SPARC

Last Thursday, April 9, SPARC hosted the annual Staff Appreciation Party for all Smithsonian Libraries employees. The SIL staff, armed with goodies, trekked across the Mall to the National Museum of American Indian’s Patron’s Lounge, which boasts amazing views of the Capitol and the U.S. Botanic Garden.  Amidst platters towering with french toast, trays piled high with scones and Starbucks coffee boxes filled the brim, lively conversations could be heard at each table of SIL staffers.  SPARC members had assembled the perfect centerpiece for the tables: five Peeps chilling on plastic Easter grass.  After all, what can say “spring” better than a Peep??  

Not losing sight of the “appreciation” part of the event, four SIL staff members were recognized for their exceptional service to the Libraries: Kathryn Phillips won the Keystone Award, Kathy Hill took home the Lifesaver Award, Sheila Riley swept up the Heart of Gold Award and Sharon Layne scored the Superwoman Award.  All of these ladies were nominated by co-workers who realized their special dedication to SIL over the past year.  In addition to these peer recognition awards, a few lucky SIL staffers walked away with Starbucks gift cards, which were given out through a drawing by Melinda Jane Tomerlin and Phu Pham.

The Staff Appreciation Party was a wonderful time for SIL staff to relax, get away from the office and get to know each other better.  Thanks to SPARC members for organizing this great event!  

Staff Appreciation Breakfast and Peer Recognition Awards

Please Join us:

When:  Thursday April 9, 2009
            9am to 11am
Where: NMAI Patron’s Lounge (Room 4018)

Breakfasty items will be served*, but feel free to bring baked contributions!
SPARCles (tm) will be awarded!
Speeches will be minimal!

Please enter the museum through the Independence Ave. staff entrance near 4th St.
The Conference Room is located on the fourth floor, beyond the top of the stairs.

*contact a SPARC member if you have questions/concerns about what we're serving. I think there will be something for everyone.

Essential Reading If You Get Headaches or Know Someone Who Does

On 2/19/09, I hosted a SIL Brown Bag lunch session “Living with Migraine: Issues & Coping Strategies.”  Migraine has been is a major component of my life for nearly 30 years.  I tend to get episodic headaches, usually once or more a week, on either side of my head.  The headaches have been sometimes debilitating, lasting nearly 10 hours at a time, but since 2000, I have been able to greatly reduce the severity and frequency of the headaches primarily by avoiding “trigger” foods.   Watching my diet has greatly improved the quality of my life, and as a number of my SIL colleagues know, I can proselytize endlessly about this. 

At the brown bag, we watched a short documentary, “Life and Migraine,” with a number of affecting testimonials from people who suffer and struggle with migraine (if you’re interesting in borrowing the film, please let me know).  We also viewed a short TV clip with a Johns Hopkins neurologist I saw briefly as a patient, who is a big proponent of the “dietary trigger” method of controlling migraines (and is somewhat controversial).   

Below are a few tidbits from the talk that I hope are useful.  I should mention that am not medically trained – I can only speak from my personal experience.  If you regularly suffer from headaches, I highly recommend getting a thorough check-up from a neurologist or group practice that specializes in headaches.  

Holiday Cookie & Information Exchange

 All Library staff and volunteers are highly encouraged to attend our Holiday Cookie & Information Exchange on Tuesday, December 16th, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm in the National Museum of the American Indian Patron's Lounge on the Fourth Floor.  (This is where we held last year's Staff Appreciation Party.  Find the NMAI brochure here). 

The Information Exchange will include the Executive Committee giving highlights of this year's accomplishments, introducing new staff, and offering awards and recognition.  Basically, everything traditionally seen in the Annual Meeting. But the main goal is Cookie Exchange!

Cookie Exchange Rules:
Bring 2 dozen cookies, preferably homemade, and expect to take about a dozen away.   Labels, recipes, and ingredient lists highly appreciated!   EC will provide beverages and SPARC will provide ziplock bags (though bringing a reusable container would be Greener).

If you are looking for inspiration, we do have recipes from last year's cookie exchange: Download Recipes.

Food Drive:
This is also an opportunity for you to spread the holiday cheer to those in the Washington area who are facing these tough economic times by contributing to the SPARC food drive, to be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank.  Not necessarily an endorsement of the organization, this is just a way for us not to forget those who are struggling in this holiday season. 

Feel free to email a SPARC member or EC for more info!