Friends of the Library Names New Officers

Around 100 volunteers, library employees, city council members and members of the community gathered together on June 16 for the Annual Meeting and Dinner.

The meeting took place at where attendees gathered at round tables and feasted on a delicious home cooked potluck dinner as well as a broad selection of wines.

The business agenda of the evening included announcing inductees onto the Friends Board of Directors for the 2011-2012 year. The new inductees include:

• Darlene Traxler, President
• Beth Smith-Kellock, Vice President
• Sandra Dickey, Treasurer
• Karma Bell, Recording Secretary
• Mary Talwar, Corresponding Secretary
• Alison Snow-Wesley, Art Fair Chairperson
• Martha Troedson and Alan Leahy, Best Used Book Sale Chairpersons
• Margaret Quigley, Board Development
• Sue Hart, Archives Historian
• Dave Hart, Membership
• Sue Levoe, Wine Tasting Chairperson
• Jane Zamanzadeh, Publicity
• Pat Alcorn, Trustee Liaison
• Toni Navarro, Volunteer Development
• Pat Locher, Joe Tortomasi, Sylvia Ryan and Noreen Sullivan, Directors at Large.

There were also plenty of heartfelt goodbyes and recognition for those departing.

Friends’ 2010-2011 President Margaret Quigley emceed the night before she handed over the reigns and gavel to incoming President Darlene Traxler. Quigley isn’t leaving the Friends Board though; she’ll be taking post as head of Board Development.

Pat Woods, organizer of the , was among those recognized as she hung up her volunteer hat with over a decade of volunteering hours.

Retiring Librarian Toni Buckner was also acknowledged and spoke to the crowd about her appreciation of the Friends’ contributions of the 400 volunteers who’d worked over 2000 combined hours to raise and donate funds to the Sierra Madre Public Library over the past year.

As of June 15, 2011, the Friends fundraising activities grossed $65,209. The bulk of this money was earned from the Wine and Cuisine Tasting event, which pulled in a $25, 508 profit. Closely following were profits from the Best Used Book Sale with $20,252. There was also the annual Art Fair that took place in May. It raised $12,482 for the library.

Other notable Friends Volunteers also thanked for their hard work are:

• Sharon Murphy for the
• Pat and De Alcorn for the
• Darlene Traxler for the Library Gardens maintenance
• Sandra Dickey, head of the Finance Committee

Among guests in attendance were Sierra Madre Mayor John Buchanan, City Council Member Nancy Walsh and City Manager Elaine Aguilar. Also in attendance were Library Board of Trustees’ members Catherine Adde(Chair), Pete Siberell, Lida Bushloper and Patricia Hall.

The meeting concluded with a giveaway of Hershey’s Chocolate Bars to various Friends Volunteers, wrapped in custom-made "Thank You" casings. No one’s sweet tooth was left unsatisfied as the evening ended with a hearty dessert of pie and ice cream for all.