Great Decisions Group Profile: Friends of the Bulverde/Spring Branch Library

Front Row L to R: Linda Quintero, Joan Stachiw.
Back Row L to R: Peggy Hamm, Judith Martin, Pat Haecker. Not pictured: Susan Herr.

Every two weeks we'll profile a different Great Decisions group from around the country. This week we spoke to a group leader at a library in Texas. 

Group: Friends of the Bulverde/Spring Branch Library

Location: Bulverde, TX

Group Leader: Judith Martin, chair, Planning Committee for Great Decisions Friends of the Library Board

Number of participants in 2014: ~40 per session

Why did you choose to start a Great Decisions group?

[The Great Decisions group] was established by the Friends of the Library Board in 2008 for the 2009 series. Since other libraries in the county offered it, the Board decided to try it. It was successful the first year. The FOL of B/SBL offers a variety of programs in coordination with the Library Director, Susan Herr. A local business, Mammen Investments, sponsors the program with a grant which is added to what FOL budgets.

Great Decisions brings in patrons that may not participate in other activities at the library. Participants are interested in the global aspects of the program and learning new information and different perspectives about current events, hot spots in the world, foreign policy, and the many roles the U.S. plays.

Tell us a bit about the group leader(s).

A planning committee of FOL members plans the sessions, secures the speakers, handles publicity, and coordinates the refreshments. The member of the committee who arranges for the speaker facilitates the evening. 

What is the format of the group?

Our sessions are free and open to the public. We offer a light supper of sandwiches, chips, dips, desserts before the program. We urge participants to read the briefing booklet and/or look at the many resources on the FPA website.

We sit at tables facing toward the front of the room. After announcements we show the video, then introduce the speaker (an expert from our area colleges, businesses, or a person originally from the country or lived there). The speaker presents for 30-40 minutes followed by a large group question and answer session. (We have ground rules suggested by FPA printed on a card at each table.)

We conclude with information about the on-line ballot and present a book (usually from the reference list in the briefing booklet) in honor of the presenter to be placed in our library. We also give the presenter a FOL coffee mug with a Starbucks gift certificate.