2009-2010

My Fellow Story Leaguers:

I come before you with a happy heart and a good report on the status and well-being of the Detroit Story League. This has been a year of loss, a year of change, and yet, a year of stability and growth in new and unusual ways.

To the losses: We have declined in membership.

We have bid farewell to members Bob Bauer, Bob Reay, and Carol Schwartz because of their untimely deaths. We had hoped to enjoy the companionship of all three for many more years. There was much to learn from them, many stories to share, laughs we still hoped to have, and we are less in profound ways because of their absence.

We have also lost some members due to non-renewal of membership. Move-outs, retirement, overloaded schedules are responsible for these losses. Perhaps at some point they will choose to rejoin our
ranks. How could they not? We are such a wonderful group ... friends to all.

To the changes: We have downsized the outreach of our organization.

The primary change is the elimination of the Story Festival as an annual event. At some time we may be able to reinstate this most wonderful
week-end, but currently we do not have the necessary membership to chair and effectively coordinate an activity of the magnitude of this one. We will continue to participate in Tellebration each November. We are holding quarterly workshops by visiting specialists in the many arts of Storytelling. We just recently enjoyed a great presentation by Ming Louie in this regard.

To the Stability: We have maintained the high standard of Storytelling within our monthly meetings.

Hats off to the many examples of storytelling at its finest. Our funny bones have been tickled, our tears have been wiped, our intellects have been challenged as we have listened to one another spin a yarn or two!

We have continued to demonstrate our teaching talents with multifaceted workshops. What a tribute to the varied and interesting approaches which can be used in the preparation of stories as shared by so many fine tellers and teachers.

We have hosted with graciousness and deliciousness taking more than one turn without question as needed.

We have kept our financial boat afloat through dues and contributions made through Story Bureau opportunities. We have been able to fund fine memorials to those we have lost ... appropriate tributes to each.

We have honored Story Bureau requests for nearly 100 programs, told many stories to approximately 700 listeners over the year. Many of these were repeat audiences.

We have met head-on any and almost all requests for modification, help, and strengthening of membership that has been sought. (We missed out on the Iraqi folk tales, but then you can’t please all of the people all of the time !)

To the Growth in New and Unusual Ways: Although we have not grown a great deal in numbers, we have made strides this year.

We have added two quality members in Isabel Leiberman and Judy Gahan. We welcome them as a part of our unique body!

We have had many guests and interested visitors. We have invited many to come and share the love of story with us.

We have drawn closer to the Community through the creation of the Power Point CD now available for distribution. We are hopeful that this mode of publicity will attract groups to consider Detroit Story League as a performance body , and will attract “Tellers in the Making” to join with us.

We have made new and easier access to the web site : http:\\www.detroitstorytelling.org with the hope that each of you will use it more frequently to be updated when you miss a meeting. A special thanks to Toni Isaac, our Web Master.

In summary, I want to add my personal thanks for the opportunity you have given me this year to serve as the President of this organization. It is not something easily done, but with the support of the fine Board with whom I have served and their commitment to each do “well their part”, and you, as an amazingly committed membership, it has been a joy and a pleasure. A special “Howdy Do” to those to whom I turn frequently as sounding boards, broad shoulders, and acceptance of all that is asked

We have another year together ... Let’s roll