Happy Labor Day!

As we begin the month of September, countless Americans (and Canadians) are gearing up to celebrate Labor Day, an occasion dedicated to honoring worker’s achievements. In many parts of the world, a similar celebration takes place on May 1, known as May Day or International Workers Day.

In 1869, socialists and trade unions in Paris introduced May Day as a holiday to honor the nationwide US strike that occurred on May 1st, 1886, and the Haymarket tragedy. Over time, May Day transformed into a public holiday in more than 60 nations.

Various labor groups honored May Day and Labor Day in the United States for years. However, the former had a reputation for being more political, more radical, and less merry than the latter. For that reason, by 1894, Labor Day became a state holiday in more than 20 states. So in 1984, President Cleveland, preparing to clamp down on the Pullman strikers, pushed a Labor Day bill through Congress and signed it on June 28. Most historians agree it was primarily an attempt to concede something to the labor movement while blunting the power of the more radical May Day crowd.

So, the first Monday of September became the official US holiday in honor of workers. (Canada followed suit.)

Happy Labor Day!

NVWN Upcoming Meetings (tentative and subject to change)

October 10: Michele Mekel (local poet/PSU staff/ faculty, many published poems)
November 5: Schlow’s Indie Author Event
November 14: Terry Lee Watson (PSU staff, founder of Strategies for Justice)
December 12: Open Read
January 9: OFF
February 13: Connie Cousins (local children’s book author)
March 12: Open Read
April 9: TBD
May 14: TBD
June 11: Open Read

NVWN September Speaker: Jason Palmatier, local winner of a national short story prize
Discuss: Entering and winning the Writer of the Future Contest.

Jason Palmatier is a software developer turned science fiction and fantasy writer. He writes primarily short stories and novels but has also worked on screenplays (the short film “Hunter”), independent comics (Lords of the Cosmos, Ugli Studios), and graphic novels (Plague, Markosia Enterprises Ltd.)
He lives in central Pennsylvania with his wife and three sons.
When: September 12th (2nd Tuesday of the month)
Where: Schlow Library, Community Room,
Time: from 6:30 -7:30 pm

What Local Book Clubs are Reading:

¡ADELANTE! Book Club
Horse: A Novel, by Geraldine Brooks
When: Every other month, 4th Thursday of the month, October 19, @ 2:30 pm
Where: Virtual
To participate with the group, contact info@aauwstatecollege.org. New members welcome.

Inspirational Book Club
The Christie Affairby TJ Klune
When: 2nd Monday of the month, September 11th @ 10:00 – 11:00 am.
Where: Barnes and NobleNew members welcome!

Well-Read Book Club
From Scratch by Tembi Locke
When: 4th Thursday of the month, September 28th, @6:30 – 7:30 pm.
Where: Virtual
Register at Schlow Library

NEW Book Clubs:
Read Between the Wines

An AAUW members book club where we meet socially to discuss books while drinking a light beverage.
Our first meeting will be on November 8th, The Personal Librarian, by Marie Benedict.
More info is coming soon.

Racial Unity Network
God Loves Justice by Jessica Nicholas
When: Saturdays, Sept 30-Nov 18, 2023, 10-11:30am
Where: via Zoom, sign up: https://forms.gle/AJDPPRQGWVuTys3CA


For more information on any of these Book clubs, or if you want your book club listed, contact crevey@msn.com.

Also, check out Dave’s blog for additional readers and writers info at  www.scintilla.info

The Nittany Valley Writers’ Network is a sharing, supportive community linking local writers of all genres and levels of experience. For more information, contact Dave at dmarvin14@msn.com.