The source of information for this contest was Encyclopedia Brittanica's Women in American History. The answer to Linda's clue: Abigail Scott Duniway.

Jo-Anne goes to Southeast Asia

[Jo-Anne Flanders, who worked in Administrative Services 1984 - 1996, sent in this brief but interesting report, dated March 12, 2002, about a portion of her trip to Thailand and Cambodia with friends. You can contact Jo-Anne at joanneflanders@yahoo.com.]

Hella and I spotted a sign that said "Internet - 20 Baht/Hour," so for less than 50 cents I am here to tell you that we are now in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai to be exact, having a wonderful time. Have to admit that we WERE held hostage for about 1 minute this a.m. by two large elephants, who wanted money and banged their trunks on the bleacher seats we were on to get it (we were visiting the world's largest elephant camp); I paid up; after that we went to a Hill Tribe Village very close. Tomorrow night we will cook our own Thai meal, eat it (!), and proceed to the Night Market. Thurs. about 20 or so of the 39 of us will fly to Chiang Rai to see the Golden Triangle (where Myanmar [Burma, to some of you slow to change], Laos, and Thailand meet) and other sights and then bus back here (about 5 hour trip). We return to Bangkok on Monday and leave for the U.S. on Tues., arriving back in Portland about 1 hour after we leave Bangkok! That trick is achieved by going the other way across the international date line (yes, as I write on Tues. a little after 5 p.m., it is Monday there (except for you Whislers in Indonesia). Only Janie, Vance, Hella, and I comprised the 4-day pre-trip to Cambodia, which was well worth the extension. I tripped in the 11th century temple Bayon in Angkor Thom ("Grand City"), second in magnificence to Angkor Wat ("City Temple"), which is OUTSIDE Angkor Thom, and slammed onto my left knee on the stone floor and think I bruised the bone and nerve badly (below the knee), but it only hurts to the touch and not to walk, run, climb, jump, swim, crawl on my belly like a reptile, so that was lucky, especially considering that I did it early in the 2-1/2 week trip.

[Update from March 15] Yesterday I went to "The Golden Triangle" ("Golden" because of the great fortunes amassed by opium trading and "Triangle" because it's where the tiny Ruak joins the Mekong [Mae Khong in Thai] River, forming the border of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos). Crossed the Mekong by boat to Don Sao, Laos (for a 40 min. visit), sent myself a postcard, and bought a silk scarf, after cruising the river on the Burmese side. On the way there we had stopped at a museum at Chiang Saen that has been occupied since 12,000 B.P. (Look that one up; we THINK it may be about an equivalent of B.C.). Actually, so far, Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom were more impressive than most of what we've seen in Thailand.

Help Wanted!

It's a once in a, well, year, opportunity! Glory and fame will come your way! [within a certain very limited scope of interest, but it's still glory and it's still fame, in a big-fish-little-pond sort of way]. What, you ask, is this fabulous opportunity? You, your very self, could contribute your time, talents, and energy, to LSA! That's right. The very entity that brings you this newsletter, which, as you know, brings you a monthly serving of mirth as well as information and a valuable sense of community. The very entity that presents annual shenanigans in June and a bountiful feast in December. LSA needs YOU!

I am sure that you want to help. After all, we library people are helpful sorts of folks. But perhaps you are experiencing a moment of doubt. What, you may be thinking, could my poor talents lend to the rich tradition that is LSA? Why, there are thousands of things that need doing. Maybe hundreds. I'm sure there are at least ten. Here is a list, not necessarily exhaustive, of the sorts of things you too could do:

• Do you like to chat and get to know your new peers? Probably. Most of us do. Well, hey, we have something for you to do. You could be on the Welcome Committee! You take new staff out for coffee. You tell them about the rest of us and our staff association. You get to know them. It's fun.
• Are you more of a solitary soul? You like to handle behind the scenes things that don't involve having to come up with witty repartee? You like things that come out with one answer, neat and tidy? Perhaps you'd like to be the Treasurer.
• Or are you a born salesman? Perhaps you would like to participate on the Ways and Means Committee. New ideas for fundraising and budgeting are always coveted. Or, if your particular salesmanly bent is toward PR, perhaps the Publicity Committee is the place for you.
• Maybe you are a person who finds it soothing to make things nice for yourself and others. You like to tidy up, keep things running smoothly, keep the details under control. Perhaps you belong on the House Committee.
• Maybe you like to go for one or two big events, pull them off, and feel that sense of accomplishment. Maybe the Social or Program Committees are your cup of tea.
• Or maybe you have a story or three to tell. Or you know everyone and have your ear to the ground about neat stuff our peers have done, who's coming and going, and what's going on. The Newsletter Committee needs you. C'mon, it'll be fun.

I know you may be experiencing another moment of doubt. You won't have time, it's too scary, what if you do it wrong...? Well, here's the thing. I'm pretty sure this task that I do (the one everyone reads) is the scariest, and I have survived it to date, including telling you all about an aerobathon, falling out of the shower, and embarrassing brain sludge. You know, or might know, who my favorite baseball team is, and how old I am. If I can do it, you can do it. Trust me.

In the interests of truth in advertising, I will tell you that some committees are more time-consuming than others, and some require specific time-frames committed. Web/newsletter, I put in a couple of hours a month. Social, they put in a bunch of time, but just a couple of times a year. I doubt anyone, with the possible exception of the chair, puts in more than 20 hours a year. Less than one percent of your time! You can do it! Library Administration even says so!

So let us know. You can contact Chelle (6-1918; bchelle@oregon) to volunteer directly. Or, you can contact anyone on any committee you might be interested in, and chat about the whole idea. Give us a call.

Been to an interesting conference? Send us a brief report for publication in the next newsletter. Thanks!

Kudos!

We realized recently that we don't think we've ever directed kudos to Colleen Bell and Juanita Benedicto for their very cool New Breed Librarian web site. If you haven't seen it, you might want to check it out. Daily updates, usually, about all sorts of libraryish things, from the ordinary to the occasionally outlandish. Besides the daily tidbits, there also is an actual published edition every other month, with this month's featuring, among others, our own Travis Ritter on terminal servers (this is not my area either, but it's an interesting article), as well as a completely hair-raising, or at least eyebrow-raising, story from the Minneapolis Public Library.

Hellos and Goodbyes

• Goodbye to Todd Hannon. Todd has been around for a long time, in a bunch of capacities (always in the Science Library). He started as a student, then worked as staff for a while in the Reserve/ILL position. Then he went away, but then he came back as an adjunct while he's been working on his MLS. Todd is heading for Portland and a new job with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission's StreamNet Library (say that three times fast...). His last day with us will be April 19.

We recently learned that a former employee, John Vlazny, passed away. John worked in Library Copy Service from 1986 to 1990 and then moved to Washington state. A local memorial service will be held; for details, call Denny Guehler, 689-4445.