What a year we have experienced! I feel as if I should say more, but I know that it would be impossible to convey what we have really been through so I won’t even try. I just hope this finds you well and hopeful! 

Welcome to April, our Membership Month! This is the month we encourage Friends to renew or join, and offer special membership rewards. Last year, things got a little complicated due to the pandemic. Anyone who joined or renewed between April 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020 became eligible for a membership reward AND had their next renewal date extended to April 1, 2022.

We are aware that the automated system sent out some incorrect renewal reminders in recent weeks. If you renewed in March when you should have had a 2022 renewal date, don't worry--your membership has been extended another year.

Please check the box below for your correct renewal date. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Roberts at kathy.roberts@crrl.org.

Name: {Contact_FullName},

Membership Expiration Date: {Member_Upcoming_Renewal_Date}

If you need to renew your membership, click this button:

A big thank you to those who have already renewed their FOL membership! Your membership and commitment have helped the library during a very challenging time.

I am encouraged and excited about the months ahead. There are plans to reopen the Friends Bookshop and branch book sales soon. And there may even be a real BIG book sale on the horizon.

Happy National Library Week - April 4-10! The theme this year is “Welcome to your Library!” Whether you are visiting the library in person, online, or curbside, please take a moment to thank library staff for their work in serving our community.

On Monday, March 22, the Friends held our annual business meeting for 2020 online. The meeting was postponed from December due to the pandemic. Information from the meeting is included below.

Thank you again and I hope to see you soon.

Candace Schmidt, Friends President

Membership Rewards

All Friends who renew or join during the month of April will receive a membership reward! If you renewed in March because you received an incorrect renewal notice, you will also receive a membership reward.

Business Meeting Recap

On March 22 we held our 2020 Business Meeting virtually. Martha Hutzel, Library Director, thanked the Friends for their continued support and said she is hopeful we can reopen the Friends Bookshop and book sales in branches in the next several months.

On behalf of the Executive Committee, Candace also thanked the Friends for their devotion to the library, even during the past year when our ability to fundraise has been severely impacted.

2021 Executive Committee: Candace shared that, per our bylaws, the Nominating Committee has recommended the following slate of officers for the 2021 Executive Committee, which were approved unanimously by all present.

• Candace Schmidt for President
• Salem Waters for Vice-President
• Stephanie Lyles for Treasurer

Bylaws Update: A recent change to our bylaws means we will now have one central treasurer, instead of each jurisdiction needing their own. This will streamline our financial operations, save time and money, and reduce the burden on the CRRL Finance office. A single account is also required to use the new Square payment devices that will allow us to accept credit and debit cards.

Candace thanked those who had served as jurisdictional treasurers:

• Salem Waters from Fredericksburg
• Betty Caswell from Spotsylvania
• Nelda Mohr from Stafford
• Marsha Giese from Westmoreland

Candace also thanked Anne Beals, Central Treasurer who would be stepping down after this meeting, and announced that Stephanie Lyles has agreed to serve as the organization’s Treasurer moving forward.

2020 Treasurer's Report: Anne Beals reported that Friends branch book sales and Bookshop earned a total of $36,367.20 system-wide in FY20 which ended October 31, 2020.

That is about one-third of what we normally collect but all branch book sales and the Bookshop have been closed since March 2020.

• We collected $9,905 in memberships and $6,510 in donations.
• Total Friends of the Library income for FY20 equaled $52,782.20.
• Total contributions to CRRL were $113,300.02.
• Last year’s expenses were more than we raised. And while balances are currently low, we are hopeful that as soon as the Bookshop and branch book sales can restart safely, we will quickly begin to replenish the Friends coffers.

Facebook News: Candace announced that we now have a Facebook page and encouraged all members to "Like" the page, which can be found at facebook.com/CRRLFriends or by searching "crrlfriends" on Facebook.

Reopening the Bookshop: In order to reopen the Friends Bookshop in a couple of months we'll need plenty of volunteers. Candace asked that Friends willing to complete the state-required training and pitch in to email her.

Please share this email with anyone who might be interested in joining the Friends.

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