Thursday, February 5, 2009
Morocco and Lesotho: Peace Corp--Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love
Presenter: Marlene Buffington
Location: Garfield Book Co., Community Room
Time: 10:30
Class Fee: $10.00
Contact Person: Bette Catlin, 253-846-0354
Morocco—Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakech, .. Just the names of these cities stirs a kind of spice in the nostrils. It gained its independence from France in 1956. King Hassan II was the ruler most responsible for building a modern Morocco. Recently the country has reduced its dependence on phosphate exports and is emerging as an exporter of manufactured goods such as textiles. Tourism is a growing industry.
Lesotho (le-soo-too) is a mountainous country landlocked in the heart of South Africa. Its forbidding terrain and the defensive wall of the Drankensberg and Maluti ranges gave both sanctuary and strategic advantage to the Basotho people, who forged a nation. It is a surprising combination of rapidly developing modernity and ancient culture.
Marlene Buffington was an elementary teacher in the area and after raising her family she applied for the Peace Corp in 1999. After 10 weeks of training she spent two years in Lesotho from 2000 to 2002. She was a resource teacher at Ransane Primary School and started a library. In 2004 she went to Morocco and spend two years there in the Environmental Rural Development section. Marlene will be contributing her honorarium to the Lesotho Friends of Lesotho Tuition Assistance Program for high school scholarships.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Dramatic/Interpretive Readings
Presenter: Harlen Zink
Location: Garfield Book Co/Community Room
Time: 10:30 to 12:00
Class Fee: $10.00
Class Coordinator: Gene Giannobile, dgg2504@comcast.net
Mr. Zink will perform several pieces of oral interpretation from a variety of sources. He has performed in several libraries throughout the Northwest. Dramatic reading is a theater art in which a work of literature is performed with manuscripts. Some define it as the art of communicating a work of literature art with emotion. After each reading he will provide a time of reflection from the class participants.
Harlen Zink is a Branch Supervisor for the Pierce County Library System and can often be found presenting dramatic reading programs to library patrons. He has been a Pierce County resident for the past fifteen years and enjoys reading humorous and adventure stories.
Monday, February 23, 2009
A Visit With Harriet Tubman
Presenters: Karol & James Brown - Inquiring Mind Presenters
Location: Garfield Book Co/Community Room
Time: 10:30—Noon
Class Fee: $10.00
Class Coordinator: Gene Giannobile, dgg2504@comcast.net
Harriet Tubman, the Moses of her people, was the most renowned conductor of the Underground Railroad. This presentation is an opportunity to visit with Harriet as an elderly woman looking back on her life. Aunt Harriet, as her friends call her, talks about slavery, her faith, family and friends who risked their own freedom to help the runaway slave escape on the Underground Railroad. Her stories are examples of how faith, unity, brotherly love and commitment to helping others were important in the fight for freedom over 100 years ago today.
Ten years ago, Karol Brown, joined the storytelling community with the Inquiring Mind program. Karol is known as Aunt Harriet, the 92 year old Harriet Tubman. James Brown is a “Natural Storyteller” who captivates the audience with stories and songs and his smooth tenor voice. As Broth Ely, he is able to borrow the minds of the audience as they travel back in time with Aunt Harriet. The Browns bring you as close to meeting Harriet Tubman as you will ever come with this engaging, spellbinding, portrayal and singing that touches everyone.