MESSAGE FROM THE BRANCH NEWSLETTER EDITOR:

Greetings to all the Free State branch members.

The social network phenomenon has taken the world by storm. What started as an adventure by computer geeks at Harvard University ‘ students residences literally, revolutionized the world forever. The Arab awakening that we have witnessed lately can be traced back to the use of social media like Facebook by disgruntled youth ‘s quest for regime change. The only reality we have to accept is that since the advent of these various social networks our lives have been changed in more than one way. How ready are we to take advantage of these social networks in our work environment so as to appeal to the 21st century customers?

The deadline for the next newsletter is 31st July 2011 and will be released on 15 August 2011. Together we stand, divided we fall.

LIASA FS Newsletter 2011 1

LIASA FS Newsletter 2011 2

LIASA FREE STATE BRANCH MEETING AT FRICHARDT PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY

The 1st of June 2011 was the venue for the second LIASA committee and branch meetings. Members enjoyed deliberations and the keynote address by Dr Rinda Blom on “emotional intelligence’.

LIASA FS Newsletter 2011 3

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE BY Rina Jansen van Rensburg

LIASA FS had their branch meeting on the 1st of June 2011 in Bloemfontein. The theme of the day was “Empower your inner self by changing your emotional intelligence”. Guest speaker for the afternoon was Dr Rinda Blom from Bloemfontein. Dr Blom is the director of the Red Shoe Play Therapy Training Centre and has a doctoral degree in emotional intelligence. She has also more than seventeen years of play therapy experience in working with children. She defined emotional intelligence to us as the ability to: accurately identify your emotions, use our emotions to help you think, to understand what causes emotions and how to manage these emotions to stay open in order to capture the wisdom of our feelings. We all learned it is important to have emotional intelligence because it strengthens our personal motivation and keeps us to stay positive in life.

Photo: L t R Ms Mariëtte Barnard, Dr Rinda Blom, and Ms Rina Jansen van RensburgPACLIG FS

LIASA FS Newsletter 2011 4

2011 WORLD BOOK DAY CELEBRATIONS BY FSDoE

In celebration of the 2011 World Book Day, the FSDoE, held an annual Spelling Bee competition in Bloemfontein. Twenty four high school learners drawn from all the five Free State districts converged at the chilly Motheo ERC (Education Resource Centre) to showcase their spelling skills. After gruelling rounds which had casualties dropping by the wayside; there was finally “one man standing” to be crowned the 2011 FSDoE Spelling Bee Champion.

Marius Roos, a learner at Welkom’s Gymnasium High School, was left in awe after beating all the fellow entrants to grab the coveted title. Gracing this important event in the FSDoE calendar were MEC for education in the Free State, Mr Tate Makgoe; the HOD Mr RS Malope; district directors; teachers and learners including special guests like LIASA National President Me. Naomi Haasbroek who delivered a speech. The winner thanked his school and teachers for the opportunity which he unashamedly attributed to hardwork and dedication. For winning this year’s edition, he got a Laptop, a kindle- a digital book reader, a medal , certificate and two trophies (one for himself and the other , a floating trophy to be kept at his school).

Photos 1. Top Left: The 2011 spelling Bee winner, Marius Roos; MEC FSDoEMr. Tate Makgoe, 2010 winner Mohlomi and LIASA President Me NaomiHaasbroek.Top Right: The winner and his teacher flanked by FSDoE Chief Director:Curriculum Management Ms Maboya and MEC FSDoE .Right: The 2011 Spelling Bee winner sharing his excitement with the media.

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“NO STUDENT HUNGRY CAMPAIGN”

  The Centre for Health and Wellness at the UFS organised a breakfast function on 31 May 2011 to introduce the “No Student Hungry Campaign” to the UFS staff and the public. Mrs Grace Jansen, wife of Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector and Dr Carin Buys, wife of Mr Rudi Buys, Student Dean, started the project this year after they realized that 20% (6000) of UFS students have to study on an empty stomach that often leads to talented students leaving the UFS before completing their studies, which is a great loss to our country’s potential. With the money donated to the project they will provide the deserving students with one male per day. Prof Jansen, who was the guest speaker, said “It is bad to be hungry, no matter what the colour of your skin. Especially when other people have food and you don’t. We don’t want students to only study together, but also to eat together.” Food can promote a feeling of fellowship and gives comfort. We’ll be blessed by giving to other people, and in doing so, we will also receive. He is donating the proceeds from his book “We need to talk” to the project. As part of the community LIASA was also invited to the launch. The Free State committee then decided on 1 June to contribute to this campaign by donating a part of the interests earned from the branch’s investment at FNB. An event will be organised when we’ll deliver the donation to the UFS. We’ll try to organise it for our AGM on 24 August and will keep you updated.  Sources:News Archive: breakfast in aid of hungry students (http://www.ufs.ac.za/templates/archive. Accessed 10 June 2011)Ebersohn, Karen. UV begin veldtog om arm studente te voed (Volksblad, 1 Junie 2011, p 5)   Erna MostertChairpersonLIASA FS

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“WE NEED TO TALK” BOOK LAUNCH

Exclusive Books at Mimosa mall was a buzz of activity on the evening of the 13th of June 2011 as it was a launch of Professor Jansen’s book “We Need To Talk”.Book lovers got a chance to listen to Prof. Jansen’s speech which was mainly on the reasons for publishing the book which is a compilation of his weekly columns at The Times newspaper. The audience was allowed to interact with the Prof by asking him questions on various topics covered in the book. ABSA bank, exclusive books, Mangaung Municipality represented by Me Ronel Jacobs and SACR represented by Me. Elmari Kruger; were all thanked for their contributions. The proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the “No Student Hungry Campaign”.

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BLOEMFONTEIN BOOK FESTIVAL BBF

Bloemfontein has the Rose Festival, the Kunstefees (also known as Vryfees), the MACUFEFestival and soon a Book Festival.

This initiative by Prof. Jansen from UFS is aimed at boosting the intellectual and cultural lifeOf the UFS campus and the city. The BLOEMFONTEIN Book Festival will be launched in 2012.

Unlike other well known book festivals, BFF will not only celebrate English books, but also include Afrikaans, Sesotho, Xhosa, Zulu and other African languages. t will host leading South African and international authors of popular and academic books. It will link book stalls on campus to book sites around Bloemfontein through an efficient public transport system.

With more than 50 000 students in the City of Roses, BBF can transform the culture and economy of the area and provide work opportunities for students. In addition, it will strengthen their academic work by encouraging the love and the reading of books.

As library and Information workers we should get involved and contribute! How can LIASA be involved?What are ideal sites around the city for hosting some of the book stalls?How can BBF be more distinctive from other book events around the country?Any ideas? Please contact Cathy: Giesekkecg@ufs.ac.za or phone 051 401 2742

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BOOK CORNER: EDITOR’S CHOICE

Title: The Facebook Effect Title: The Book about Books

Author: Kirkpatrick, David Author: Powling Chris & Anderson, Scoular

Title: Nelson Mandela : By HimselfThe Authorised book of quotations

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

LIASA branch would like to congratulate Me Raspby Ramugondo previously with Free State Department of Education (FSDoE) who has been appointed: Deputy Director with the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR)

• LIASA FS branch would also like to congratulate Me Khomotso Marumo from CUT who has been appointed Deputy –Director at the University of Free State Library section.

Well done!!!

THANK YOU 

A big thank you to all of you who

contributed by providingus with your news!

 

LIASA FS Newsletter 2011 10

Stay focused on your job

 Just for giggles…..life’s valuable lessons

Always aim for great heights

Practice teamwork Remember nothing is impossible