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| Because this year’s Holiday Party was the first potluck we’ve done
in a long while, we experienced a few fears for its success: would anyone
bring anything? would anyone come? Our anxiety grew after several acquaintances
asked, “What if people only bring potato chips or cookies?”
Fortunately, many people came and brought dishes of all kinds, shapes, sizes and colors. Most were easily identifiable and a few made us search a bit before recognition arrived, but ALL were delicious. Even though he was out of town, Cornell made sure we had a large supply of his special gumbo made from the recipe he learned from his grandmother in New Orleans. Project Read provided soft drinks and Starbucks donated coffee. To be on the safe side, because we knew everyone would be tired of turkey a week after Thanksgiving, we ordered four extra-large pizzas from a restaurant in North Beach. While we ate, the Snake Trio played music until the program began around 6:30. MCs Shedrick Ferguson, Jr. and Gail Chang introduced the speakers. Randy Weaver, Project Read’s manager, welcomed everyone and introduced the members of the staff. Special Speaker Ned Himmel, the chief of the Main Library, spoke about the importance of Project Read to adult learners. He then announced that the next day was Randy Weaver’s birthday, which caused everyone to burst into a round of “Happy Birthday” while Randy stood bravely by. As usual, the high point of the evening arrived when when Project Read adult learners came to the microphone. Will Garcia read the article he wrote for this newsletter about reading his first novel. Moana Miglietta, Project Read’s Goth poet, read her evocative poem about her relationship to the night. Cecilia Moreno read her essay describing a possession valuable to her life, her camera. Carlos Soto closed the learners’section by telling how important Project Read has been to him, demonstrating the strength he has gained as a public speaker through the many times he has spoken publicly against tobacco use among elementary school kids. The popular free raffle followed. Working with clockwork efficiency, Randy Weaver shook the ticket drum and chose the winning tickets, Warren Kennell announced each prize and winning number while Tara Davis effortlessly brought the prize to the waiting hands of the happy winner. Among many exciting prizes, the donation of a computer and monitor stood out. Resouces International, Inc., a small business in Bayview-Hunter’s Point that refurbishes previously owned computers, donated the computer and monitor after Logan Mein, the owner of the company, met Leon Veal, Project Read’s outreach worker, at an outreach table Leon had set up in the neighborhood. Because of the special nature of the prize, we limited the winner to a Project Read learner. When Cecilia Moreno realized she held the winning number, it was difficult to decide who was more excited, Cecilia or her son. Leon Veal concluded the program by congratulating tutors and learners for the work they do together. Everyone left with a gift of a Year 2000 calendar. If you were unable to attend the party, stop by the Project Read office and pick up your calendar. Project Read is always grateful to the many corporations, businesses and organizations who respond to our requests for donations. For the Holiday Party Potluck we thank the following for their generous contributions to the festivities: AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres, Avenue 9 Restaurant, Beach Chalet, Birkenstock Natural Footwear, California Academy of Sciences, Cardology, The Exploratorium, The Gap, Hilton San Francisco & Towers, John Muir Publications, Library Cafe, Macy’s, Peaceable Kingdom Press, Resource International, Inc., Safeway, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco Opera, See’s Candies, Starbucks Coffee, Target Greatland, and Westin St. Francis Hotel. |