coming events

Many of us don't realize the efforts to which our soldiers go to help the children in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sadly, only the bomb blasts seem to get reported in the newspapers. I'd like to tell you of an organization started by one woman who cared, and her idea has spread around the U.S. with helpers in many states. The effort is called Victory Boxes. Each person who wishes to participate is given a military overseas shipping box to address to a specific military person currently stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan. The donor then fills the box with small inexpensive gifts a soldier can carry in his or her pockets to give to the children he or she meets during the day. Small packs of colored pencils, chalk, small notebooks, individually wrapped hard candy, (chocolate melts too much), combs, lotion, tooth brushes, tooth paste, t-shirts, socks, underwear, small toys, marbles, balls, etc. Each of these little items brings a smile from both the child receiving it, and the GI who can give it, and it is of very small mailing expense or trouble to the sender.. Special bonds are formed from shared smiles of these children and their GI friends. In fact, there have been some cases where these children have given the GIs valuable information about militants that has saved lives. If you would like to do a box yourself, or you would like to have boxes and information as a special project for your club or organization, please contact the person who started this project two years ago and now runs hundreds of groups doing Victory Boxes around the country....Mary Margaret at halleck@mac.com She will be able to tell you of a group local to your area.

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	I'll make an attempt here to let you know when events are taking place that may be of interest to those who enjoy books, art, music, and the sweet things in life. Some of these events you may like to attend, or look up on the internet, or just wish all the writers and artists well in your good thoughts. Two important events are annual reunions of Vietnam Helicopter Pilots over the fourth of July and Overseas Dodds teachers about two weeks later. This year they'll be in San Diego and Indianapolis, respectively. We'll have dinner and a helicopter fly in onto the U.S.S. Midway aircraft carrier for our Fourth of July extravaganza. Indianapolis for the DoDDS teachers promises a great meeting as well. I want to find "Rupert's Kids," and I'm hoping someone in the area can tell me where they are. More information about signing up for either event is below. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX COMPUTER WEBSITES When you need to set up a computer website or find creative Art Lessons, find my cousin Woody at http://www.taospaint.com Woody is a watercolor artist and retired art teacher. Should you be interested in art shows, watercolor paintings, gift cards, Woody can help you.
	IF YOU LIKE MUSIC and will be having an event anytime soon, contact my son-in-law, Felix, as he is an experienced musician and can serve you up a great performance for song, your dancing pleasure, or your need for a country or Elvis or any kind of musical "fix." You'll love him, as we do, since we love to dance. Phone for Felix, the "Lone Wolf" is 719-266-0334 or e-mail is Lone.wolf.music@hotmail.com
	ARE YOU IN A BOOK CLUB? I love people who love to read. It's amazing that with all the new gadgets, games, and media around the world, Book Discussion Groups are still going strong. Like the rest of us, most people enjoy having a good read handy. Should you or someone you know belong to a book club, please let me know about your group. I'm always happy to meet with a local group in person, or with an out of state group by long distance speaker phone to either lead a discussion or to answer questions. People always have lots of questions, don't they? It's fun for me to get together with folks for a lively discussion. Please invite me. Contact me if you would like a Book Club kit with discussion questions and other useful information about any of my books your group would like to choose. Special rates on my books are available for purchases of five or more books. Locally, I can deliver books. If you live further away, I can ship the books to you. Simply click on "Contact the Author" from this website and let me know about your group.	I
	Does your group need a speaker? I also love to speak to groups about World War II or the Cold War, or teach classes in writing for groups. Click on "Contact the author" should you need a speaker for your group.
	The new book is out ! I Think I Can, I Think I Can arrived in June 2010. I hope you'll enjoy it...a rather personal story going back to a time I've always tried to forget, but sometimes an unusual smell will trigger long-forgotten memories. Click on "Contact the Author" for more information.
	To help our troops overseas be good ambassadors Many of us don't realize the efforts to which our soldiers go to help the children in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sadly, only the bomb blasts seem to get reported in the newspapers. I'd like to tell you of an organization started by one woman who cared, and her idea has spread around the U.S. with helpers in many states. The effort is called Victory Boxes. Each person who wishes to participate is given a military overseas shipping box to address to a specific military person currently stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan. The donor then fills the box with small inexpensive gifts a soldier can carry in his or her pockets to give to the children he or she meets during the day. Small packs of colored pencils, chalk, small notebooks, individually wrapped hard candy, (chocolate melts too much), combs, lotion, tooth brushes, tooth paste, t-shirts, socks, underwear, small toys, marbles, balls, etc. Each of these little items brings a smile from both the child receiving it, and the GI who can give it, and it is of very small mailing expense or trouble to the sender.. Special bonds are formed from shared smiles of these children and their GI friends. In fact, there have been some cases where these children have given the GIs valuable information about militants that has saved lives. If you would like to do a box yourself, or you would like to have boxes and information as a special project for your club or organization, please contact the person who started this project two years ago and now runs hundreds of groups doing Victory Boxes around the country....Mary Margaret at halleck@mac.com She will be able to tell you of a group local to your area.

	Kudos to the students of Trailblazer and Horizon Schools in Colorado Springs. I was invited to discuss with them the important effects World War II had on the world of the 20th Century, and conduct a writer's workshop. The kids and their teachers were delightful. They made me wish I'd never retired from teaching. It was fun.
	Pillar is hosting me for a two day writing workshop on "Capturing World War II Memories." If you remember either fighting in WW II, or war work, or rationing, or donut dolly stints, you'll want to learn to write about them before all our memories fade. I, for instance, was a little kid gathering gum wrappers for their tin foil with neighborhood kids, and dancing for the U.S.O and Bond Drives. This was something I wrote about in my new novel, I Think I Can, I Think I Can. Almost all of us have memories of a difficult and patriotic time when we still knew what and who we were fighting, and believed we would get through it. Dates are August 23rd and August 30th, from 9-12 hours. Pillar classrooms and offices have moved, and are now in the shopping center on Nevada (115) at 202 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd...suite 1, around the corner from the Hatch Cover. You can reach them to sign up for classes at www.visitpillar.org
	The Yuma Military Heritage Center now carries Shadows on an Iron Curtain, since it is about the only story written so far about the Cold War activities of the Army Cavalry on the BORDER. All other writers seem to have written about the Berlin Wall, instead. This museum specializes in the history of the American Cavalry, and is certainly worth a visit. The link to the Cavalry website is at www.blackhorse.org. Should you know of other museums, either World War II for Mutti's War, or Cold War museums for Shadows, or groups who speak of relationships in the military for Between Duty and Devotion, or history reenactment groups, please "contact the author" and let me know about them. Thank you.
	Stuttgart/Ludwigsburg American High School Alumni Reunion was in 2010 in Baltimore, and in 2012, the alumni and teachers will travel back to Stuttgart to our old stomping grounds which is now a German Hochschule. More information will be on the www.StuttgartLudwigsburgHS.org. alumni website. These alumnae honchoed the Overseas Teacher's Reunion in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2008, too, and it was wonderful for all us old DoDDS teachers.
	Each year -The Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Association (VHPA) Reunion - If any of you pilots missed San Antonio in 2008, or Philadelphia in 2009, or San Diego in 2010, we will definitely see you in 2011 in Orlando, 7-10 July. Keep up with the news on the website at www.VHPA.org. We partied all over San Antonio and the Alamo in 2008, and to set the Liberty Bell ringing in July, 2009. In San Diego, 2010 we battled the navy for rights to the U.S.S. Midway. And yes, I'll have the books available, if any are interested. As a tool for future planning, 2012 will be in New Orleans 2-5 August, and 2013 in San Francisco. Do plan on joining us.
	July also brings the Overseas school teachers Department of Defense Dependent Schools reunion - This year it will be in Indianapolis. Anyone wanting books or just to visit can find me in the Hospitality Room at the Mariott, downtown. Thanks to all my colleagues who encouraged writing by buying books last time in Las Vegas, especially my newest one based on the true events of DoDDS comedy last year. This year in Indianapolis, I'll have another new one for you...I Think I Can, I Think I Can. It's sort of about finding ones's roots, no matter how deeply buried. Get more information about the reunion at http://www.doddsworldreunion.com
	October 1st to 3rd, 2010, many local authors will be teaching classes for the fifth Manitou Author Fest in Manitou Springs, CO. I was invited to teach several classes for the adults in attendance, and some for the high school and elementary kids as well.You'll never believe what conservative old Margaret is teaching. In addition to a class about the different types of publishing, I'll be doing "How to Write a Sex Scene Without Removing Your Clothes." It will be a humorous examination of the difference between loving and porning, with lots of laughs. It is great enjoying the usual Manitou atmosphere of camaradarie. E:mail me for information. EBrettMBour@aol.com, or go to www.authorfestoftherockies.org . You won't want to miss this extraordinary affair gathering together people who love to read and people who love to write. Be sure to join us for Author Fest 2010.



	Book Clubs keep popping up, and I enjoy them all. Please let me know if you are interested in discussions of books.

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