El Corazón de Tejas Central Texas Chapter of REFORMA

Meeting Notes

April 18, 2009

Terrazas Branch Library

Austin, Texas

 

Present: Don Bos, Melinda Curry, Mary Donley, Hope Lochridge, Silvia Reveles, Loriene Roy, Gustavo Soto.

 

Items Discussed

–Día de los Niños / Día de los Libros / Reforma Booth – Hope and Melinda will "man" the Reforma poetry booth at the Saturday, April 25 event this year at Pickle Elementary School/St. John's Library. We will determine ahead of time what supplies will be provided and what we will need to create/take with us. Silvia will look into having a new Corazón de Tejas banner made for future events. [Our original chapter banner resurfaced at the Día event at Pickle 4/25/09. Thank you, Paola Ferate-Soto.]

 

–Membership Outreach – Don and Mary have contacted professors at the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University about our chapter of Reforma. Since many library students now take online courses, they may not be aware of groups or activities in their particular places of residence. Seeing the membership form, calendar of events, and information may encourage more students to join Reforma. Other places to consider spreading the word to are Dallas (Silvia), San Jose State, and even the University of Texas at Austin (Loriene).

 

–Carmen Tafolla at the MACC – Gustavo reported that Carmen Tafolla has signed up with the City of Austin as a "vendor" to be able to perform at the Friday, April 24 celebration of Dia de los Ninos/Libros at the MACC.  She will present What can you do with a rebozo? and What can you do with a paleta? The MACC will pay her $400, and our chapter voted to supplement that fee with $50.  There will be two performances with a dry run beforehand at 9:00 a.m.  First and second graders from Metz Elementary School will walk to the MACC for the first performance; third graders from Metz and from 100 to 120 students from Sanchez Elementary School will attend the second performance via bus.  Gustavo created a flyer for the event.

(Don mentioned a third book of Carmen Tafolla's: That's Not Fair!: Emma Tenayuca's Struggle for Justice /¡No es Justo!: La Lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la Justicia (Wings Press, 2008. Illustrated by Terry Ybañez) about a San Antonio labor organizer in the 1930s who dealt with pecan shellers in factories. It's best suited for children in grades 4-8.

 

The MACC is interested in Reforma holding an annual event at their facility.  Perhaps we can associate with AAABE or other local Hispanic organizations.

 

Awards Dinner/Meeting –

The chapter wants to honor our scholarship winner, Morgan McMillian, at a meeting, happy hour, or dinner.  Morgan sent Don notes on the activities she

attended at the TLA Convention.  Don will contact Morgan about her availability before her graduation this May.  Ideas were brought forth about possible locations for a celebration:  Nuevo Leon, the MACC, a library, Baby Acapulco.  Loriene announced that Morgan will start her position at the Lake Travis Public Library this summer.

 

New Business – Volunteers

Volunteers are especially needed in elementary school libraries. There was discussion of the difficulty in finding volunteers and then keeping them once they are trained. Ideas for sources of volunteers: library students from UT; Huston-Tillotson University; and students in fraternities, sororities, and service organizations at UT.

 

Announcements

New Book - Silvia announced that Austinite Belinda Acosta has a new book out. Damas, Dramas and Ana Ruiz was introduced at TLA.  Julia Alvarez reviewed it.  Perhaps we could incorporate local authors into some of our chapter events.

 

Marxavi Angel Martinez – Mary reported that Marxavi Martinez and her entire family will deport themselves in July.

 

Circulation Records - We discussed private circulation records and the fact that a patron's circulation history may be obtained only through a court order.  In AISD circulation records are not kept; only the current and previous user of a title may be determined. The DYNIX circulation system does provide circulation history.

 

Membership Stats - Don reported on the new membership list for the chapter.  We have 23 members, 19 of whom are paid members and four who are students in their first year of membership.

 

"We Shall Remain"- Loriene commented on the PBS documentary series "We Shall Remain."  She gave one presentation at the Hampton Branch Library before the opening of the series and will do a follow-up later in May.

 

Recommended Book - Another book mentioned: Magic Dogs of the Volcanoes by Manlio Argueta, Children's Book Press, 1990 (bilingual, subject: cadejos, K-3.

 

 

Future Chapter Meetings­ - Below are dates of future chapter meetings. All will be held at the Terrazas Branch Library (1105 East César Chávez St., Austin, 78702; 974-3625) on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.

 

May 16 [This meeting has been cancelled.] (5/10/09 by Don Bos)

June 27

July 25