We are happy to report that our special hurricane victim cause, the Long Beach Mississippi Public Library, is fully functioning. It is back in its building. While it was temporarily in trailers, we donated money, tables and chairs, and other needs. We're delighted our contributions helped this important institution get back following Katrina.

The Sitting Room gives as well as receives. One ongoing partner is The Living Room, a daytime shelter for women and children. On November 17, 2008 we held a Harvest Supper and asked guests to bring gifts for those who use the shelter.

This year netted $405 in cash + countless needed items from sleeping bags to hot chocolate packets etc. from Sitting Room folk. Twenty-nine guests turned up for soups, Karen’s salad, and honeycake (made from the Fanny Farmer cookbook by Baker Extraordinaire Barbara Shatto) and somehow we found room to seat them all. After dinner where everybody talked a mile a minute and seemed to be having a high old time, Sarah Baker sat at the piano and regaled us with a few tunes and then somehow (mainly with Ann Neel and June Farver leading us), a singalong happened. It was lots of fun and a great way to help out our needy sisters flooding the Living Room in these dire times.

Every year we publish a collection of writings. Last year the theme was "Spirit Matters!" This was a collection of brief (up to 400 words) essays that focused on material of significant spiritual impact on the reader's life.

Check the Publishing guidelines with our next theme, which addresses Travel. Deadline will be March 1 , 2009.