Last Friday, October 11, over 60 of our dearest friends came to lunch at the Poage Legislative Library. These special folks make-up our friends of the library group called The Standing Committee. It was our annual get-together to recognize the commitment of our supporters and to take a look back at the Poage’s year-in-review. The Standing Committee has been a driving force in raising funds for our new compact shelving and at the luncheon we announced the date of installation, October 22! Thank you, Standing Committee!
The Standing Committee co-chairmen, Fowler West and Skip Dowdy, shared with us words of encouragement and challenged the group to a new goal: to increase the Hightower Book Fund to $25,000.
Brief History of the Standing Committee
In 2004, at the 25th anniversary of the library, Fowler West, Baylor alum and former staffer of Congressman Poage, suggested we start a friends-of-the library group but wanted it to have a catchy name. So after lunch, Fowler, Judge Jack Hightower and former Congressman Alan Steelman were standing out in the Poage foyer trying to come up with a name. Noticing the group was just “standing around,” Poage Director, Ben Rogers said, “How about The Standing Committee.” The name stuck! Initially, the group was compromised of about 30 members and this year membership has grown to well-over 150 dedicated supporters. Together, they support Poage endeavors through fundraising for special projects such as the Hightower Book Vault and most recently our summer interns and compact shelving.
Somewhere Out There
It was my first Standing Committee Luncheon and wow, was I impressed by the excitement and dedication of these fine folks. After the meal and program were over, I couldn’t help but think of the song “Somewhere Out There” from the 1986 animated film, “An American Tale” by James Horner, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil.
The lyrics begin:
Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone’s thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone’s saying a prayer
That we’ll find one another in that big somewhere out there
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
These words remind me of our Standing Committee. While we may only get together once a year, this group of friends are thinking about, praying for, and supporting our work at the Poage Library. We may only be a staff of four but we have the support of many! It is awe-inspiring to see the large network of Poage faithful out there.
All of us together, wishing on the same bright star.
-Debbie