Library Express COMING SOON! Renovations are planned for 2024!
Friends of Birch Bay Library www.friendsofbirchbaylibrary.org
2024
F O B B L
A fundraiser to remodel the Vogt homestead as the Birch Bay library.
Dear Birch Bay Library Supporter, Thank you for purchasing our 2024 calendar. We want to thank all our photographers for sharing their pictures that capture our community by the bay. This calendar has been part of our fundraising for the past few years. We thank you for helping us build up the funds to get our library project completed. Friends of Birch Bay Library have been working to garner the last $300,000 to complete our Birch Bay Vogt Library Express facility. We are asking all those who have been waiting to donate to please do so at your earliest convenience, because our project is moving to the next stage in its development. This month, the Whatcom County Library System and the Department of Commerce signed the contract for our $2 million dollar
state appropriation for this smaller project. The next step is to hire an architect to draw up our construction or renovation plans, that will turn the historic Vogt house into our library express. Once the architect is hired and plans are drawn up, the Friends will host a community meeting so all can look at the plans, ask any questions and see how our finished project will look. Contractors will be hired, and work will begin. It has taken us a while to get to this phase in our journey. We are hoping you will join us in our last fundraising efforts, donating to what will be a year-round community gathering place, full of learning, programs, community meetings and of course, library materials. Thank you for your support, your love of libraries, literature, and community. Di Marrs-Smith, President
Events, Meetings & Endeavors FOBBL FLYER Don’t forget to check out our digital newsletter to stay informed about upcoming events and news from your neighbors. MERCHANDISE SALES We have tote bags, T-shirts, and FOBBL beach balls and buckets! BOOK SALES We are active collectors of donations and resellers of used, good condition, books for all ages. We are suspending donations during the renovations.
ANNUAL EVENTS You will find us at each of these Birch Bay Chamber and Blaine Birch Bay Park and Rec District 2 events each year. Kite Festival, Sand Sculpture, Rollback Weekend, Derby Day, Trick or Treat on the Berm and Holiday Lights Dash.
MEMBERSHIP We are an open group and welcome new members who are interested in volunteering their time to help us with our mission: Bringing a much-needed library to Birch Bay. friendsofbirchbaylibrary.org/membership
BIRCH BAY LIBRARY BOOK CLUB Normally, our book club meets the third Wednesday of each month, from 4 – 5:30 pm, on the library site. We regularly post dates and book titles in our FOBBL Flyers.
BIRCH BAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER 4819 Alderson Rd. Unit 103 360-371-5004 | birchbaychamber.com Next to Essence Salon in the Terrell Creek Landing Building.
Volunteers Needed
We need members to help with our various activities in 2024. Here are just a few volunteer jobs we need assistance with. • Book Sale Coordinating • Book Sorting • Event Set-Up / Take Down Team • Food/Cooking Team • Information Tent Staffing for summer events • Library Advocacy • Fundraising
FOBBL Booths
We enjoy participating in the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce events and partnering with Blaine/Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 to bring our community together for fun events. Go to www.birchbaychamberofcommerce.com to see the 2024 events line up. FOBBL will also have a few of our own events during 2024 and you can find events by following us on Facebook or on our webpage at www.friendsofbirchbaylibrary.org.
Meetings
Keep up to date with FOBBL activities by coming to a meeting! From October to April, we meet from 4:00 pm to 5:30pm. From May to September, we meet from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Contact fobblsecretary@gmail.com if you would like to address the Board or need the Zoom meeting link.
JANUARY 2024 SUNDAY
MONDAY 1
LIBRARY CLOSED
TUESDAY 2
WEDNESDAY 3
INBOUND Photo by Colleen Moravec
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
4
5
6
11
12
13
18
19
20
25
26
27
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
Polar Bear Plunge New Year’s Day
7
8
BOOKMOBILE
9
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
14
15
LIBRARY CLOSED
BOOKMOBILE
16
22
17
BOOKMOBILE FOBBL BOOK CLUB
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
21
10
23
24
BOOKMOBILE
28
29
30
31
BOOKMOBILE
FEBRUARY 2024 SUNDAY
4
MONDAY
5
TUESDAY
6
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
WEDNESDAY
7
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
12
Super Bowl
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
Valentine’s Day
18
19
21
13
14
SATURDAY
1
2
3
8
9
10
Lunar New Year
BOOKMOBILE
11
15
16
17
22
23
24
BOOKMOBILE
LIBRARY CLOSED 20
BOOKMOBILE FOBBL BOOK CLUB
Presidents Day
25
HISTORICAL ARROW Photo by Stephen Weinhouse
26
27
28
BOOKMOBILE
29
MARCH 2024 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
NESTING EAGLES Photo by Jeff Sterling
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY 1
SATURDAY 2
Read Across America
3
4
5
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
10
11
Daylight Saving Time
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
17
18
St Patrick’s Day
24
25
6
12
13
Easter
8
9
Intn’l Women’s Day
BOOKMOBILE
14
15
16
21
22
23
28
29
30
BOOKMOBILE
19
20
Spring Equinox
BOOKMOBILE
26
27
BOOKMOBILE
31
7
APRIL 2024 SUNDAY
MONDAY 1
TUESDAY 2
SNAIL MAIL Photo by Wendy Cowan
WEDNESDAY 3
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
4
5
6
11
12
13
18
19
20
25
26
27
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
April Fool’s Day
7
14
BOOKMOBILE
8
9
10
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
Library Worker’s Day
BOOKMOBILE
15
16
17
BOOKMOBILE FOBBL BOOK CLUB
Tax Day
21
22
23
Earth Day
28
29
24
BOOKMOBILE
30
MAY 2024 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
SUNSET ON THE BAY Photo by Stephanie Robinson
WEDNESDAY 1
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
2
3
4
9
10
11
16
17
18
23
24
25
30
31
BOOKMOBILE
5
6
7
Cinco de Mayo
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
12
13
Mother’s Day
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
19
20
BOOKMOBILE
14
27
21
LIBRARY CLOSED
Memorial Day
15
BOOKMOBILE FOBBL BOOK CLUB
Victoria Day (Canada)
26
8
22
BOOKMOBILE
28
29
BOOKMOBILE
JUNE 2023 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
CANOES ON BEACH Photo by Bob Christie
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY 1
2
3
4
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
9
10
17
11
Kite Festival Weekend
30
24
7
8
12
13
14
15
Flag Day
BOOKMOBILE
18
Father’s Day
23
6
BOOKMOBILE
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
16
5
25
19
LIBRARY CLOSED
20
Juneteenth
Summer Solstice
26
27
BOOKMOBILE
21
22
Kite Festival Weekend
28
29
JULY 2024 SUNDAY
MONDAY 1
TUESDAY 2
STARFISH NOW SEA STAR Photo by Jeff Sterling
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
3
4
BOOKMOBILE
Independence Day
10
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
5
6
11
12
13
18
19
20
25
26
27
LIBRARY CLOSED
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
Canada Day
7
8
9
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
14
15
BOOKMOBILE
16
17
BOOKMOBILE FOBBL BOOK CLUB
21
22
23
24
BOOKMOBILE
28
29
30
31
BOOKMOBILE
AUGUST 2024 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
SIMPLE PLEASURES Photo by Dawny Richards
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY 1
FRIDAY 2
SATURDAY 3
41st Annual Sand Sculpture Competition
4
5
6
7
Roll Back Car Show
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
National Night Out
BOOKMOBILE
11
12
13
14
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
18
19
8
9
10
15
16
17
22
23
24
BOOKMOBILE
20
21
BOOKMOBILE FOBBL BOOK CLUB
25
26
27
28
BOOKMOBILE
Birch Bay Derby Day
29
30
31
SEPTEMBER 2024 SUNDAY 1
MONDAY 2
LIBRARY CLOSED
TUESDAY 3
WEDNESDAY 4
COTTONWOOD SUNSET Photo by Matt Berry
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
5
6
7
12
13
14
19
20
21
26
27
28
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
Labor Day
8
9
BOOKMOBILE
10
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
15
16
11
BOOKMOBILE
17
18
BOOKMOBILE FOBBL BOOK CLUB
22
23
Fall Equinox
29
24
25
BOOKMOBILE
30
OCTOBER 2024 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY 1
WEDNESDAY 2
2023 BERM HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION Photos submitted by FOBBL THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
3
4
5
10
11
12
17
18
19
24
25
26
BOOKMOBILE
Rosh Hashanah
6
7
8
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
13
14
9
BOOKMOBILE
15
16
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
Indigenous People’s Day Thanksgiving (Canada)
20
21
BOOKMOBILE FOBBL BOOK CLUB
22
23
Halloween on the Berm
BOOKMOBILE
27
28
29
30
31
BOOKMOBILE
Halloween
NOVEMBER 2024 SUNDAY
3
MONDAY
4
TUESDAY
5
WEDNESDAY
6
STORMY SEAS Photo by Chris Hyde
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
7
8
9
14
15
16
21
22
23
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
Standard Time begins
BOOKMOBILE
10
11
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
Veteran’s Day Remembrance Day (Canada)
17
18
LIBRARY CLOSED
12
13
BOOKMOBILE
19
20
BOOKMOBILE FOBBL BOOK CLUB
24
25
26
27
28
BOOKMOBILE
Thanksgiving Day
LIBRARY CLOSED
29
LIBRARY CLOSED
Native American Heritage Day
30
DECEMBER 2024 SUNDAY 1
MONDAY 2
TUESDAY 3
4
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST
8
9
16
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
5
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
19
20
21
BOOKMOBILE
17
18
BOOKMOBILE FOBBL BOOK CLUB
22
23
24
LIBRARY CLOSED
Christmas Eve
29
30
SATURDAY
BOOKMOBILE
FOBBL BOARD MEETING
15
WEDNESDAY
RING OF FIRE Photo by Danielle Gaughen
31
Ring Of Fire & Hope New Year’s Eve
25
LIBRARY CLOSED
Christmas Day
Winter Solstice
26
LIBRARY CLOSED
Boxing Day (Canada)
27
28
Birch Bay is a treasure for all of Whatcom County! - Sharon Shewmake
Friends of Birch Bay Library Raising funds to build Birch Bay Vogt Community Library
Renovating the Vogt home for Library Express Vision Our library will serve as a lifelong learning hub in the heart of our community where all are welcome to be curious, learn, and connect. Mission Friends of Birch Bay Library is a volunteer group dedicated to bringing a full-service library to the Birch Bay community. Initially, we will raise funds to build a library as part of the Whatcom County Library System. Once completed, we will provide funding to support library programs that encourage lifelong learning, stimulate creativity, and strengthen community.
Mail Checks to: Whatcom County Library Foundation Attn: Jennifer Rick 5205 Northwest Drive Bellingham, WA 98226
www.friendsofbirchbaylibrary.org In a cold, snowy day in February of 2023, a small group of FOBBL’s went down to Olympia to speak to a few Senators and Representatives. Our hope that we could explain our scope of work change for the Birch Bay Vogt Library Community Library Project and reverse the denial of our $2 million state appropriation on our smaller building plan. That 15-minute meeting with Senators Mullet, Schoesler, and Shewmake and subsequent meeting the Representative Joe Timmon’s aid solidified this funding and gave our project a solid foundation in which we can move forward. It was the best 15 minutes we have ever spent. Now, we move forward with our final project, the Birch Bay Vogt Library Express. • Whatcom County Library System is moving forward to the next phase in the project and has put out a Request for Qualifications notice to hire an architect to create our construction drawings.
Friends of Birch Bay Library (FOBBL) is a non-profit organization raising funds to build Birch Bay Vogt Community Library in Birch Bay, Washington. FOBBL raises funds through donations, book sales, grants and events.
• Once hired, WCLS will hold a community meeting to go over the timeline and renovation plans with the community. • FOBBL will continue to fundraise to secure the $300,000 project balance. • Upon completion, Library Express services will be held in the renovated 1,500-square-foot first floor (interior only) of the existing, historic Vogt house.