The 2024 Twelfth Annual membership meeting of the Friends of Kentucky Libraries was held Saturday, October 5, 2024 at the Historic Brown Pusey House in Elizabethtown KY, featuring guest speaker, Jay McChord. The Annual Meeting was hosted by The Hardin County Friends of the Library. The location was the Historic Brown-Pusey House in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. 60 members were in attendance. Our sponsors were Codell Construction, KPC Architectural Products Company, and Baird Company.
Louise Canter, President, welcomed everyone to the meeting. She thanked the Friends of the Hardin County Public Library for hosting this event and their support. Nancy Shores, President of the Friends of the Hardin County Public Library was introduced along with other members of the Hardin County Friends attending the meeting. Louise introduced Jim Weiss, former State Board member and officer, member of the Hardin County Friends and the generous host of our use of the Brown-Pusey House.
Jay McChord did a fantastic job of educating us on how to deal with politicians and elected officials in our counties as we advocate for our libraries. He also identified five age groups and how to approach each with their particular wants, needs and interests: Traditional, Baby Boomers, Gen-X, Millennials and Gen-Z . Some highlights from Jay’s speech: Ask yourself these three questions before interacting with anyone: Who is your audience? What is important to them? How do you want them to see you at the end of your conversation?
Presentation of Annual Awards followed with Paula Franklin announcing the grants and awards that were given this year.
There were six $500 grants given to the following Friends groups: McCreary County – plans to order four Penworthy Stay Sharp Kits to encourage family learning and help with improvement in many areas; Grayson County – plans to implement the “Read to Your Bump” activity to encourage a love of reading before birth; Caldwell County (George Coon Library) – plans to hold a Story Walk in Fredonia, a local community that lost their local library in the past; Taylor County, Christian County – plans to hold a community scavenger hunt to boost their profile in the community; Casey County – plans to host the Big Foot Hunters Program, run by the Ohio Night Stalkers, to draw attention to the Friends group and the library; Hopkinsville Christian County – plans to hold a membership drive and inform current members on vision for future activities.
Paula Franklin then presented the Outstanding Chapter Awards to: Group with more than 100 members: Warren County Friends; Group with less than 100 members: Grayson County Friends; Outstanding Friend Awards: Group with more than 100 members: John Louden, Friends of Lexington Public Library; John runs the Amazon store front, volunteers 3 days a week/four hours a day and lists and repairs books for sale; Groups with less than 100 members: Sally Lackner, Friends of Oldham County Public Library. President for 10 years, Sally maintains their Facebook page, arranges treats for staff, runs the Christmas Tree Hat Program and heads the Friends contribution collection for gift baskets for Summer Reading program.
Marylynn Collins reported that four new Friends Chapters have been formed this year: Bullitt County, Clark County, Clark County and Lincoln County. A chapter in Wayne County is set to come on board as well. Louise said that she will be visiting Trimble County next week as they move forward with their chapter organization. The Friends of Kentucky Libraries is growing in the Commonwealth!
Louise announced that the colorful stickers everyone received with their packet today would be available to Friends Chapters to purchase for their members. The cost will be $1.25 each and you can contact Louise directly to make a purchase.
2024 Annual Meeting
Jay McChord, guest speaker; Louise Canter, Presidentsticker designed by Jennifer Kaminski2024 Annual Meeting Board Attendees
Front Row: Patti Jensen, Vice President, Louise Canter, President
Second Row: Marylynn Collins, Kathy Svoboda, Rebecca Knisken, Rose Booth
Third Row: Jill Hoskins, Simon Boes, Treasurer, Paula Franklin, Patty Jones, Secretary, Barbara Brand
I want to update you following our annual meeting on Oct. 29 and add a few action items. For many of you who were there, this will be a recap. Thanks much to those who attended and participated! Based on the evaluations, I think we had a very successful meeting – finally being able to meet in person after 3 years! I want to especially thank and recognize those who sponsored the program: Elaine Wilson, Baird & Co., KPC Architectural Services, and Codell Construction Co.
Most of the day was taken in discussion among Friends representing 15 different chapters from around the state. We exchanged ideas and discussed common concerns. We also conducted some business and honored outstanding Friends and an outstanding chapter. The Friends of the Casey County Public Library were honored as the Outstanding Friends Chapter for 2022. Since we hadn’t honored any Friends since 2019, Outstanding Friends awards were presented to: Sandy Cummins (Warren Co. Friends); James Moore (Boyle Co. Friends), and Brenda Sayler (Grayson Co. Friends).
Grants of $500 were awarded to the Friends in Casey County, Taylor County, Lexington, Madison County, and McCracken County.
Officers elected for next year include:
President – Wayne Onkst
Vice President – Louise Canter
Treasurer – Susie Lawrence
Secretary – Rose Booth
For 3 year terms on the board:
Christie Robinson (Scott Co.)
Paula Franklin (McCracken Co.)
Patti Jensen (Casey Co.)
Susan Eubank (Oldham Co.)
Mary Lynn Collins (Franklin Co.)
(Continuing terms on the board for 2023: Susie Lawrence, Pat Thomas, Janet Meyer, Eunice Murphy, Rose Booth, Louise Canter)
Thanks so much to Pat Thomas who served as Treasurer and Jennifer Kaminski who served as Secretary during the past year. Thanks also to Jim Weiss, Lois Schultz, Elaine Wilson, and Jennifer Kaminski who completed service on the board.
Action items:
1. If these updates should be going to someone else in your Friends group, please let me know.
2. If you have comments about the recent annual meeting or want to make suggestions about future meetings, please email them.
3. We need additional volunteers for our committees next year which include: advocacy, annual meeting, awards, communications, mentoring, membership, and nominating. If you have interest in these areas, please let me know.
Best of luck as you wrap up Friends activities for 2022 and look forward to 2023! With the recent changes in Kentucky law regarding public library governance, Friends are going to more important than ever before!
Wayne Onkst
Friends of Kentucky Libraries
Photo taken at 2022 Annual Meeting
The 2020 & 2021 Annual Meetings were cancelled.
After much thought and discussion, the Friends of Kentucky Libraries board has decided NOT to hold our annual meeting this year due to continuing concerns of spreading the Covid virus. We understand that the virus is very bad in many communities where we have Friends chapters and we value every Friend, so we don’t want to put anyone at risk or force Friends to make a difficult decision about attending our meeting. Hopefully next year we will be in position to resume our annual meetings and make up for lost time! As an alternative to meeting in person, we are investigating holding an on-line event where we can provide information that will be helpful to Friends chapters. In the meantime, please let me know if you have questions and also let us know about your fundraisers as we would like to help publicize them on our Facebook page and website.
Wayne Onkst
President, Friends of Kentucky Libraries
Annual Meeting at Spindletop on November 16, 2019
Photos from the 2019 Annual meeting courtesy of Andrea Caldwell, Jennifer Kaminksi, Rachel Szerletich, and Eunice Murphy
Annual Meeting at Spindletop on November 17, 2018
Last year the pictures of the annual meeting went AWOL. Since there are pictures from several individuals this year, I decided to chronicle the meeting this year in pictures.Susie Lawrence and Eunice Murphy working at the registration table. (Susie on the left and Eunice on the right).
The meeting was in the library at Spindletop
Lois Schultz leading the meeting
Terry Manuel presenting the State of Public Libraries in KY
David Schroeder and Ron Geoghegan imparting advocacy results and tips (Daivd on the left and Ron on the right).
Music during lunch by Betsy Tipton-Gries and Dr. Susan Willis (Betsy singing with Dr. Willis, pianist).
Surprise cake for Elaine Wilson who was celebrating her birthday
Chrystal Wilkinson delivering the luncheon address
Martha Nest sharing financial literacy tips
Wayne Onkst presenting the Outstanding Small Friends Chapter Award to Scott County with Christie Robinson accepting the award.
Wayne Onkst presenting the Outstanding Large Friends Chapter Award to the Lexington Friends (left to right Lori Meister, Cindy Vough, and Wayne Onkst).
Janet Meyer working at the Friends display at the Book Fair
Friends of Kentucky Libraries Inc 
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