No one could ever have conceived of such a good project. And I didn’t. This was coincidental. I simply and still do want to see that books don’t get shredded. Correction: Good books don’t get shredded.

There’s often verification that this is a good project. Leslie accompanied me to the quarterly 100 Women who Care philanthropy meeting, which is held at Everett’s, a restaurant located on Lake Wasilla.

It works like this: women who are members sign a small piece of paper and put it in a box. Three names are pulled. Actually, they write the name of the organization they are representing, and the organization’s name is pulled. All three who’s names are pulled speak for three minutes and are allowed two minutes for questioning. The members then vote for the one who they feel is most financially worthy.

Tonight was my night. I had been told many years ago to crumple any piece of paper that I was submitting for drawing before slipping it in a box. I learned this when I was in Butte, Montana – Pat Munday’s daughter Emily did this at a raffle (where there were several jars) and she won a lot of things. I figured that another strategy was to make sure that I got my slip in early because no one ever takes the slip off the top.

This deal began feeling like a roll of the dice when the slip of paper with the words Bright Lights Book Project was pulled. I also (before the names were read) recognized my crumple.

I figured out in previously having gone to this particular event that in order to so-called “win,” those participating needed to have a fan base, meaning a group of supporters present. Supporters are key in that they directly and indirectly influence those who either don’t know of the organization or are on the fence.

I didn’t have the supporters the first time my name was pulled about a year ago. I also was all over the place in my speech. This time, I had supporters – two good friends and my work colleague. One friend, Linda Klapperich, dressed up as a bee this summer in Summer in the Parks. And my good friend Hilary Safran was also there.

As for my talk – I put it together while cleaning the horse enclosure. Then this morning, I wrote it out on notecards. I told a story, using the example of the books coming from the school district as my framework. I first gave a literacy statistic, then noted it’s importance by saying that literate individuals understand ranked choice voting. After, I paused in order to allow everyone time to laugh. Right then, I knew I had these women.

The books – I noted that they were the foundation of our Summer in the Parks Program, and that we distributed them during Friday Fling as well. I also mentioned that we sent the books to the Kenai, and that we had books on hand at the Alaska State Fair. In there somewhere, I made note of the fact that we’d had 15 newspaper boxes painted and out on the ground, and that they were filled with books that matched the boxes.

It was time for questions. I was asked what I’d do with the money, and I said one word “gas” adding that this would pay for distribution costs.

As I talked, I every so often looked over at my peeps. When I was done talking, they cheered.

There was, after, considerable suspense. There was a raffle that took place as they tallied the votes (I didn’t win anything, I never do).

Finally, the MC announced who the winner was, Bright Lights Book Project. And I basked in the complements of the well-wishers, most of whom I’d met in the past year.

Now at the next meeting, I will thank every one and I will talk about distribution and what it involves.

Unreal. Totally unreal.

Next: 255. 9/25/26: Move it on Over