Exciting news, reminders, and more!

Hello Enlightened Hippogriffs!

First, some very exciting news... in fact, I believe my child would actually classify this as EPIC: our member Erin Millar has been selected as one of the top 250 of 5000 young adult novelists in the Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Awards! She'll be entered in the next round to narrow down to the top 100 in April. WAY TO GO ERIN!! We'll be first in line for your autograph when you become the next JK Rowling!!

More info about this award is here: http://www.amazon.com/b?node=332264011 (click the link for "250 Young Adult Fiction" to see the full list.. Erin is in the E's for her work "Call to Action")

Second, a few reminders:

• Justice Sunday is this weekend at First UU. Jolinda and I are working on a plan to teach the kids some of the methods to deal with bullying that we talked about at our last meeting. Please join us! Just like Harry helped empower his friends with Dumbledore's Army, YOU can help other kids learn how to fight for justice. As Harry said, "Every great Wizard has started off as nothing more than we are now: students. If they can do it, why not us?" Justice Sunday will be during both church services at 9:15 and 11 a.m. (come early before the 9:15 one for breakfast! mmmm... taters)
• Next Saturday, March 31st is the OSU Quidditch Team's reading and Quidditch demonstration at the UA library from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.! Let's hope this great weather holds out so we can enjoy some wizardly fun in the sun!

And speaking of bullying, I came across a few thoughts on this theme related to the Potter series here:

http://www.thehpn.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=2325.0;wap2

and also here: http://www.shmoop.com/harry-potter-4-goblet-fire/hate-quotes.html

And in case you missed it on Facebook, Erin posted a great article there from the NY Times about the Harry Potter Alliance and fan activism (thanks Erin!):
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/from-young-adult-book-fans-to-wizards-of-change/?emc=eta1

Finally, The Harry Potter Alliance is ramping up its Hunger is Not a Game campaign in response to the Hunger Games movie release (this weekend! woot!) and encouraging chapters to launch food drives among other activities. I'd like to partner with the Worthington Food Pantry (of which Emma's mom Debra is Executive Director) on this project. After all, depriving people of food is one heck of a way to bully, isn't it? Just ask President Snow! So it's a little late to get something going for the movie release, but let's brainstorm ways we can get involved. Maybe a Hogwarts-style end(ish) of school year feast? something related to Easter or the UU flower ceremony? I'm sure you have ideas, let's hear them!

See you Sunday!