As we knew would be the case, the atmosphere for RWAT 2013 on Saturday was charged with plenty of laughter and more than a few tears, as we gathered at Longfellow Middle School in Berkeley to celebrate the written and spoken word, the remarkable success of our writing support for another school year, and the look ahead as we plan WriterCoach Connection for 2013-14.
After an hour's worth of preparation, with Karen Larson greeting readers at the gate
and the sun slanting in the LMS library windows, the reading day began promptly at 8:00, Kathleen Hallam settling in as our traditional first reader.
Next up was Erica Siskind (left), displaying her skills as a children's librarian.
And on it went, for ten straight hours and 29 individual readers, plus this lively group of Longfellow students, gathered for the occasion by teacher and great WCC friend Martha Cain (kneeling in front), to read identity poems that had shouts and cheers from audience members reverberating around the room:
A traditional highlight of the day: Literay Jeopardy, a brain-busting game show put together by Annie Stine (with set-construction help from daughter Eliana). Here is Team 2 in action:
And here is Team 1, 2013 Literary Jeopardy winners:
I'm hear to tell you, we have some very smart people in our WCC family!
We had some Calvin Trillin (a donor to last year's RWAT), we had CAFL board member Denis Clifford's traditional RWAT reading of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, we even had WCC coach Chris Keeler in full regalia for some Lewis Carroll:
As the afternoon sun sailed high overhead, the group gathered for the reading of this year's RWAT play, The Laramie Project. At times during this reading, between lines, the brief silences echoed the tidal emotions of this heart-breaking story.
At long last, as the afternoon sun slanted in from the opposite direction, our traditional last RWAT reader, Lynn Mueller, settled in with her usual group of beautifully selected poems:
And suddenly, it was ten hours later, 6:00 pm straight up, and time to gather for the RWAT raffle drawing, with Annie Stine and Elic Suazo (holding the grand prize Kindle) presiding:
Donations at the event itself on Saturday totaled more than $1,200, pushing the amount raised to date for RWAT 2013 past $30,000, approaching our highest RWAT total ever with more donations likely to come in. The CAFL board put up $5,000 as a matching donation and our generous coaches and their family members, friends, and associates contributed the same, guaranteeing the match. All of this means one thing: continued writing support for students and teachers in Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, and Richmond schools, offered by community members who know the importance of making sure students know someone is invested in their success.
Go here for a quick trip through pictures of this year's RWAT festivities, including photos of every reader. Click the Start Slideshow link and crank up your speakers!
The campaign continues, with donations still accepted into the summer on the RWAT site or by check to CAFL, PO Box 6098, Albany, CA 94706.
Meantime, our deep thanks to our abiding benefactors, all those wondrously dedicated supporters who donate to RWAT and/or, most especially, who give their valuable time and energy as coaches to our students.
We thank Kathleen Hallam, Karen Larson, and Elic Suazo, who were there with the chirping birds for setup as the sun rose, and Lisa Awrey, Lynn Mueller, and Elic again, who helped us sweep up and close the doors in the early evening.
And a final thanks to the geniuses who invented this annual fundraising campaign and who manage it every year, Longfellow WCC site coordinators Annie Stine and Mark Pasley, who surely were ready for some rest as we rang down the curtain on RWAT 2013:
Bob Menzimer