.
To celebrate Mr. Dooley�s decision, we at �Safety Watch with Tony Daniels� are putting on an All-Star Salute to Constant Vigilance. We�ll have the Gutbusters, as always, and I hear they have something special planned for the occasion. We�ll also have some musical acts like Erica Bell and Batteries Not Included. And who knows. If we�re lucky, our old pal Detective Sergeant Safety S. Funntofollow and His Dancing Iguanas. It will be the most variety-packed 13 minutes of your Wednesday evening.
And don�t worry, I haven�t forgotten about the latest safety pamphlet, �Being Safe Means Not Being Safe Enough.� It�s about filling in the gaps in our every day life where safety may not be our most primary concern, but it should be. It�s also introduces a new class of safety I�ve come up with, known as �super-safety.� The pamphlet, as always, is available from my residence, and you can pick it up by reaching your hand through the mail slot in my front door and rummaging around through the basket attached just below.
Thanks, and don�t forget to tune in this Wednesday for the All-Star Salute to Constant Vigilance!
Neighborhood Watch...p. 2
Message from the President...FRONT
Pine Oaks Book Club...p. 2
Welcome Wagon...FRONT
This Month in Pine Oaks...FRONT
Young Person's Perspective...p. 4