One Book, One Community, Benton County

27 thank you’s going out today! Staff, parents that have volunteered, Edwards Plumbing and Heating-who makes sure we have cool air, heat and working pipes 😊 and we can’t forget about our awesome UPS man!

Thank you to the Street Dept employees! From snowy mornings to hot summer days- we appreciate all you do to keep our community operating!

We are switching up our 2nd activity in November (November 16-30) just a little after some discussion. We’re switching it to Shop REAL LIFE- two weeks of interacting with people working in our community. No online purchases (gasp! I know but at least really think about if it is offered local first). Go INSIDE a business, talk to the people working there, get to know them, use their services, buy from THEM. If we didn’t have the local businesses we do, all of us would feel the difference and not in a way that we want too! Think twice before you purchase online. Last time we checked, Amazon wasn’t sending any donations to our school activities or helping our kids with fundraisers but the local businesses are!

If you want to share your thank you pictures- email them to Justusbentoncounty@gmail.com or post them on our Vinton One Book, One Community Facebook page! We can’t wait to see who you are thankful for in our community!

Thank you to Molly for sharing a thank you with us!

• 

If you are over 65 in our community and don’t know who Jennie is- you need to go meet her! Jennie is our local SHIIP person who is 100% VOLUNTEER! She gets paid NOTHING. She puts in long hours this time of year and does it all because she wants to help people try to understand Medicare! Jennie is a true difference maker in our community! THANK YOU JENNIE for being a difference maker in our community! We are truly BLESSED to have you!

• 

Click here to read an article posted to Vinton Today regarding our first Community Discussion!

Thank you to everyone who attending the discussion Monday night!

Our first community discussion was held last night in the Tilford Auditorium and in case you missed it>>>it was a great success! Just under 20 people gathered to chat about the book We Hope You Like This Song by Bree Housley. Deb Vaughan acted as our moderator for the evening and we thank her immensely for both her expertise and insight!

Deb began by telling the group, “Every reader is going to take something different from [We Hope You Like This Song].”

She then read a poem by Margaret J. Wheatley titled “Turning to One Another” which began with–

There is no greater power than a community discovering what it cares about.

And ended with–

trust that meaningful conversations can change your world. rely on human goodness. Stay together.

“There are things to be reckoned with in this book,” Deb told the audience.

A variety of topics were discussed during the hour-long discussion, from the feelings the book brought to mind to the themes it addressed to the many resolutions the author made in an effort to honor her best friend Shelley following her untimely death.

Overheard during the discussion:

“Losing someone you love is a universal experience.”

“I appreciated the song references, it made me think of friends I’ve lost through the years.”

“I suspect authors forever have been trying to keep people alive.”

“[the book] reminded me of my best friend–we can not talk for months but still be just as connected.”

“I’m reminded how all of our griefs are connected…in the end, it’s a choice that we make…there’s so many ways to get to healing…no two grief journeys are the same.”

Many in the audience agreed the book was a form of therapy for the author herself, a way for her to work through things following the death of her best friend so unexpectedly.

Following the discussion, attendees were asked to peruse the planned 12 months of themes and activities for the community to participate in–similar to the resolutions Bree completed.

The first two months themes have been planned as follows:

November: Thankfulness

Write a thank you note for seven different people. Thankful for our small businesses! Shop local, go to a movie, etc.

December: Act Like a Kid

Organize caroling, games, roller skating, sledding, etc. Dream BIG: share your dreams.

The December event ‘Adult Skate Party’ is set for Sunday, December 1 from 5-7pm at the Vinton Skate Center located at 1703 C Avenue. You’re invited to attend! Bring a friend! And if you have any ideas for the playlist to accompany the event, please reach out via the blog (comment below) or our Facebook page.

We hope you’ll join us here on the blog & in the greater community during the next year as we work to celebrate one month/theme at a time–much like Bree celebrated her love for Shelley!

We hope you like this

One Book, One Community initiative!

Our first One Book, One Community discussion takes place TONIGHT beginning at 7 pm in the auditorium at Tilford Elementary School!

Discussion will be moderated by retired (and beloved!) Vinton-Shellsburg High School English teacher Deb Vaughan.

We hope you will attend! Bring your book, questions, & thoughts–see you at 7.