~ Norton-Wise Branch Contacts ~
President: Teresa Adkins tah7a@aol.com
Membership Co-Vice Presidents:
Sanyogta "Sunny" Singh sunnyanddram@aol.com
Joyce Winston JWinston2@verizon.net
Meetings
The Norton/Wise County Branch meets on the fourth Monday of each month from September – May. Members meet for dinner and a program.
Activities
News:
Two student representatives attended the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders in June. The young ladies, students at The University of Virginia's College at Wise, brought back many ideas and our Branch looks forward to their involvement in our programs and activities.In May, the final meeting of the year, we traditionally enjoy a brunch at the historic John Fox Museum in Big Stone Gap. Members bring prospective members as their guests.
Children’s Book Project:
In recent years, our branch developed an on-going project to provide children’s books for at risk and disadvantaged households. The project has been very successful. It is hoped that the effort will contribute to children’s literacy. Last year’s book fund project provided books and other educational materials a recently established children’s advocacy center. Funds for the project are raised from contributions from individual branch members and from a grant a local foundation.
Fundraising:
Fundraising efforts primarily support our Children’s Book Fund. Our Branch is currently investigating the possibility of involving a corporate sponsor for a fundraising project for the Book Fund.
Creative Writing:
During our April meeting, the awards ceremony for our Annual Spring Creative Writing Contest for local schools is held. The contest usually brings in 75-80 entries. At the awards program, the winners from each grade read their writings to an audience comprised of parents, teachers, area school officials, and our AAUW members. Metals and ribbons are awarded and light refreshments are served.
From the past...
During the autumn of 1998, the Norton-Wise Branch helped the Lonesome Pine Regional Library celebrate its 40th year. The library was founded through the efforts of the then-fledgling AAUW branch.
In 1957, the Virginia State Library approached Helen Lewis, who taught sociology and acted as librarian at Clinch Valley College, about library services for Wise County. The state library offered to do a two-year demonstration project for which they would provide operating expenses while the county would have to provide the housing, shelving, and utilities.
As an AAUW member, Ms. Lewis suggested the library as a project for the new branch. The AAUW members went into action and the library opened in November 1958. When the demonstration project neared its end, the members again worked to gain county support for continuing the library. AAUW member Frances Robertson was the first chair of the Lonesome Pine Regional Library's Board of Trustees.
The Lonesome Pine Regional Library System now serves four counties and one city with eight branches and circulates over 800,000 items each year.
